Given a choice, what are the toughest conditions you would consider sailing in? 15 knots with higher gusts... 20 knots with steep chop... or perhaps a 45 knot gale? Consider both sea conditions (wave and current) as well as wind conditions, what crew you’d rely on and how you’d manage getting in and out of your marina or trailer. Tell us your limits here, then vote in this week's Quick Quiz on the home page. (Discussion topic and quiz by Trevor MacLachlan)
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Glad you asked
Key word here is 'choice'. Let me start by saying that I love watching extreme sports, but I don't like to participating in them. I have been out sailing when the winds and waves kicked up, but I suppose that don't count. I have gone out when swift changes in tides made channel cuts impossible with a 9.9 evinrude outboard pusher aboard a 25 foot Macgregor and have bounced around in nearly eight foot seas. But my limit is 20kt wind with gusts no higher than 5kts. Waves/chop no larger than 4-5 foot 5 seconds apart min.
Key word here is 'choice'. Let me start by saying that I love watching extreme sports, but I don't like to participating in them. I have been out sailing when the winds and waves kicked up, but I suppose that don't count. I have gone out when swift changes in tides made channel cuts impossible with a 9.9 evinrude outboard pusher aboard a 25 foot Macgregor and have bounced around in nearly eight foot seas. But my limit is 20kt wind with gusts no higher than 5kts. Waves/chop no larger than 4-5 foot 5 seconds apart min.
Sweet Chesapeake
The limits going out are 20 knots with 3-4 ft. sea. The bay is a sailor's heaven but there are moments of pure hell if we don't watch the weather.
The limits going out are 20 knots with 3-4 ft. sea. The bay is a sailor's heaven but there are moments of pure hell if we don't watch the weather.
Single Reef
Pretty much if the weather calls for more than a single reef we stay at the dock. Now this is lake and bay sailing!!!! When the waves in the gulf are over 6' we usually stay in the bay. We have poked our heads out a few times to play in the rough stuff for an hour or so but after 6' it just isn't as much fun as staying in the bay. Last sail the wind was supposed to be 10-15 MPH and after we sailed about 10 miles down the lake it turned to 15 kts with 25MPH gusts. We had up all of the sails at first and after a while rolled up the jib. When things didn't improve after and hour and we weren't making much progress beating directly into the wind with main alone we rolled out the jib and had some exciting sailing!!!! We were enjoying it enough that we sailed a little longer even after getting to the marina. The wind did get the last laugh. As I was backing into the slip in near calm conditions a big gust pushed us into the dock. My wife already had a bow line but the wind was so strong that she couldn't pull us off of the dock. After I secured a stern line and went forward to pull us off of the dock the wind quit!!! Sometimes the wind seems to have a mind...a mean mind with malevolent intentions!!!! In my younger days I would take my laser out in 25kts of wind in a small lake for some exciting sailing. I tried sailing the laser in the open ocean in high winds but tended to bury the bow into the backs of waves resulting in a end over end flip. But in a small lake it would go like a speedboat.
Pretty much if the weather calls for more than a single reef we stay at the dock. Now this is lake and bay sailing!!!! When the waves in the gulf are over 6' we usually stay in the bay. We have poked our heads out a few times to play in the rough stuff for an hour or so but after 6' it just isn't as much fun as staying in the bay. Last sail the wind was supposed to be 10-15 MPH and after we sailed about 10 miles down the lake it turned to 15 kts with 25MPH gusts. We had up all of the sails at first and after a while rolled up the jib. When things didn't improve after and hour and we weren't making much progress beating directly into the wind with main alone we rolled out the jib and had some exciting sailing!!!! We were enjoying it enough that we sailed a little longer even after getting to the marina. The wind did get the last laugh. As I was backing into the slip in near calm conditions a big gust pushed us into the dock. My wife already had a bow line but the wind was so strong that she couldn't pull us off of the dock. After I secured a stern line and went forward to pull us off of the dock the wind quit!!! Sometimes the wind seems to have a mind...a mean mind with malevolent intentions!!!! In my younger days I would take my laser out in 25kts of wind in a small lake for some exciting sailing. I tried sailing the laser in the open ocean in high winds but tended to bury the bow into the backs of waves resulting in a end over end flip. But in a small lake it would go like a speedboat.
