Splashdown!

[Harry Asbury]

Hats Off

Our hats are off to all you brave northern-clime sailors - literally! Here on the Gulf Coast, we only have to wear hats and anything heavier than light windbreakers a few days in the winter when we are sailing. We drive to work daily over a three-mile bridge that spans Pensacola Bay, and my husband ALWAYS says it is great sailing weather. I draw the line at thunderstorms and hurricanes. But the only ice in our local waters is the leftover ice cubes we toss overboard. Harry's First Mate

 

[mg]

wet suit and dingy gear

i was in the water one time with layered clothing and almost couldnt get back in the boat with the added weight of wet wool and fleece and dingy boots. . i dont go out with out a wet suit now though i sail laser in the cold with the 22 on the hard. but even on the cabin boat if the water is cold i put on the wet suit. doesnt take much to drown in heavy clothes and cold water. the maker says im good to about 38 degrees water temp and it is warmer in the water moving around with the suit full than out . the additional bouyancy is nice too. i dont fear drowning but do get chilly if i been out of the water long enough to drain the suit. i use a 3mm titanium (no liner just the silver inside) i didnt buy the hood but should have. to be comfortable i like the air to be 50 degrees.

 

[Mike]

Enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The temperature outside is minus 23C and another 4 inches of new snow has just fallen. The lake has more than 4 feet of ice on it. I have look at our C27 sitting on it's trailer in the driveway thinking it's going to be at least another month before I can take off the covers to start the annual maintenance. God only knows when we'll be able to launch this year (the bad weather has lasted longer than usual). If I have to read another responce from someone bragging about being able to sail all year round, I tempted to go down and show them a new place to store their spinnaker pole! (just kidding, take pity on us frozen sailors, off season we have to satisfy our sailing urges with reading about you warm weather sailors adventures)

 

[Bill Stumpf]

April 20th

On April 20th of last year we sailed our new boat from Toledo Beach to Sandusky. This is about fifty miles across the western end of Lake Erie. Air temperature maxed at 50. Water temperature about 38. Light winds and sunny. Transit time eight and on half hours. We wore our heavy foul weather gear for warmth. Made tea and hot soup on the way. Overall it wasn't bad. Would we do it again? This year the boat is scheduled for launch on... ...April 20th.

 

[Denny P.]

Keep the faith, northern friends

While you guys are indeed snowbound, yes, we in Florida are out sailin. Sometimes with a tee shirt, sometimes with a tee shirt, a sweater, a windbreaker and foulies on. This winter was especially cold. Most of my sailing this season was with layes upon layers of clothing on, yes, I am now sailing and getting a suntan, but, starting June my boat will be hauled and I will be sweating out 95 degree days sanding and painting and have an interior temperature below the campaionway of 125 . Rushing before the afternoon thunderstorms arrive to get on that last coat of paint or making sure that the last electrical connection is just right. And you guys will be out with a smile on your face sailing away to islands of adventure. I will be dreaming in my soaked shorts and stained tee shirt of the month long cruise to the bahamas I will take in December..All the best...Denny P.

 

[Wayne]

Sail Year Round - Correction

In my previous post, incorrectly laabeled the January average low temperature for January as 45 to 50 degrees, when I should have said average high. The average low is 30 to 32 degrees.

 

[Steve Hall]

Panhandle Florida Sailing

We pretty much sailed the entire winter here in Panama City. It got chilly at night, but during the day there was usually enough warmth from the sun to sail. The winds were good and because it was a little cool there were not too many people on the water.Since we bought our boat in November and it was our first boat it really worked to our advantage. Now that spring has arisen all of the powerboaters are out there and it really can make you a nervous wreck.Steve HallS/V Helen Highwater'77 Hunter 25

 

[GEOFF DAVIS]

WHAT COLD WEATHER?

WELL WE KNOW IT IS STARTING TO GET COLD WHEN WE HAVE TO PUT A SHIRT ON TO GO SAILING. OK SO IT DOES NOT GET BROILER HOT LIKE THE KEYS IN SUMMER OR SOUTHERN MEXICO BUT IT JUST STAYS ABOUT 75-80 ALL YEAR ROUND. NOTHING LIKE ANCHORING OFF WAIKIKI IN THE AFTERNOON ON BOARD THE "DOLCE VITA"- 1976 CATALINA 30

 

[Tim Baur]

Some like it HOT, not me

I like to sail all winter and dress as if I out for a walk in the cold. I only use a good gortex slicker and fleece hood with a helmet (I'm 6'5" and have been knock off move boats than I'd like to brag, Sail solo at night alot to) My ideal temp for Spring is 45-55. I tell myself it prepares me for the Lake Erie in the summer.I also prep my return to the docks well in advance so as not to let the wind or cold force me to do something foolish. Just a slow go kinda return. Spring actually is the best sailing here, for when the July, August heat arrives I sail 85% in the late evening and night solo on the lake. Love it. (no Jet skiers as well after dark) Tim

 

[Rick Klein]

