What kind of wind do you sail for fun?

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HOW Editorial

How much wind is enough to get your hands twitching for a sheet? What does it take to draw a tiny bead of saliva to the corner of your mouth, and make you fish out the keys to the dock lock? Are you most comfortable in wind that allows level wine glasses... or is a romp in the blow of San Francisco Bay more your style? Tell us about your anemometer heaven here.
 
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Jay Hill

First...then...

Of course, everyday is different depending on mood, exhaustion level, and crew (if any), but anything below 12-14 is reserved for friends and drinks/eats on a "comfy lil' cruise," and maintenance. HOWever, if the wind picks up a bit while working on the boat, the maintenance gets put off until that evening/the next day. Personal preference is 20+ with waves big enough to make lots of spray in the sunshine. 30+ depends on the temperature outside; must be above 60 degrees to sail in 30+ (unless unavoidable) to keep comfort/fun factor high. 40+ is avoided as much as possible to keep my poor ol' boat from getting damaged. 50+ still scares the begeezes out of me and is out of the question for my boat, but run into it occassionally while in Gulf Stream.
 
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Steve Beynon

Who's on first

I enjoy the odd day with a good blow 30+ but for the most part I am of an age where I would just as soon relax a bit and enjoy the beautifull scenery of the North Channel. The best 30+ day I ever had, we were heading down the East side of the Bruce Peninsula about a kilometer offshore in a steady 30+ blow. The waves were only about 2 footers and we were on a beam reach. We put up the cockpit table sat back on the lee side and ate chips and salsa for an hour and a half without having to tough the wheel That was sailing at its greatest
 
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G. Baggett

Now that depends!

After spending the last few months bobbing around in little or no wind on S.F. Bay, I can't wait for the Summer blow. Ask me in August, I'll be looking forward to Fall!
 
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Michael Cohn

What works for me...

is about 20 kts, give or take 5. with guests, about 10 is better. MC
 
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Mark Johnson

Well...we like..

15 knots of breeze and so does the boat. She just gets into the grove and goes. Above 15 knots the guests who are not sailors start to get nervous. 25 knots and the first mates gets nervous, and at 30 knots the Captain starts to get nervous! Mark Johnson
 
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Jim rice

"All things in moderation...."

We prefer 10-15 kts. Past about 20 kts we'll take our 20-year-old H27 into port. Of course, wind direction translates into fetch, so the direction matters too. After all, why stress an older boat? (Or do you consider 20-30 kts for this boat stressful). PS--15 kts includes one reef in main.
 
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Jim O'Brien

South ...

I really like around 15-20 steady for my H33. Since I sail on Long Island sound, a southerly wind accomodates a nice reach either going or coming. Seems like evertime we "go out east" the breeze is right on the nose. But anything is better than "in irons".
 
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Ron

Thar She Blows!

When it's just my wife and me in our H37C we prefer 20 to 25 Usually at 25 we drop the jib and go with staysail and main. When friends are aboard, which isn't often, we prefer 15 to 20. Once we had friends (a couple) out with us in 25 and gusty and the woman freaked. She ruined the whole day and we had to take them in. She kept screaming, "This sucks, I'm scared, this sucks." She was beyond reason. But, for the most part, Captain Debbie and I like it a bit breezy... Ron
 
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John Allison

Don't give a #%@^

I really should not say that I don't give a hoot for that is not quite true. What I should say is that I love sailing and anytime that your on the water is better than a good day at the office. I prefer winds in the 10 to 15 knot range but 15 to 20 is fine. Less than 10 is fine too (as long as its not Saturday or Sunday when the speed boat chop can make it miserable). 20+ knots is fun as long as the plus does not become too plusy (prefer not to be solo). Get the right sails up and the right trim and all wind speeds, within reason, are totally acceptable. There is a sailing experience to fit each mood / each expectation. There are those days when I am totally lazy and just enjoy laying back, head proped on the life line, cold beer in hand, just enjoying being out .....less than 10 knots (especially during the week) is totally acceptable. Then there are those days when just cruising along is not enough: spray in the face, carrying all the sail she is capable of safely handling, sailing on the edge, that's what the doctor ordered. I guess what I am saying is that sailing is a lot of things to a lot of people. It is just that to me ..... beauty, artistry, solitude, peace and tranquility, pure excitement. Each condition fits a need (less than 10, 10-15, 15-20, 20+): they are all part of that total experience. Perhaps it is as someone once wrote ..... "Sailing is not a matter of life and death, it's much more important than that."
 
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Geoff McLaughlin

Push the Envelope a Little

I have had my H34 only 2 years now. When I first got her, and was sailing with a much more experienced friend from Boston to RI down Buzzards Bay in moderate air, I learned my first lesson: that I get nervous way before my boat will have any problem. At the same time, having the confidence to handle increasing winds and sea states takes time and is found only by sailing in same. So, I am always happy to sail in heavy air, and this year was going out in 35 plus in the late fall when everyone else was tucked in. Of course, in the coastal waters up here, you can often sail in this kind of wind off a lee shore, which is much less of a challenge, but we were out there plenty in SW winds, with big waves to boot. Only had one really scary time, when coming out of Wesport, you basically sail around a protected corner and straight into breakers - and we sailed right into a breaking 12 footer - kind of freaked me out, too tough to turn around (so we sailed like crazy all day and ended up put in to East Greenwhich RI - Oh well, had to take another day to sail her back the next day in light air and nice sunshine - what a bummer!) Despite getting a knock for being light, this boat does very well, just need to decrease the canvas, but she really does ok. I say: make sure your rig is in shape, get at least the minimum safety gear, and then sail in a little heavier air each time. It is fun and rewarding, and makes you a better sailor. When the wife and kids are aboard, that's a whole different story, and 15-20 knts w/4-6 is about it.
 
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HOW Editorial

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz w/e 2/14/00: What kind of wind do you sail for fun?? 76% 11-18 knots (357) 12% 19-24 knots (57) 5% under 10 knots (28) 2% more than 25 knots (12)
 
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