10-15 G20
seems to be the most I can handle singlehanded (H-27). It becomes too much work otherwise unless it is steady w/o gusts then perfect day!! Without the ability to double reef and roll in the genoa, I suspect one would have to knock 5 kts off those numbers. The most I have had to deal with on the Potomac River (Occoquan Bay)is 1-2 ft chop because of winds. Unless you consider the wake problem of power boats. That in itself can get sportie just going in and out of the 170ft channel with 40-50ft power yatchs and little consideration other than getting somewhere fast. Two passing on the starboard and on coming at you at port make for some real rock and roll times and the only time I have had water over the bow and the rails. Oh well, the price one pays to sail.
seems to be the most I can handle singlehanded (H-27). It becomes too much work otherwise unless it is steady w/o gusts then perfect day!! Without the ability to double reef and roll in the genoa, I suspect one would have to knock 5 kts off those numbers. The most I have had to deal with on the Potomac River (Occoquan Bay)is 1-2 ft chop because of winds. Unless you consider the wake problem of power boats. That in itself can get sportie just going in and out of the 170ft channel with 40-50ft power yatchs and little consideration other than getting somewhere fast. Two passing on the starboard and on coming at you at port make for some real rock and roll times and the only time I have had water over the bow and the rails. Oh well, the price one pays to sail.
Wind direction a big factor for me.
On the Chesapeake, so much depends on wind direction. A month ago I was out in 25 with gusts to 35 coming straight down the length of the bay from the north. This set up an intolerable chop against the current and we ducked out quickly. Last Saturday, similar winds or maybe a bit less were out of the west. Going up or down the bay within a mile or two of the western shore was great sailing. I'm more likely to go out alone in 25 knots since my usual crew gets tense over about 18. Gary B. Catalina 350
On the Chesapeake, so much depends on wind direction. A month ago I was out in 25 with gusts to 35 coming straight down the length of the bay from the north. This set up an intolerable chop against the current and we ducked out quickly. Last Saturday, similar winds or maybe a bit less were out of the west. Going up or down the bay within a mile or two of the western shore was great sailing. I'm more likely to go out alone in 25 knots since my usual crew gets tense over about 18. Gary B. Catalina 350
Tough Get Going
This season we got more comfortable with stronger winds and waves. On our H356 18 knots was about all we cared to handle with maybe 2 to 4 foot seas. On our H44 we have been out in winds 20 to 25 with gusts to 30 and while not ideal we felt very safe. Of course we need to consider the waves and direction. Biggest waves we have been in is probably 6 to 8 on the nose. Again very uncomfortable but doable. If the waves were on our beam I am sure we would have felt a lot worse.
This season we got more comfortable with stronger winds and waves. On our H356 18 knots was about all we cared to handle with maybe 2 to 4 foot seas. On our H44 we have been out in winds 20 to 25 with gusts to 30 and while not ideal we felt very safe. Of course we need to consider the waves and direction. Biggest waves we have been in is probably 6 to 8 on the nose. Again very uncomfortable but doable. If the waves were on our beam I am sure we would have felt a lot worse.
In the little boat? 20-25 with crew but
I've been out in 45-60 and 10-12 foot chop on Oh Joy without issue. I guess that single handing would be 20-25 because of docking difficulty but with crew, 30-35 is the max without working too hard.
I've been out in 45-60 and 10-12 foot chop on Oh Joy without issue. I guess that single handing would be 20-25 because of docking difficulty but with crew, 30-35 is the max without working too hard.
