Wow yesterday was great sailing on Wheeler lake in Northern Alabama. When we got there it was hot and the weather called for light and varible....wrong . We went out about 3pm and had great sailing till after 7:30 almost buried the rail in a few gust and were always moving near hull speed. Do you often get summer surprises?? Here in the Southeast the summer is usually pretty lousey sailing. Light and varible and hot and humid. We do most of our sailing fall,winter and spring. Do you often get unexpected wind?? Is it off a storm or what. Yesterday there were no storms about..at least that we knew about.
Summer Surprises
- Thread starter MoonSailer
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Catching the Wind
We sail an inland lake in Missouri and the summer winds sometimes wane. I watch temperature changes, humidity, cloud cover movement even birds to try and catch the wind. The sounds of wind tell of building pressures. . . the tinkle of haylards on masts, the creaking of docks, the swaying tops of distant trees, the gentle cradle rocking. Sometimes, I walk or drive to a shore point that lets me see the wave pattern or cat paws, looking also to see who's moving under sail. Listening to the vhf radio, talking to returning sailors, watching the weather report. . .when to sail or when not to sail is the question. We want at least 6 - 12 knots for our pleasure cruising. We have not and do not wish to ride out a thunder storm. Or sail when weather warnings exist. I reef around twenty knots plus especially if the gust spreads rouse round up. Sometimes in the hot middle of a clear glass lake we move to other parts of the lake where we might catch wind. I believe if you are moving at all under sail you are sailing! Other times we return to slip. Crank up the air conditioning. Take a nap. Such is sailing.
We sail an inland lake in Missouri and the summer winds sometimes wane. I watch temperature changes, humidity, cloud cover movement even birds to try and catch the wind. The sounds of wind tell of building pressures. . . the tinkle of haylards on masts, the creaking of docks, the swaying tops of distant trees, the gentle cradle rocking. Sometimes, I walk or drive to a shore point that lets me see the wave pattern or cat paws, looking also to see who's moving under sail. Listening to the vhf radio, talking to returning sailors, watching the weather report. . .when to sail or when not to sail is the question. We want at least 6 - 12 knots for our pleasure cruising. We have not and do not wish to ride out a thunder storm. Or sail when weather warnings exist. I reef around twenty knots plus especially if the gust spreads rouse round up. Sometimes in the hot middle of a clear glass lake we move to other parts of the lake where we might catch wind. I believe if you are moving at all under sail you are sailing! Other times we return to slip. Crank up the air conditioning. Take a nap. Such is sailing.
Great Lakes
It is not unusual for conditions do differ significantly from the forcast. It is not uncommen to be out sailing and listening to a forcast that seems from somewhere else - kind of like the guys at NOAA don't have any windows in the office. I would say, a day away, the are right more than they are wrong.
It is not unusual for conditions do differ significantly from the forcast. It is not uncommen to be out sailing and listening to a forcast that seems from somewhere else - kind of like the guys at NOAA don't have any windows in the office. I would say, a day away, the are right more than they are wrong.
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