Small Craft Warnings

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William Hankins

25 past point of fun

winds over 20-25 I tend not to leave port, for me on my boat,27 ODay, the fun is over and the work begins. Even if the winds are predicted to slow I tend to take a wait and see attitude.
 
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Hayden Watson

It also depends on the waves

It also depends on the waves you can expect. On the lake that I sail the maximum fetch for waves to build upon is about 10 miles. The largest wave I have ever heard of was 8 foot in one bottleneck. Because of this, I have sailed fairly often in the upper 30-knot wind range. (Yes, I do have a wind speed/direction meter). Without the large waves, I have had no problems in these wind ranges. At above 25 knots I double reef the main and roll in about 40% of the Genoa. One day I was out with my wife, 5 year old daughter and a couple who had never been on a sailboat. The weather service clocked the maximum gust at 55 mi. per hour. On the boat I was showing steadily in the mid 40’s. We went down wind at hull speed with no main and just a bit of the jenny out. Up wind, we used the double reefed main only and made 4 – 5 knots. At the end of the day, the couple who went with us was asking about the five of us chartering a boat in the Keys. I guess that meant that they were too scared. If I was out in a large body of water with large waves, I would more than likely have a different opinion. Hayden Watson S/V Papillon 1988 C30 tr/bs Spokane, WA
 
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harvey

Bad Idea

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY An advisory issued for marine interests, especially for operators of small boats or other vessels. Conditions include wind speeds between 20 knots (23 mph) and 34 knots (39 mph). In these conditions you are putting yourself and your vessel in harms way , not even considering those who may have to rescue you.
 
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Matthew Feldman

30 knots? How about 55, and no reefing.

In Buzzards Bay winds blow over 20 knots 6 days out of the week, you get winds every so often up to 40-55 knots. At the Yacht Club we've been sailing 420's ( Club 420, Made by Vanguard ) in 30+ knot winds. Racing keelboats in up to 55+ knot winds, no such thing as too windy, just get a Trysail and a Stormjib, Spinnaker and Gennaker, and your set for any weather. You get used to all the wind, Equipment failue is extremely extremely rare, I've yet to experiece it. You should come by Buzzards Bay sometime, No need to reef the sails if you get used to the wind. Capsizing ( in a 420 ) and heeling is beyond fun.
 
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Don Bodemann

reconsider Harvey

Don't know where you sail Harvey, but here on the East coast, the small craft advisories cannot be the decision maker for all “small” boats for all waters. The go – no go point for a 17 foot day sailor on the ocean would be entirely different than a 30 foot cruiser on the protected waters of the Bay or even more protected river or lake. I often sail the bay and river when small craft advisories have been posted. I would not venture out into the ocean though, perhaps there’s the big difference. Ocean vs. protected waters is the big variable followed by size of boat and experience level of skipper and crew. I might also restate that practicing with stronger winds than you usually sail in, will help you be prepared for that unexpected blow when you’re out a little too far from the dock...but never be reckless, or let yourself be goaded into doing something foolish by the likes of Mr. Feldman:)!
 
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Herb Tripp

Windspeed vs. Boatlength

Having owned and sailed boats from 16 to 70 feet, my experience is that when the true wind speed approaches the waterline length of the boat you will be a lot more comfortable sheltered somewhere, particularly if your destination requires you to go upwind. Lots of wind is not dangerous in itself, sails can be reefed or dropped, but the crew gets beaten about, wet, tired, and it's easier to make mistakes and harder to recover from them.
 
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Stan

Depends

Remember, the wind direction depends on the side of Lake Michigan you are on. Those fun West winds could really suck on the East side of the Lake. Just goes to show everything is relative to each individual.
 
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John S. Spooner

20 knots

I am 70 years old with titanium knees. The doctors told me never to jump, kneel, or run again. My days of "yeeha" are gone, but I still love to sail. There is no way I can go forward in an emergency, and I have no plans to send my wife up to haul down a recalcetrant jib sail (not that she would anyway).So I sail on Atwood Lake instead of Lake Erie, and senior moments don't result in disasters. There are several other Cat22's around, so I've got lots of company. As far as big storms on big lakes are concerned, "Been there, done that." 20 knots are enough for me.
 
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Steve Day

Blowin' & Goin'

I took a few moments and read all of the posts out there. All of the opinions have merit for the circumstances you are in. We like to sail, but live far enough away from the boat to want to make every day we are at Point Clear count. This last March we were there for 7 days and sailed on six of them. Winds were close to 25 knots on two of those days we chose to sail. We had a BALL! One of the days had a frontal passage with T-storms and higher winds. That day we stayed safely in port! There are a lot of other circumstances in the formula other than just wind speed. I grew up in West Palm Beach and we sailed LOTS of days when the wind was above 20 knots, but you have to have a big enough boat and an experienced crew.
 