Choice
The most I've gone out in by choice was 25-30, with gusts going a bit higher. Had the second reef set before we ever left the dock. Wind was from the north, so it had had a while to build up coming down the lake and waves were 6-8 feet easy. I don't think I'd willing head out in that with my family (boat could handle it, don't think they could), but it was a sailing weekend with 2 of my crew buddies. We said "Hey, we came to sail, let's sail!". It was the most that I had had the boat out in at that point, and I was confident with them that we'd be alright and was curious to see how the boat would handle. Boat did great, we got soaked, and we all learned a little bit more about our skills, about the boat, and about each other. T J
The most I've gone out in by choice was 25-30, with gusts going a bit higher. Had the second reef set before we ever left the dock. Wind was from the north, so it had had a while to build up coming down the lake and waves were 6-8 feet easy. I don't think I'd willing head out in that with my family (boat could handle it, don't think they could), but it was a sailing weekend with 2 of my crew buddies. We said "Hey, we came to sail, let's sail!". It was the most that I had had the boat out in at that point, and I was confident with them that we'd be alright and was curious to see how the boat would handle. Boat did great, we got soaked, and we all learned a little bit more about our skills, about the boat, and about each other. T J
Having taken a sailboat out of port during storm
conditions and lived to tell about it, I like to believe that I've learned from past ignorance. No more. Done. Flat water for me.
conditions and lived to tell about it, I like to believe that I've learned from past ignorance. No more. Done. Flat water for me.
With the 387
we are comfortable here in the Chesapeake Bay going out if it is blowing up to about 30 to 35 knots. Much more than that and we generally just stay put. Of course if we are under way, that is a different story. We have been in 45 to 50 knots, it didn't take long to have the equal of 3 reefs on the main (in mast furler) and the head sail long put away.
we are comfortable here in the Chesapeake Bay going out if it is blowing up to about 30 to 35 knots. Much more than that and we generally just stay put. Of course if we are under way, that is a different story. We have been in 45 to 50 knots, it didn't take long to have the equal of 3 reefs on the main (in mast furler) and the head sail long put away.
I hear ya TJ
We left under Gale Warnings because we drove 75 miles to sail the boat and had to have it outta there. We didn't put a reef in until over 30 konts and then after switching from 150 to staysail, dowsing the mizzen and one reef in the main, left it that way until we came in. Was it intense at times yes, fun, hell yeah! We also learned much about the boat and more about each other.
We left under Gale Warnings because we drove 75 miles to sail the boat and had to have it outta there. We didn't put a reef in until over 30 konts and then after switching from 150 to staysail, dowsing the mizzen and one reef in the main, left it that way until we came in. Was it intense at times yes, fun, hell yeah! We also learned much about the boat and more about each other.
Shake-Down
The last several weeks I have been seriously shaking-down my new boat and the weather has been cooperating. Three weeks ago I headed out single-handed into storm warnings to see how she handles 45 and 50 knot winds, and was very pleased. Last Friday I sailed up from Point Roberts to Vancouver's Coal Harbour in 25 to 35 knot winds with length of Georgia Strait for fetch, and visibility was down to less than 2 miles in heavy downpour for the last half of the trip. Yesterday I headed out in Gale warnings to sail the 40 or so miles from Vancouver back down to Point Roberts. Winds were in the 20 to 30 knot range from the south and south-east, so again the fetch was the length of the Strait. Visibility was down to 2-3 miles in heavy rain for the entire trip. I was bucking a strong flood current the whole way, and crossing the arms of the Fraser River there was some very interesting chop added to the 6-8 foot seas into which I was heading. Sequitur seems to thrive in these conditions, and while quite wet, I was comfortable, secure and surprisingly relaxed through these recent moderately adverse-condition sailing experiences. Although these were only 4 to 6 hour experiences, I am now quite confident in my ability to single-handedly handle getting caught in a storm in Sequitur, and I know that she will easily take much more should she need to. As the autumn and winter progress, I am certain that I will find more blows in which to play and practice, though finding some without all that rain would be nice.
