Once again, I am new to sailing. I will be buying a Mac 25 tomorrow. I have read a few books and watched some videos. But none of them say what is the ideal weather to sail in. What should I look for in the weather forcast what should I shy away from. For a beginer what am I looking for.I know ,I know just get out there and sail. But is there an ideal weather to sail in ? From reading all of the posts I know Don't go out if its ready to storm.I have never sailed so I won't even entertain that thought. I will be sailing on the south shoures of Lake Pontchartrain. And want to have a good experince my first time out. any advice is appricated Thanks in advanced.
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Lake Ponchatrain
Hey Jacques, The lake can be very fine sailing. I would think winds of 10 knots or so would be just about perfect for starting out. Just keep in mind that Ponchatrain is a very large and shallow body of water. It can get pretty nasty in a blow. Very steep and choppy seas. Pay attention to which way the wind is blowing. Since your on the south shore, I would advise you to stay put if you have a 20 knot wind out of the north. At least untill you get a little bit of experience under your belt. Once you improve your skills, and learn your boat, you may actually enjoy those conditions.
Hey Jacques, The lake can be very fine sailing. I would think winds of 10 knots or so would be just about perfect for starting out. Just keep in mind that Ponchatrain is a very large and shallow body of water. It can get pretty nasty in a blow. Very steep and choppy seas. Pay attention to which way the wind is blowing. Since your on the south shore, I would advise you to stay put if you have a 20 knot wind out of the north. At least untill you get a little bit of experience under your belt. Once you improve your skills, and learn your boat, you may actually enjoy those conditions.
Wind
For lakes, I don't know, see other post. But generally for wind in a light sailboat: 0 knots - sandwiches and cards 5 knots - some scenic touring 10 knots - fun 15 knots - great fun 20 knots - hull speed. Maybe stay in the harbor if novice 25 knots - reef or stay in harbor 30 knots - experts only 35 knots - challenging even for experts 40 knots - Storm weather
For lakes, I don't know, see other post. But generally for wind in a light sailboat: 0 knots - sandwiches and cards 5 knots - some scenic touring 10 knots - fun 15 knots - great fun 20 knots - hull speed. Maybe stay in the harbor if novice 25 knots - reef or stay in harbor 30 knots - experts only 35 knots - challenging even for experts 40 knots - Storm weather
if you want to have a good experience the first
time............... pay an instructor to go along! Don't go out in anything over 10 knots... as in NO WHITECAPS. More importantly...before you even venture out, practice raising and lowering the sails a few times at the dock. Don't wait till you're halfway out to find out you've rigged it up wrong. Know where every control line is and what it does. Don't overtrim your sails. Stay close to the marina. Find a quiet place away from other boats and traffic. Practice your tacking and jibing, learning to stop the boat, heave to and anchor in this area. Finally, practice maneuvering your boat under power here also... so you'll be able to get into and out of the dock area without threatening the other boats.
time............... pay an instructor to go along! Don't go out in anything over 10 knots... as in NO WHITECAPS. More importantly...before you even venture out, practice raising and lowering the sails a few times at the dock. Don't wait till you're halfway out to find out you've rigged it up wrong. Know where every control line is and what it does. Don't overtrim your sails. Stay close to the marina. Find a quiet place away from other boats and traffic. Practice your tacking and jibing, learning to stop the boat, heave to and anchor in this area. Finally, practice maneuvering your boat under power here also... so you'll be able to get into and out of the dock area without threatening the other boats.
You will Know
Congradulations on your choice of a Mac 25. Excellent sailboat! This boat can really sail and when learning was my choice. Of course, I'm still learning to sail and always will be learning. Once you master controlling the boat with adjustment of sail and heading you will venture into more wind and chop until you reach a state that I call the "You'll Know" point. Listening to the beat of the wind in your ear, watching the white caps, seeing how the birds fly, experiencing the wind taking control of the sail if you don't have control, feeling the gusts of wind, sensing abilities to have fun being overpowered by concerns of safety, noticing the crews reaction to the situation ( wives are best at this ), seeing other sailboats folding or reefing, you'll know when its right to sail. Making the decision in slip versus under sail is the trick. Enjoy! Wish I had not sold the 25. On winter days, when the temperature reached fifty, I was sailing. Boat was easy to launch and had no systems to winterize. Used a 4 hp, four stroke outboard and had plenty of power.