Never too cold

A young friend of mine recently asked me if we could go sailing. I said I'd love to. Then she asked, "Is it too cold to go sailing"? I told her it was never too cold to go sailing. However, you may be cold, but again, its never too cold to go sailing. If I have the slightest chance to go sailing with someone, I take it. I'll sail when its cold, when its hot and boy does it get hot in the deep south, when its windy, when there's no wind, day /night. You name it. I may never have the chance again so I take advantage of every chance I get. I tell my guests that no matter what the conditions are it will make a good story. We love telling stories in the south. And it doesn't last forever, though it may seem that way. Heck, we are so soft these days we hardly put ourselves in harms way to enjoy the outdoors. A good example is this quiz. You're asking us how tough we are. Will a little cold or rain spoil our day? If it does then we've forgotten how to enjoy life. Grab it by the tail and hang on. Its usually a pretty good ride.

 

[Dale Wells]

Sun, warm, breezy

Sun, warm, breezy: that is the perfect formula for me but do enjoy a storm front to kick it up a notch. Fall sailing with the autumn leaves and a chill in the air can be invigorating. I have sailed with ice and snow on the lines and deck but it was out of necessity, not for fun. Fun and being with friends is what it is about.

 

[Ken and Cameron Carter]

Cold weather sailing/Spring is here

On just about any day that has clear weather and good winds, we will go sailing out of St. Petersburg, FL in temperatures above 60 degrees. We've actually sailed during colder weather, but it was pretty darn chilly. When that was the case, I wore silk long-johns, jeans, two pairs of socks, boots, a t-shirt, a flannel shirt, a sweatshirt, a down jacket and foul weather gear over all of that. I still got chilled to the bone after 24 hours and all night sailing. During the day I could take off a few layers. Hot drinks were a MUST. It happened to be so damp that even our blankets were wet. This, BTW, was on a 1980 Hunter 40 with engine problems so we couldn't go below. On the 460, we have a dodger and bimini with side panels, so it is MUCH more comfortable. A two hour nap between watches was comfy and cozy in the aft cabin. We could even turn on the generator and turn on the heat if necessary. We happened to be on the west coast of Florida during one of the coldest spells in recent history (winter 2001) and stayed out for 10 days. BRRR. All in all we were comfortable.As for Spring...unfortunately our boat was on the hard all winter of 2002 and we spend our summers (starting May 1) in the mountains of Colorado. So on the hard the boat will stay until next October.

 

[Bill Howitt]

Springtime in Alaska

Hey, mid April and we commission the boats and go sailing in Seward, Alaska. Our first big sail is the last week in April. Sometimes it's above freezing....sometimes its not. Some years we come back with a sunburn, some with a wind burn, some with a deathly white pale cast. Sleet, 20 degrees, occasional bergie bits, and 20 knots at the entrance to Northwestern Fjord. Now that's livin'! Wear everything you own, cause you're going to need it! Most of the boats have at least two heaters, diesel fired and a red dot. They also stock a lot of Scotch.

 

[Dana Smith]

Fall Sailing the Great Lakes

I agree with Dale, fall sailing on Lake Michigan can be hard to beat. The east shore has huge white sand dunes as beach and topped with miles and miles of Maple, poplar and oak. The colors against a crisp blue October sky is truely beautiful.Other than the 4 to 5 months of winter storage, northern sailing offers a varity of sailing options. We get it all in 6 to 7 months. Living up here makes one go for the gusto, this includes cold sailing. Soon to sail again---Dana

 

[john]

every month so far!

My O'day 22 is on the trailer 'till i paint the bottom,but I have an 11 foot double ender set up with a cat rig. Last winter i was able to walk out to my mooring on top of the water; this year I have sailed my dinghy in January, February and March.The air temp was above 50, but that cold water splashing on you makes it feel colder. Anyway, not bad for CTandRI !

 

[Adrianne]

Sailing SF Bay in the summer months

out in "the slot" as it is called, is an exercise in misery for me. I've found that 5 layers including a down vest worn inside my foul weather bibs to be the most effective for keeping warm. I also have a heavy Norwegian sweater with a windstopper fabric that has saved my sanity on more than one occasion out there. My spouse on the other hand, thinks that the cold wind coming off of the Pacific through the Gate is T-shirt weather and dresses accordingly.

 

[mary]

burr

we're part of the group in american's finest city that think 55 is cold, so it's windbreakers with those shorts for us - no ugh boots though. Looking forward to putting that jacket away!

 

[Patrick McCoy]

Why would anybody stop for winter?

Dear,Gary A true sail would never stop sail no matter the weather. But i would have to say 40 Degrees. Just thought about dropping a little line. Fellow Sailer.  Patrick McCoy

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

There have to be SOME limits, Patrick

After all, it's kinda hard to launch a boat when the water's covered over with a foot of ice!

 

[SailboatOwners.com]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 4/7/2002:On a sunny day with 10-15 kts wind, I'll go sailing if it's at least: 44% 50 degrees 31% 60 degrees 15% 40 degrees 11% 33 degress 1,012 owners responding