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Jonathan Phillips

Current and a little Math

I've read about twenty five replies to the subject but no one has touched on two important facts about wind. First, the force of wind on the sails increases with the square of the velocity. This is why just a little increase in windspeed can make a boat a lot more difficult to handle, tipping it over the edge without huge changes in apparent conditions. This is why we reef early (17 knots on my Nelson Marek Morgan 367 which is a bit tender). The other thing that can get you into serious trouble is trying to cross a wind over tide situation. Offshore in the Gulf Stream is not a place you'd want to be with even twenty knots blowing from the North as the current can flow North at up to three knots. The waves, if not breaking, can easily approach the size capable of capsising my boat.
 
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Mike

Who else is coming?

My boat (Oday 23) is somewhat tender, so I don't go out if the winds are between 15 and 20, unless I will be with another sailor I know will enjoy the ride (i.e, not my wife and kids). I don't take my boat out if I know the winds will hit 20. I've been stuck out there in higher winds, so I know the boat can handle it, but it's a real strain on the rig.
 
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Gus Alvarez

Wind direction, not strenght, Waves, not wind stre

20 Knots, even 25of wind strenght can be safe, fun and good practice if the wind directon is from shore and the wave action is small due to that, even if the top of those waves are being blown off. Those are great conditions to practice playing with only the mainsail, sheeting it tight and pointing into the strong breeze to see how your boat maintains her position, keeping you safe and comfortable, all by herself by automatically falling off, filling the mainsail, moving forward and tacking all by herself, again and again zig-zagging in place as long as she has a free helm. This fun exercise will build confidence between you and your "plastic girlfriend". Gus.
 
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Richard R. Armstrong

Who's crewing?

Alone? I might go out under shortened sail up to 12 to 15 knots. With one experienced crewman, 12 to 15 no sweat, maybe up to 18, 20. With my wife as crew - 5 to 6 knots max, and then there is much scrambling and jabbering each time the boat heels. She doesn't sail much with me anymore. I've been caught in much stronger winds, but didn't choose to be there, and admit to some serious tension on the pucker strings at times. My boat is a 22'.
 
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Jim WIllis

Size does matter!

I've got a heavy Gulf 32 with full keel. It loves lots of wind and is never phased by the usual waves (actually surved down a 20 footer once!). I think that small craft advisory is mainly meant for 10-15 or 2oft light craft. But obviously crew and confort level are important too. Gusts are bad though - once had my sail torn by a the padye on reefing lines being pulled out by a gust. This was repaired by using bedded down (5200) and larger Stainless rivets (someone had used aluminum). Otherwise the gusts just heel you over etc. Jim W
 
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Rick Ward

It Depends

It all depends on who is going with me. If my wife is on board, 18-20 kts is her limit. If, however, I have my regular race crew with me, we've been out in 40+ and had a ball. Bottom line, when folks who aren't diehard are on board, I will defer to their feelings. Rick Ward
 
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Frank Sears

Tis not the wind that makes the ride unfit...

On the Chesapeake Bay, because of the uneven land masses, the waves bounce off the shores so that the waves do not always follow the wind. At times with over a 3 foot chop can be too much, you get beat so hard your head will hurt.
 
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Joe Springer

Boom Sailing

Lake sailing in Nebraska always involves swirling, gusty winds. But once the winds reach 15 knots, we usually motor into the wind, cut the motor once we reach the upwind side of the Lake, then sail downwind using the furled sail wrapped to the boom. When we reach the downwind shore we motor back upwind, fast or slow, depending on the temperature. Fast if it's hot and we don't mind getting a lot of spray in the face.
 
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Joe Springer

RE: The more the merrier!

I had no idea people sailed on the Great Salt Lake. What kind of keel or ballast is used where the water is so bouyant?
 
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James Brand

Small Sails

I use an Old set of "Windmill" sails when The wind gets over 30. The boat is actually faster because it doesn't heal as much and it is about as fast downwind. I put a 3/8 rope on the Tack of the jib to rase it enough to get the jib sheet to line up with the center of the luff of the jib.
 
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Jeff Wright

Rather have more than less

30+ kts can be an enjoyable sail as long as you are prepared and put up the right amt of fabric. Too often people find themselves out with too much sail, making the trip uncomfortable. My 30' Hunter performs well in a blow as I have all of the control lines at my finger tips and have had a fair amt of practice. The most important thing is only go out when you feel comfortable, but challenge the comfort level every time. (baby steps)
 
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