Congradulations on your choice of a Mac 25. Excellent sailboat! This boat can really sail and when learning was my choice. Of course, I'm still learning to sail and always will be learning. Once you master controlling the boat with adjustment of sail and heading you will venture into more wind and chop until you reach a state that I call the "You'll Know" point. Listening to the beat of the wind in your ear, watching the white caps, seeing how the birds fly, experiencing the wind taking control of the sail if you don't have control, feeling the gusts of wind, sensing abilities to have fun being overpowered by concerns of safety, noticing the crews reaction to the situation ( wives are best at this ), seeing other sailboats folding or reefing, you'll know when its right to sail. Making the decision in slip versus under sail is the trick. Enjoy! Wish I had not sold the 25. On winter days, when the temperature reached fifty, I was sailing. Boat was easy to launch and had no systems to winterize. Used a 4 hp, four stroke outboard and had plenty of power.
Jacques - Go Sailing on Sunday..Mar 18th
The wind on Ponchartrain is supposed to be out of the south 5-15 tomorow, Sunday Mar 18th. When the wind is out of the south, you can scoot along the south shore seawall between Lakefront Airport and Southern Yacht Club (Orleans and Municiple Yacht Harbor Marinas) and have good wind but few waves.... only have to be a few hundred feet offshore. perfect for beam reach and learning how to sail....the wind usually shifts in a clockwise direction during the day on Ponchartrain, so the afternoon should be good. Where are you going to keep your new sailboat? Good luck..
The wind on Ponchartrain is supposed to be out of the south 5-15 tomorow, Sunday Mar 18th. When the wind is out of the south, you can scoot along the south shore seawall between Lakefront Airport and Southern Yacht Club (Orleans and Municiple Yacht Harbor Marinas) and have good wind but few waves.... only have to be a few hundred feet offshore. perfect for beam reach and learning how to sail....the wind usually shifts in a clockwise direction during the day on Ponchartrain, so the afternoon should be good. Where are you going to keep your new sailboat? Good luck..
The perfect day is
waking up and opening your eyes. Watching the sun rise with a cloudless blue sky and a slight breeze 10 to 15 MPH. Hoisting your sail, watching it fill with air and getting blown off shore. Then returning to port, dropping the sail, tying up and watching the sunset. Thats my definition of a perfect day. Thanks for asking. You put a smile on my face. Keep it up, Ctskip
waking up and opening your eyes. Watching the sun rise with a cloudless blue sky and a slight breeze 10 to 15 MPH. Hoisting your sail, watching it fill with air and getting blown off shore. Then returning to port, dropping the sail, tying up and watching the sunset. Thats my definition of a perfect day. Thanks for asking. You put a smile on my face. Keep it up, Ctskip
Mac 25 is a light boat
A friend owned one and we sailed together several times. Tha MAc 25 will do well on lighter breezes and probably start to have trouble after the wind gets to 20 knots. For a first sail shoot for 10-15knots but not over 15 knots. Preferablly not gusty.
A friend owned one and we sailed together several times. Tha MAc 25 will do well on lighter breezes and probably start to have trouble after the wind gets to 20 knots. For a first sail shoot for 10-15knots but not over 15 knots. Preferablly not gusty.
Ctskip nailed it
My wife says "The best day is waking up on the boat when the sun shines." Learning when NOT to go out is the most important thing you can learn (after reefing, which BTW, helps in that regard).
Keep reading. There's no "perfect" day, because any day on the boat is...it's liking asking your mother which girl is the Best wife for me (there's actually a TV commercial that asks that question, tongue in cheek - and I thought I was one of the only ones who rose to the bait...) Enjoy your new boat and a whole new world of friends and experiences. Oh, practice practice practice - everything especially docking. Since you only do it once a sail, it doesn't get the attention it deserves. Buy extra dock lines for traveling and leave your dock lines at the slip - learn to come into your slip without having to need anyone getting off the boat. Learn about the midships spring line. We could all go on and on...
My wife says "The best day is waking up on the boat when the sun shines." Learning when NOT to go out is the most important thing you can learn (after reefing, which BTW, helps in that regard).
