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Season winding down but still nice sailing

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/01/2006 : 12:38:56

I have not been out sailing since July 4th weekend (it's been a busy summer with a new job and too many other demands on my time), but I finally made it out to the boat yesterday. Autumn is upon us; Yesterday's high was only about 72°F. The trees are starting to drop leaves and the days are getting noticeably shorter. There were only two other boat trailers in the launch ramp parking lot when I arrived at 6:00am (probably bass fishermen), and I didn't see another boat launched until 9:00am. I love this time of year at Folsom Lake. Only a handful of boaters are out, and I feel like I have the whole lake to myself. Even better, there was some breeze blowing! Autumn wind conditions at Folsom Lake are generally pretty calm, so sailing is a hit or miss proposition. Fortunately for me and the three or four other sailors who went out, a weak, slow moving cold front came through about noon, and it brought a 6~8 kt southeast breeze that lasted all day, until well after sunset. At times it was enough to get the boat up to 6.2 kts on a close reach, which is about as fast as Quiet Time ever goes, so it was a great ride. I sailed up South Fork and anchored in New York Cove for three hours, and had a nice nap, then sailed back out and all the way across the lake to Beale's Point (this is the northwest corner of the lake, opposite the Marina). It was then 18:05 and the sun was pretty low so I headed back for the marina, with a beautiful sunset behind me all the way. I had originally planned to spend the night, but discovered the boat's battery voltage was very low, only 11.5V, despite the fact that it is connected full time to a 50 watt solar panel. There was plenty of electrolyte in each cell, so I guess the battery has an internal short. It came with the boat when I bought it, so it's at least 3 years old; I guess it's service life is up. Anyway, with a dying battery, I decided to call it a day, so I pulled out and got the boat back into dry storage, where I spent the next hour pulling out the defective battery. It's now in the back of my truck and I will swap it for a new one next weekend. Our sailing club has two more Folsom Lake cruises planned, Columbus Day weekend and Halloween weekend (and possibly Veteran's Day weekend), then we will go into winter hibernation until next year. March 24-25, 2007 will be the "First Of Spring" cruise, our opening day event for Folsom Lake.

Larry Charlot
Catalina 25WK/TR Mk. IV #5857 "Quiet Time"
Folsom Lake, CA

"You might get there faster in a powerboat, but in a sailboat, you're already there"

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2006 : 15:08:53

Hi Larry, I just got back from the boat and had a great sail myself. Here in Michigan we are seeing the leafs turn color already. I sailed out Lk St. Clair about ten miles on a beam reach and sailed back on a beam reach. The winds were west at 10 to 15. A few clouds in the sky and three different sailboat races going on in different parts of the lake. I was a beautiful sight. Cheers.

Edited by - on

existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2006 : 16:59:10

We sailed yesterday for 4 & 1/2 hours, winds started out around 12 kts, and had reached the 18-20 kts area by later afternoon. They were peeking at 25 when we picked up our mooring, made rolling the main a PIA.
Anyway, gorgeous sail, one of the most beautiful tmesof year here,mid 50's which isn't realy cold to us and sunny.
It's going to be tough to pull her out at the end of the month. 5 month season sux likes a Roomba.

Edited by - on

John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2006 : 07:56:37

Had a nice sail on Saturday. Temps started out around 50, then moved up to about 60 for the high but sunny all day. Winds were brisk in the upper teens to low 20's. I made the mistake of not wearing long pants, so my knees were quite achy for most of the day.

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2006 : 10:15:16

Yes, this is a bitter sweet time of year for sailing; the tempuratures are cooler, the powerboat traffic is almost non-existant, the winds are stronger (at least in Columbus, Ohio), but at the end of October it all ends.

I love this time of year, but I hate this time of year.

Our Wendesday Night Races, (we have two left) have been finishing in the dark for the last couple weeks. We need to remember to bring the GPS with us to our little inland lake because in the dark we can't see the final mark.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2006 : 13:20:20

Our last month we move our wed races to sat afternoon.

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2006 : 13:22:31

The Admiral and I were out Saturday and rafted up with four other sailboats in a cove after a morning of sailing in 20Knot windds. It was very nice not to have the summertime drone of Powerboats. Last day of September and the weather was warm and sunny.

