When Does the Sailing Season Begin?

[dlochner]

From the picture, it looks like you have to drop your mast to use the travel lift?

Yes the mast comes down every year. Because we do it so often, it is really a quick job. Once the mast is ready, it only takes about 15 minutes to pick it and put in place. Then a little while to get tuned. Same coming down, once it is ready, 15 minutes or so and its down.

While taking down each year adds some work, it also makes it easy to inspect and maintain. Much easier to run new wires, check and replacing rigging, etc. etc. The boat also winters in a pretty exposed location, there is nothing between the boat and the CN Tower in Toronto but 150 miles of open water. Not exposing the mast to that weather, ice, sleet, and snow, and 50 mph winds is a good thing.

Here's a link to the marina webcam: http://fairpointmarina.com/marina-cam/

 

[RussC]

Ours sailing season began last week.... but may have a few more intermissions until April

 

[pateco]

Yes the mast comes down every year. Because we do it so often, it is really a quick job. Once the mast is ready, it only takes about 15 minutes to pick it and put in place. Then a little while to get tuned. Same coming down, once it is ready, 15 minutes or so and its down.

While taking down each year adds some work, it also makes it easy to inspect and maintain. Much easier to run new wires, check and replacing rigging, etc. etc. The boat also winters in a pretty exposed location, there is nothing between the boat and the CN Tower in Toronto but 150 miles of open water. Not exposing the mast to that weather, ice, sleet, and snow, and 50 mph winds is a good thing.

Here's a link to the marina webcam: http://fairpointmarina.com/marina-cam/

Wow, that looks cold today.

Here is a link to our inlet Web cam Hillsboro Lighhouse Cam

 

[jssailem]

Way to go @RussC . That has to be an early start. Having had such a mild winter this year it makes sense to take advantage.
My weather forecaster indicates we may still have a chance for more snow this month. Then most likely rain. We can use the rain. It has been dry and that will make for an uncomfortable summer.
Sail On.

 

[Capt jgw]

I just got done blowing the six inches of snow we got today out of the driveway. Sailing season? I can't think that far ahead.

 

[dlochner]

Wow, that looks cold today.

It's a balmy 24 degrees, much better than a month ago when it didn't get above 0.

Yesterday we passed the 100 inches of snow mark. We're about 10 inches ahead of schedule.

 

[RussC]

Way to go @RussC . That has to be an early start. Having had such a mild winter this year it makes sense to take advantage.
My weather forecaster indicates we may still have a chance for more snow this month. Then most likely rain. We can use the rain. It has been dry and that will make for an uncomfortable summer.
Sail On.

Yup, we also keep hearing (educated) rumors that the end of Feb, March and possibly into April will be much more "winter like" than we've been seeing so far. another reason to take advantage of any opportunity as it presents itself.
April 2nd was our first sail of the 2017 season!

 

[Boomer54]

Below is our marina today. Officially, boating season in Lake Michigan is April 1-October 31. Our splash date it April 23rd.

 

[Tally Ho]

Our marina usually opens April 1. May not have water and restrooms open if it is still cold, but as long as the ice is out, they will stick us in the water.

Admiral and I have been enjoying a few weeks R&R in Maui,

and neighbor sent me this photo of our house this morning....looks like we got lots of snow while we were gone. Damn, it is going to be a long winter



Greg

 

[Will Gilmore]

Around here, this is how you know sailing season is getting close

- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Boomer54]

Around here, this is how you know sailing season is getting close

- Will (Dragonfly)

Oh yeah, the old Ford/Chevy submarine races!

 

[dlochner]

Oh yeah, the old Ford/Chevy submarine races!

Isn't that a Dodge Ram? Probably the reason the ice broke.

 

[Cowpokee]

Our season starts Jan 1st, even when we have to break through the ice to do it.

DAMN THE TORPEDOES, FULL SPEED AHEAD!

 

[Will Gilmore]

Oh yeah, the old Ford/Chevy submarine races!

It's a race to the bottom.

- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Dalliance]

Launch day for me is usually mid to late May. The last time we launched in mid-April it snowed on the trip to the harbor. I’ll start my spring boat projects in early April. Late March if we get a early break in the weather. Last year we had some nice warm weather in February and I got a jump on the spring projects.
This year I have a big winter project which I hope to have completed before boat maintenance season starts. It’s a complete gut-renovation of my loft condo. The house plants moved to the neighbors, my stuff all went into storage on Monday, and I am in an AirBnB apartment. It’s scheduled to take one month. So it should actually be done by about April. We’ll see. The demo work this week turned up no surprises, so that’s a good sign.

 

[dlochner]

So it should actually be done by about April.

Optimism is always good in these matters.

 

[pateco]

Here are some pictures of this weekends Chili Cook-off Cruise of the Hillsboro Inlet Sailing Club.
We had about 25 boats attend, and 15 entries into the Chili Contest. (My chili did not win)

 

[jssailem]

Bad luck Chip. What chili recipe did win? Exotic meats, over the top heat, Beans Beans Beans?

And to note your Hurricane Mathew Surviving boat looks pretty good.

 

[pateco]

Bad luck Chip. What chili recipe did win? Exotic meats, over the top heat, Beans Beans Beans?

It was a blind tasting, and I was not one of the judges, so I don't know exactly which one I tasted was the winner. There were some good ones, and some weird ones including one made with i believe, calves liver? My favorite other than my own, was a white been chili made with pulled pork.

And to note your Hurricane Mathew Surviving boat looks pretty good.

Both Mathew and Irma under her belt with no damage. Picture below from Saturday evening. I used quite a few bumpers to protect the Benteau 331 that allowed me to raft with them LOL

 

[jssailem]

Photos show you were having fun.
My wife has been making a white bean chili with Chicken. The flavors of a chicken enchilada with a touch of cinnamon.
An enjoyable meal.
We will snap some shots of our winter cruise First of March.