Keep reading. There's no "perfect" day, because any day on the boat is...it's liking asking your mother which girl is the Best wife for me (there's actually a TV commercial that asks that question, tongue in cheek - and I thought I was one of the only ones who rose to the bait...) Enjoy your new boat and a whole new world of friends and experiences. Oh, practice practice practice - everything especially docking. Since you only do it once a sail, it doesn't get the attention it deserves. Buy extra dock lines for traveling and leave your dock lines at the slip - learn to come into your slip without having to need anyone getting off the boat. Learn about the midships spring line. We could all go on and on... 
I wont be able to sail tomorrow the boat isn't ready. I still need to get some blocks and pullies. if I had them you bet I would be out there tomorrow. The boat will be docked on the side of my house where I will be cleaning it tomorrow.It had been siting for three seasons.If some one could tell me how to do that link thing I would post some before and after pics and When I catch That Beautiful New Orleans Purple , blue and pink Sun set I could post it too. Jim you know that sun set.
No one has said what the water looks like
when the wind blows: 5 knots, Just some nice ripples, 8-10 The ripples get bigger and there may be a little white cap on the waves here and there. 10-12 there will be more white caps and you may grab for your hat once in a while. 15-18 knots the is blowing twice as hard as 8-10 knots. For your first few times out try to stick with the breeze under 10 knots. That will give you plenty of action but not too much. Also remember that the forecast uses average wind speed not maximum. so when the forecast says 8-10 you may expect gusts to 12-15 occasionally. Start slowly you can work your way up without being macho.
when the wind blows: 5 knots, Just some nice ripples, 8-10 The ripples get bigger and there may be a little white cap on the waves here and there. 10-12 there will be more white caps and you may grab for your hat once in a while. 15-18 knots the is blowing twice as hard as 8-10 knots. For your first few times out try to stick with the breeze under 10 knots. That will give you plenty of action but not too much. Also remember that the forecast uses average wind speed not maximum. so when the forecast says 8-10 you may expect gusts to 12-15 occasionally. Start slowly you can work your way up without being macho.
You have the right idea, Jacques
You have the right idea...as it warms up, the best sailing on the lake is in the evening...I sail a lot from about 5:00 p m until dark in the summer...the afternoon thunderstorms are gone, it is cooler, and you get a nice breeze, usually from about E/SE for a few hours until dark...then is when you can, right after sunset, catch that few moments when the water is deep lavender, the sunset has a gold color with pink rays coming from it like a Japanese Rising Sun flag. You are right, it is beautiful..only problem now is there are less boats around to enjoy it. The water does seem to have a color then that I have not noticed elsewhere...I think it is due to the water being relatively clear in the summer, but the bottom is black mud mostly...as you will find out when you pull up your anchor and try to clean it off..as far as posting a picture, you need to have it on your computer, and when you post, just check the box that says "I have a picture to post"...
You have the right idea...as it warms up, the best sailing on the lake is in the evening...I sail a lot from about 5:00 p m until dark in the summer...the afternoon thunderstorms are gone, it is cooler, and you get a nice breeze, usually from about E/SE for a few hours until dark...then is when you can, right after sunset, catch that few moments when the water is deep lavender, the sunset has a gold color with pink rays coming from it like a Japanese Rising Sun flag. You are right, it is beautiful..only problem now is there are less boats around to enjoy it. The water does seem to have a color then that I have not noticed elsewhere...I think it is due to the water being relatively clear in the summer, but the bottom is black mud mostly...as you will find out when you pull up your anchor and try to clean it off..as far as posting a picture, you need to have it on your computer, and when you post, just check the box that says "I have a picture to post"...
one more question jim
How do I make the pic smaller. Is it with the computer or the camera. Right know the pic is bigger than my monitor.And I think I read somewhere it can only be so big for this website.Thanks
How do I make the pic smaller. Is it with the computer or the camera. Right know the pic is bigger than my monitor.And I think I read somewhere it can only be so big for this website.Thanks
I'm no expert on this, but you may have to edit...
down to a certain image size to reduce the size of the file you are trying to post, Jacque...the instructions for posting the avatar say only 1000x1000 pixels, I am not sure about the regular posting of pictures...I have posted pictures I took with a regular digital camera set on high quality, and I have never had a problem. That may be a question for Phil, the site owner, or someone with more experience with cameras/this site..
down to a certain image size to reduce the size of the file you are trying to post, Jacque...the instructions for posting the avatar say only 1000x1000 pixels, I am not sure about the regular posting of pictures...I have posted pictures I took with a regular digital camera set on high quality, and I have never had a problem. That may be a question for Phil, the site owner, or someone with more experience with cameras/this site..
