When the wind turns squirrely

[ShawnL]

I've had this issue happen twice now, in about the same spot on the lake and am trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong. I'm sailing in a lake about 3 miles wide and 5 miles long (connected to Lake Superior). On the way back to our mooring we were close-hauled with the wind on the starboard.

We were making about 4 knots (Catalina 22) and our current course we was going to take us to close enough to the bay we moor in to just turn into the wind and drop the sails. Then within the space of 30 minutes or so, the wind shifted multiple times, every time we'd tack we'd make a couple hundred yards and it would shift again.

I know what's causing it (wind coming down the valley) but I'm wondering what we could have done better to continue to make forward progress (ended up firing up the motor and motoring back). I don't mind having to tack a bunch of times to head up wind, that's easy enough. -- but we must have done it 5 times and weren't able to go more than a 1/4 mile toward our destination. It seemed like no matter how far we tried to bear off the wind to keep close hauled or on a close reach the wind kept shifting to straight on our bow.

 

[sail sfbay]

Maybe longer tacks on a beam reach?

 

[jssailem]

Shawn...
Without images of the surrounding hills, one can only guess at the conditions.

Sailing lakes is an environment that a sailor expects the wind to be fickle and change direction. In a valley the wind can be over the top of the valley and be calm on the water. Or it can come rushing down on one side and crash over a boat like a wave swirling about in all directions.

When the wind is blowing up against a side hill or a stand of trees expect soem bounce back. This may actually be an aid as the bounce back can form a lift that you can ride or it may force you to tack away.

It is one of those experiences you need to explore and record so that you can apply the solutions as the dynamics change.

 

[jssailem]

The 2 larger lakes that appear in your area Torch and Portage look to be large water lakes with moderate elevations surrounding the lakes.

Perhaps you just experienced a day with fickle down drafts from surrounding clouds.

The study of wind can be complex.

 

[shemandr]

That's what auxiliary motors are for. There's no shame in using it. You're not doing anything wrong - there's just not a sailing breeze. If you like the challenge of sailing to your mooring by all means go for it. But if the winds dies and you are tacking and not going anywhere, why ruin an otherwise good sailing day with an artificially imposed end point. Motor to the mooring and enjoy your favorite beverage while putting the boat away. Sailing is a kinetic sport. If you're not moving it ain't fun.

 

[Jacktar]

Plus if you have to dodge traffic coming in or out having motor can avoid crashes, not to mention insurers reluctant to cover you because your were not prudent (called the general prudential rule).

 

[rgranger]

I've done a lot of lake sailing. Over time you get a feel for how the wind will behave under certain conditions.... but it is different on each lake. I suspect that you will get better at anticipating how the wind will shift and what shore to hug and make better time after you have sailed in this area a little bit more.... and then you will be the guy who wins the regatta.

As an example of how lakes can be fickle... in the dog days of summer, Smith Mountain Lake (where I have spent a lot of time) will create its own local high pressure due to water evaporation. The lake sits in a mountain bowl so it effects the wind. The wind dies down every afternoon around 1600h. Then picks back up around 1730h. You can almost set your watch to it. So we start looking for a cove to drop anchor in around 1500h and we swim and snack until the wind picks back up. It took a few seasons of getting becalmed everyday at 1600 before I picked up on it.

In your situation, you are getting eddy currents around points of land that cause the wind to cyclone. (Imagine water flowing past a partially submerged log)

Watch the catclaws on the water and try to imagine the swirling wind in your minds eye that would cause that sort of water patern... match that against the featurs on shore (and stay out of the smooth water) and you will be able to better-skirt the edges of the eddies and stay in the "good" wind longer.

 

[Roadking Larry]

On the lake I sail on I've seen two boats on reciprocal courses, both sailing close hauled a couple of hundred yards apart.

 

[Orbweaver]

That pretty much explains almost every sail I've had on Flathead lake.
It''s rather rare for us to get steady winds from the same direction.

 

[LeeandRick]

Buy the book High Performance Sailing By Frank Bethwaite. This book will explain the causes of your squirrely wind, and how best to handle the situation. I still refer to my autographed copy often.

 

[DArcy]

@ShawnL Lake sailing sure can be challenging. When racing we know the wind gets shifty closer to shore and learn to expect it. The best advice I can give is tack on the knocks. Your boat is quick to tack and won't lose much speed so work with the shifts and be ready to tack as soon as the wind heads you by more than a few degrees. Practice trying to predict the shifts. You may be able to see a pattern, there is often a loose period to the shifts which may be between 2 to 7 minutes.

Watch the water, when you see a puff coming you can sometimes predict if it will be a lift or knock depending on what side it approaches from. If you are on Starboard tack and you see a puff coming down more to your starboard (windward side) it will likely be a lift, but if it is more too your port (leeward side) it is probably a knock. Puffs accelerate the wind which creates low pressure along the edges, this lower pressure draws air in from around it. In order to really take advantage of the shifts you need to be focused on the jib luff telltales and make sure the sails are trimmed for the wind.

Try to stay in the pressure (higher wind) as well. Watch for puffs coming down the lake and head towards them before they get to you.

It can be fun trying to get the most out of the wind in a responsive boat like yours.

 

[Mikeeder1972]

That pretty much explains almost every sail I've had on Flathead lake.
It''s rather rare for us to get steady winds from the same direction.

Yep, I will vouch for Orbweaver, regarding fickle winds on Flathead Lake. in fact I will be heading out tomorrow for a multiday sail and I am crossing my fingers we get 1 solid day like last year's trip....Day 2 left Finley Point at like 1:00 and popped over to Wildhorse, then up and arrived in Bigfork at 5:30. Been sailing on that lake for 17 years and NEVER had a day like that, I mean perfect steady wind everywhere we went, cause it wasn't a straight let's see how fast we can get up the lake, hell I never even plan to sail the entire lake in a day, let alone half. we will see how she goes this trip....

 

[Orbweaver]

I'm headed up tomorrow for our last full weekend before haul out, maybe I'll see you up there!

 

[Mikeeder1972]

I'm headed up tomorrow for our last full weekend before haul out, maybe I'll see you up there!

Nice, yep looking forward to it!

 

[DougM]

The 2 larger lakes that appear in your area Torch and Portage look to be large water lakes with moderate elevations surrounding the lake

Torch and Portage are large and the first ones I thought of were in the Lower Peninsula and not close together. The OP is inthe Upper Peninsula and and he is on lakes of the same name. With upwards of 10,000 lakes in this state, people apparently ran out of logical names. There are several lakes in both peninsulas with the same names.
(Just a piece of worthless trivia for those not familiar with Michigan… )

In any case, inland lake sailing requires local knowledge.