But, the Rocky Mountains, 20 KMs away, have turned white again

I went out again by myself on Sunday, there was only one other boat on the lake, breezy & cool and very autumn like. The one day difference in weather was a seasonal turn-around.

I headed for home when a big (size of a quarter) snowflake came drifting out of no-where and smacked me on the forehead. I drove over to the trailer storage area and made sure there was air in the tires.
Time to be ready for haul-out

But I won't leave until the water gets crispy. I'm the local kook that wants to be the last guy out of the water.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2006 : 14:39:04

Saturday got off to a little late start because I had to hoist Spike up the mast to replace my jib halyard. Then I took her to lunch for her trouble. She ran off for her fencing and I sailed in the company of Dave and Denise on Sea Fever, 1985 tall rig fin keel. They had their new roller furling on board and were itching to try it out.

The sea was 1-2 winds built throughout the afternoon, never more than 10, sky had that beautiful sliver autum color. Air was cool, its time to stop wearing shorts. I needed a sweatshirt.

Sea Fever and Indiscipline sailed together for several miles towards the pier, I was able to pass them because Dave was pinching too much. But Dave's TR with the 135 and my SR with the 155 were performing evenly. Then we tacked for the open sea and we went our seperate ways. I decided to sail straight out for about 3 miles. I put the boat on AP and close reached out until I judged I could just make it back before dark. Putting the boat on a run back to Mission Bay, the winds came up and I sailed back at about 5 knots.

It was opening night of lobster season and I wanted to get back before there were lobster traps plastered everywhere. As it was, I bumped a couple but no problems.

Dave and Denise were there and invited me for hot dogs. I brought applesauce and chocolate pudding which is always stored aboard Indiscipline. We sat in their traditional interior talking for several hours.

After dinner, I discovered some our our dock fisherman were back. Two men had gone overboard trying night lobster hooping. Ropes got caught in props, one man went in to cut, while the other worked on the swimstep. He fell in too. I had to break out the last of my bottle of Mt. Gay rum left over from the Newport - Ensenada race and warm them up a little. Opening night for lobster is one of the 2 busiest nights at Mission Bay in the whole year (2nd being 4th of July).

I spent the night aboard because I had to work Sunday at 05:30. Love those cool, wet nights, it will be time to bring down the cabin heater soon.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2006 : 15:08:32

Fishermen are not allowed on our docks, we can't keep them off the bank but we will not allow them on the docks. I will never understand fishing. I get the just sitting there part but why not do it with a book. After all, you would really rather have a steak.

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2006 : 17:22:48

This is the fishing I like. This is my "other" boat. Cheers.

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2006 : 18:28:37

WOW! That really looks unstable. Do you like swimming also?

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2006 : 19:18:28

Hi Ben, the first time I took this boat out, I was suprised at how stable it is. In the olden days, they would fill it to a foot or two high with cargo and pole it down river, standing up. You will only find these on the AuSable river in Northern Michigan. Cheers.

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Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Response Posted - 10/03/2006 : 07:23:21

I had an excellent weekend sailing. It's too bad we only have about a month left of sailing, but hopefully I'll be able to sail every last weekend.

Saturday we sailed over to Eastern Bay on the Chesapeake. Winds were around 10-15 knots and it was a fun trip except being very cloudy and having a small amount of rain. I met up with Dave (Bubba) when we were on the water and we took some photos of each other. Here's one he took of my boat:

On Sunday, Dave and I sailed my boat up past Annapolis and under the bay bridge. I have been wanting to sail up there ever since I bought my boat and we finally made it. The winds were light in the beginning, but the increased to 13-15 knots from a perfect direction. We sailed 27 nautical miles. It took 3.5 hours and 2 tacks to get to the bridge because of variable winds (and no wind at times) and only took 2 hours to get back on a single tack! It was an awesome day, with lots of heeling, mostly perfect winds, and sunny blue skies.
Here is a photo I took as we turned back south towards the bridge:

I have gotten so much more comfortable with heeling compared to when I first started this season. Now I think it is so fun! On Sunday when we tacked back home we were at a constant 20 to 30 degree heel with gusts sometimes tipping us to 35 degrees.
If you want to see more pictures and read details of the trip, check out my sail blog link below.