Use some sort of picture editing software
You can even use the basic MS Picture Manger. Click edit photo, open the photo and the select resize. It gives you a choice of what size to resize to. I think I usually use 800x1000. Good luck and I am looking forward to your pictures.
You can even use the basic MS Picture Manger. Click edit photo, open the photo and the select resize. It gives you a choice of what size to resize to. I think I usually use 800x1000. Good luck and I am looking forward to your pictures.
Take Sailing Lessons
Jacques, I agree with Joe. Hire an instructor and/or take lessons ASAP. The lessons are cost effective and you will quickly learn to enjoy sailing. A quick search of the web showed Pontchartrain Yacht Club: http://www.pontyc.org/ Good luck.
Jacques, I agree with Joe. Hire an instructor and/or take lessons ASAP. The lessons are cost effective and you will quickly learn to enjoy sailing. A quick search of the web showed Pontchartrain Yacht Club: http://www.pontyc.org/ Good luck.
Friday was a Good Day on Wheeler
It was good for me but I've been sailing 30+ years. We were getting gusts over 30 kts and steady 15-20. Actually had my rail buried a couple of times. It's a lot harder to bury my rail than it is on a mac 25. For about an hour we even rolled up the jib and moved pretty well on a reefed main. We were just getting knocked around too much with both sails. The fun part was beating upwindfor about 5 miles. Even the dodger didn't keep us dry as spray came over the bow. I asked the crew (my son and wife) if they wanted to anchor or motor but they said that the preferred beating into the wind. As usual the wind didn't play fair and would change direction too often. A mac 25 would have had a hard time. But to give the Mac it's due it will out run me when the wind is lighter. Can you reef your mainsail on your Mac?? My friends mainsail didn't have a reefing system and he just had one hank on sail. My Mac 26 had jiffy reefing and three sizes of hank on jibs. We were on Kentucky Lake one time and sailed all day on a double reefed main. But the Mac 26 is a different boat in many ways than a Mac 25. You want to know how to reef before the need arises. Lessons aren't needed by most people but won't hurt. Reading a good book and maybe sailing with a sailer friend a few times will get you off to a good start. I read and self taught sailing. But I started with a Sunfish then a laser. The transistion to a Bucanner 28 was a non event....
It was good for me but I've been sailing 30+ years. We were getting gusts over 30 kts and steady 15-20. Actually had my rail buried a couple of times. It's a lot harder to bury my rail than it is on a mac 25. For about an hour we even rolled up the jib and moved pretty well on a reefed main. We were just getting knocked around too much with both sails. The fun part was beating upwindfor about 5 miles. Even the dodger didn't keep us dry as spray came over the bow. I asked the crew (my son and wife) if they wanted to anchor or motor but they said that the preferred beating into the wind. As usual the wind didn't play fair and would change direction too often. A mac 25 would have had a hard time. But to give the Mac it's due it will out run me when the wind is lighter. Can you reef your mainsail on your Mac?? My friends mainsail didn't have a reefing system and he just had one hank on sail. My Mac 26 had jiffy reefing and three sizes of hank on jibs. We were on Kentucky Lake one time and sailed all day on a double reefed main. But the Mac 26 is a different boat in many ways than a Mac 25. You want to know how to reef before the need arises. Lessons aren't needed by most people but won't hurt. Reading a good book and maybe sailing with a sailer friend a few times will get you off to a good start. I read and self taught sailing. But I started with a Sunfish then a laser. The transistion to a Bucanner 28 was a non event....
You are in Good company
There are probably more Macgregor 25s than all other 25s combined!!!! Everyone that I've ever known that has owned one was very happy with the boat. I think that Macgregor made a major error in giving up making sailboats and starting to make their current ski/sailboats. But maybe I'm just too old fashioned.
There are probably more Macgregor 25s than all other 25s combined!!!! Everyone that I've ever known that has owned one was very happy with the boat. I think that Macgregor made a major error in giving up making sailboats and starting to make their current ski/sailboats. But maybe I'm just too old fashioned.
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