Stay out or go back??

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atwhite2

atwhite2

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Dec 14, 2008
92
Tartan 30 Bayfield, WI
So I was out on Lake Michigan today, there was forecast for scattered showers, looked north and saw this monster...and ALL the boats in the area making a bee-line back to the marina. Dropped sail, fired up the iron jib and joined chase...threw a line around the first mooring cleat I could find just as the heavens broke open...Good Times!
 

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doehunter

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Sep 26, 2010
808
Macgregor 1993 26S Houston
atwhite2 said:
So I was out on Lake Michigan today, there was forecast for scattered showers, looked north and saw this monster...and ALL the boats in the area making a bee-line back to the marina. Dropped sail, fired up the iron jib and joined chase...threw a line around the first mooring cleat I could find just as the heavens broke open...Good Times!
Click to expand
I got caught by one of those a few miles away from the ramp in an 11 ft dinghy one time. The sky in the north turned black and the wind got dead calm. All the motor boats headed in and all I could was sit.
When it hit the the waves were probably about 4 feet and whitecapping.
I had to run straight downwind. There was no natural bankline, only bulkheads, and the boat ramp, that was full, 3 wide. I made a bee line to the space between 2 other boats and hit the ramp at planing speed. Needless to say, it pissed off the other boat owners, and busted the hull on my boat. It was an exciting ride it though!
 
Freedom77

Freedom77

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Jul 29, 2010
1,392
Macgregor 76 V-25 #928 Lake Mead, Nevada
Here on Lake Mead the weather can change in a heartbeat. It's a wise man who read the sky and gets off the water. Good call. Fair Winds and Full Sails....
 
shipwreck66

shipwreck66

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Apr 5, 2010
565
Catalina 27- 1984 Grapevine
As I'm yanking down the main I look down to see my wife sealing herself in the cabin, and me out. "Good luck Honey!" was all she said as she put the last hatchboard in place and locked me out. She later said I sounded awfully noisy on the foredeck as I chased the Genoa which had come loose and was standing out straight in front of the boat. Nobody ever really covered how to pull in a roller furling when you are suddenly and without warning hit with a 60 mph squall. Now I pay a lot closer attention to just how fast those clouds are moving, and I was only half mile from marina.
 
walt

walt

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Jun 1, 2007
3,541
Macgregor 26S Hobie TI Ridgway Colorado
that is a wild looking cloud - would have scared me..
 
abk

abk

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Aug 9, 2007
203
Hunter H 26 Somers Point, NJ
A Short Storm Story...

Last year about this time in August I trailered my M25 to Atlantic City and put her in the Trump Marina for August.

The next day was nasty and gray but I got some help and warped off the dock, motored out to the inlet and to the mile buoy and motored back in.

The day after I was itching to get my first Blue Water Sail. After all I had been sailing on the Delaware River for 5 years now. It's real thin where I sail which translates into lots of tacking and jibing so maybe you can feel the excitement of my first attempt to tack for miles instead of yards.

I am no stranger to the Ocean as I was a sport fisherman on POWERBOATS for more years than I want to admit to here. But those boats were larger and had speed when in need.

There was a chance of thunderstorms and it looked clear in the morning, so we sailed...

About 3 PM I noticed a dark cloudy section approaching and it was quite a distance away... I decided to always err in the area of safety so I set sail to the Inlet...

Underway I furled the Jib, then the main... I then noticed 5 other sailors had the same idea and were heading in also.

Just as I entered the marina it started to rain lightly... As i docked, tied up and put the sail cover on, the rain got a little heavier.

When I completed the operation, the "chance" of thunderstorms that you hear about in this area all summer long, broke loose into a full blown light show and sound extravaganza.

Inside, my wife and I in our 1984 Sailboat that had the pop top canvas that was new, unused and in place the night before. It kept out the storm and provided a nice view of the elements also
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We were safe and dry and back in time... Just in time... The next island down, 11 miles away from our location, Ocean City, NJ, had no storm. I spoke to a sailing friend who said he could see the storm approaching Atlantic City. I told him I was back in port...

Hey, not a horror story. It even had a happy ending too.

I learned a few things as I always do.

Where the screws in the deck leak water into the ceiling and where to caulk them.

Always keep an eye and ear on weather.
Watch other boats and notice an "Exodus".
Make an error on the side of conservatism and safety.
Remember the words "Chance of Thunderstorms".

Stay out, go in, don't go out, don't stay in, I DUNNO!!!

It's always your decision, it's "so lonely being the Captain"
 
MrBill_FLL

MrBill_FLL

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May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
That photo could be almost any afternoon in SoFla, this time of year...

not unusual to see 40knts in the gusts before it hits...

glad you got to safety 1st!
 
flynfol

flynfol

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Oct 8, 2008
362
MacGregor/Venture 25 Winthrop Harbor, IL Drummond Island,MI
Up until about 6 months ago a couple local TV stations broadcast accuweather radar on digital. Since it was transmitted from downtown Chicago, I was always able to receive it on Lake Michigan. Now you have to have NOAA tuned in which is good, but having a pictorial view was better. That storm (frontal passage) had a great deal of lightning in it and tracked across northern Illinois and generated a special marine warning to boot. Check your weather!
 
flynfol

flynfol

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Oct 8, 2008
362
MacGregor/Venture 25 Winthrop Harbor, IL Drummond Island,MI
I use wunderground for the forcast, but really miss the 24/7 TV weather transmission(ABC or NBC or both...forget). I have a digital tuner plugged into an lcd tv that would give me radar way out on the lake(no wifi needed). Apparently it was costing the station too much. NOAA will give progressive reports on weather, but a picture is worth a thousand words.

http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/lmm.html
 
shipwreck66

shipwreck66

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Apr 5, 2010
565
Catalina 27- 1984 Grapevine
Amazing how many thunderstorms my wife and I have spent inside, marking where the leaks and drips were originating.
 
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