Edited by - on

cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 10/03/2006 : 07:37:36

I must admit that I have empathy for you in the northern climates. We moved to OK from Minnesota and have lived in Detroit, Chicago and my home growing up was the Denver area. We are getting close to record temps here.. it will be in the low 90's for most of this week.
Our sailing experience was not quite what all of your was this past weekend. We spent most of Saturday installing our newly re-cut sail onto the furler that I purchased from Capri25 here on this site. Then it was on to running the furler line which used to be the jib dousing line. Once it was re-run (on the starboard) we then re-ran the main halyard, the jiffy reefing line and the topping lift. Since all lines were led to the cockpit, we had to re-run the main halyard, reefing and topping lines through different blocks. Then it was on to installing the new sheets for the furled jib.
Once that was completed, I began siting the mast since it had been lowered to install the furler foils. It was straight as an arrow from the step to the lower shrouds, but needed adjusting on the end of the mast above the spreaders.

After all that, we awoke Sunday morning still tired from Saturday's work, and a fairly uncomfortable night not sleeping too well. I love our C25, but that forward berth just doesn't cut it for two adults. The admiral and I have decided to toss a coin to see who gets the forward berth and who uses the quarter berth. My next project should take care of that as soon as I have it completed.. I am working out the details of putting an inflatable queen size aero bed across the main cabin. Still have to work out the supports between the settee's, but once I have that done, we will be sleeping in comfort.

So the bottom line was that we left the lake early on Sunday. As it turned out the wind was great and we should have stayed. Still we have a lot of sailing left in this year.

Edited by - on

jimhart
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 10/03/2006 : 09:13:25

Here in Mississippi fall,winter and spring are the best times of the year for sailing. Just too hot in the summer and not much wind.
Big race this weekend sponsored by the local yacht club open to all.
So, we hope there is wind and it is cooler. Hights this week are still in the 90+ range.
I'm crewing on a Benetau 29. This boat has won the last four years.
I hope we can do it again this year.

Edited by - on

bbriner
Captain

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349 Posts

Response Posted - 10/03/2006 : 14:22:54

Hey Larry,
If you ever want to go out while you're 'in hibernation' feel free to contact me. I'm in the water year-round and in the winter we have Sunday afternoon "Chowder Races" (so named for the chowder served in the club house after the race). Berkeley Yacht Club (hrttp://www.berkeleyyc.org) holds these events every Sunday through Spring plus they have a Regatta once a month too; or we could just sail. We'd love to take you out on the Bay! We're not that far away from you.

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 10/03/2006 : 16:05:49

Hi Jim, take and post lots of pics of the race so us northerners will have something to look at in January. Cheers.

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jimhart
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2006 : 13:25:03

We won all three races.
Our Benetau 29 beat the seconed place boat every race.
It was a benetau 35.5.

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Gambit
Navigator

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USA
160 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2006 : 09:04:18

The season certainly is winding down...too soon. Sunday was our Around the Lake Race. That is a 30-mile course with one mark but was shortened significantly due to light winds. We finished second of three Cat 25's behind a tall rig. Even corrected we were likely a minute or two behind. Was a great day with better than projected air except for the lull that occurred during the 170 degree shift from SW to N. So the race was pretty much upwind both ways with the exception of the last mile of the first leg. Great sunny, warm day on the water with my wife, good food, drink and competition.

Yesterday was nice as well so I took the afternoon off work and took my 13 year old son and his friend out for the annual pump out the potty trip. It was nice and sunny and wind was about 9. The marina with the pump out is about two miles from our club. We went wing on wing away from the moorings for about a half-mile and jibed the main and made a nice easy beam reach to marina. My son's friend had never been on a sailboat before so he loved it. Too bad it took about 40 minutes to get a spot and the dock and get emptied before we could enjoy the last hour of daylight.

We did get to see beautiful leaf colors and a great sunset while tacking back to the club. Good time for us and a chamber of commerce day for a our friend.

Weather looks stinky with rain or snow projected most days until our 10/21 haulout.

Wind does look good though so I will be looking for a last target of opportunity in those last days.

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