The last several weeks I have been seriously shaking-down my new boat and the weather has been cooperating. Three weeks ago I headed out single-handed into storm warnings to see how she handles 45 and 50 knot winds, and was very pleased. Last Friday I sailed up from Point Roberts to Vancouver's Coal Harbour in 25 to 35 knot winds with length of Georgia Strait for fetch, and visibility was down to less than 2 miles in heavy downpour for the last half of the trip. Yesterday I headed out in Gale warnings to sail the 40 or so miles from Vancouver back down to Point Roberts. Winds were in the 20 to 30 knot range from the south and south-east, so again the fetch was the length of the Strait. Visibility was down to 2-3 miles in heavy rain for the entire trip. I was bucking a strong flood current the whole way, and crossing the arms of the Fraser River there was some very interesting chop added to the 6-8 foot seas into which I was heading. Sequitur seems to thrive in these conditions, and while quite wet, I was comfortable, secure and surprisingly relaxed through these recent moderately adverse-condition sailing experiences. Although these were only 4 to 6 hour experiences, I am now quite confident in my ability to single-handedly handle getting caught in a storm in Sequitur, and I know that she will easily take much more should she need to. As the autumn and winter progress, I am certain that I will find more blows in which to play and practice, though finding some without all that rain would be nice.
My boat can take much more than I am willing to
take and for me if it has to be very much work I want to be paid. Sailed into some nasty confused waves this morning 10-15 knots but 3-4 foot wave from two directions. Just too much work and not enough fun. After about an hour it calmed down to a steady wind and wave pattern and we had a pleasant sail.
take and for me if it has to be very much work I want to be paid. Sailed into some nasty confused waves this morning 10-15 knots but 3-4 foot wave from two directions. Just too much work and not enough fun. After about an hour it calmed down to a steady wind and wave pattern and we had a pleasant sail.
Going out....
If I understand the question right... choice can be read "best sailing". For me 15 to 20 knots are my favorite conditions... Not too much work... nice speed.... a chance to feel the power of Mother Nature... and hear the wind….. Over 20 knots I have to start reefing.... as I close into 30 knots everything gets thrown around in the boat..... Now it is starting to feel like work.... Wait I went sailing to relax, not work… So once the winds are over 25 knots I do not go out unless there is some place I need to go or someone needs help moving their boat or some asks me to go sailing with them or some asks if they can go sailing with me or …… What can I say, “Even a bad day on the water beats a good day at the office.” http://www.sailingseadragon.com/BadDayWater.htm Garner
If I understand the question right... choice can be read "best sailing". For me 15 to 20 knots are my favorite conditions... Not too much work... nice speed.... a chance to feel the power of Mother Nature... and hear the wind….. Over 20 knots I have to start reefing.... as I close into 30 knots everything gets thrown around in the boat..... Now it is starting to feel like work.... Wait I went sailing to relax, not work… So once the winds are over 25 knots I do not go out unless there is some place I need to go or someone needs help moving their boat or some asks me to go sailing with them or some asks if they can go sailing with me or …… What can I say, “Even a bad day on the water beats a good day at the office.” http://www.sailingseadragon.com/BadDayWater.htm Garner
sunday we had 30 to 50mph
and 5' swells on the pond and i was sick cause my boat was on the hard waiting for parts that never showed *CRY
and 5' swells on the pond and i was sick cause my boat was on the hard waiting for parts that never showed *CRY
What's it like?
My son brought a friend up from Cincinnati - where the Ohio river is his boating location. He wanted to "experiance" the winds and waves of a boisterous day on Lake Erie. So - with 25-30 knot winds and 4-6 foot waves - we went out. This was definitely a "fun once" experiance - but I wouldn't make a habit of it! Bill on STARGAZER
My son brought a friend up from Cincinnati - where the Ohio river is his boating location. He wanted to "experiance" the winds and waves of a boisterous day on Lake Erie. So - with 25-30 knot winds and 4-6 foot waves - we went out. This was definitely a "fun once" experiance - but I wouldn't make a habit of it! Bill on STARGAZER
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