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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2010 : 08:12:05

I'll agree that this is a record hot summer.I heard on the TV that 78% of our summer days have hit 90 degrees or more.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4306 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2010 : 18:27:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PCP777
 Now it's off to work. GaryB, I agree it was hotter than hell this weekend. Once you get past the breakwater, it cools off pretty nicely.No such option when your doing this kind of work on your boat. Lots of water and gatorade.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
At least you guys on the lakes can jump in to cool off. If I jumped in the bay I'd be glowing in the dark from now on.

Edited by - on

GaryB
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USA
4306 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2010 : 16:10:55

Finally! I got to go sailing last night. Left the dock around 6 and cruised out into the bay as the winds were beginning to pick up from the SE. Winds eventually built to around 12 knots or so providing a very nice sail. Got back to the dock around 9.

Strange thing happened on the way in. I was talking to my wife on the phone on the way in. In a matter of 4 or 5 minutes while I was on the phone with her I noticed the temperature and humidity rising rapidly. When I first got on the phone it was relatively cool and definitely comfortable. After a couple of minutes on the phone and approx. 1/2 mile from shore the temperature and humidity changed enough for me to notice and it got hot and sticky quickly. In about 5 minutes the temperature must have gone up 5 degrees and the humidity must have jumped 15%. I went from being comfortable to soaking wet with perspiration before I traveled the 1/2 mile to the entrance of the channel. Weird!

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2010 : 11:17:22

Ok war story.

A few years ago our club ran a 35 mile overnight race which began at midnight. Wind was very light land breeze of around 5 knots. As we were sitting out waiting for the start -I'm single handing, we are treated to a beautifull sunset. About forty minutes after the start, we are treated to an awesome full moon rise. Haven't seen a moon like that since my Vietnam days. Anyway, I'm ambling along at +/- 3 knots (mostly minus)next to a Hunter 34 until sunrise. We've barely made six miles in 6 1/2 hours but it was one of the most beautiful sails I've had in 22 years.

Incidently, my auto pilot failed before the start and I did the whole trip, including the return, at the tiller. About 85 miles total.

The other night sail of interest showed the northern lights to the north of us, a full moon to the south, subdued town lights to the east, and a host of nav-aid lights to the west. Most spectacular.

If you really want to have the pucker factor jump though, sail in fog somtime. If you haven't gotten a chart plotter, you will.

Edited by - aeckhart on 08/17/2010 11:20:00

redviking
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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2010 : 18:10:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 I sail at night fairly frequently. Night sailing is not especially difficult, if you have the necessary equipment. Foremost is a chart plotting gps. Whether in daylight or at night, I feel vulnerable if I’m not confident that I know exactly where I am, and that I have enough water under my keel. You also need a powerful light, preferably a spotlight that connects to the boat’s 12 volt battery. Every pfd should have a whistle and a strobe light attached, to aid in locating a MOB in the dark. Crew should wear harnesses and be attached to a jackline, especially if they leave the cockpit. You need to keep an especially keen lookout at night, especially for unlighted boats and other obstructions, and expect the unexpected.

I doubt anyone will likely need a weapon in coastal US waters. I never have, and don’t recall ever hearing of such an incident. I own handguns, and have long believed that most people are more likely to hurt themselves or their loved ones by accident, or to get themselves in trouble with the law, than are likely to protect themselves or their families with a weapon.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

What he said... Geez kids, thanks for the chuckle. I remember when I considered night sailing to be a crazy venture.

As the resident cruiser around here, let me be clear, you are more likely to be hit by a vessel at anchor than by one underway. 3 times for those of you keeping track.

Also, while the whole weapon issue is almost like politics, and big ass flare gun will do as much damage short range as a pistol. And you don't need a permit and you won't accidently kill yourself. "If only outlaws had guns, only outlaws would shoot their kids accidently." But they sent me a NRA card just a month ago - so maybe they consider my flare gun a weapon???

Night sailing is actually almost as easy as day sailing. Get a red lens or red flashlight. Put night glow sticks on the binoculars. Maintain a paperchart location backup every 30-60 minutes depending on how comfortable you are. Extinguish all lights below and dim the GPS. Run the lighted markers. Shining lights on the sail works, but better yet, hail suspect vessel with approximate location prior to encounter. Lasers are silly... Fire your flare gun first. That will wake someone up if they fail to respond on 16. Know the rules of the road. Channels are really where you need to be careful in the dark.

Set watches if doing a true overnight... I suspect everyone here except for Jim and Cap. Milby would do 2 on 2 off... I now like 6 on 6 off for the overnight, but we got used to sailing offshore at night. Entering a port - all hands on deck. You need as many eyes as you can get. Go slow if temporarily blinded or disoriented. You'll figure it out. And relax, your max speed is only 5 knots... What's the worst that can happen?

Finally, have fun. It is a bit of a challenge to navigate after hours, but let's face it - none of us decided to take up sailing because we didn't want a few challenges every so often.

sten

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2010 : 18:46:16

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by aeckhart
 ...If you really want to have the pucker factor jump though, sail in fog somtime. If you haven't gotten a chart plotter, you will.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">...and radar!

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2010 : 10:23:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by SEAN
 Night sailing is great ..just start with a warm light wind night
and full moon ..gps /check the weather too !!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thanks for the prescription, Sean!

Thursday night had temps in the low 80's, a predicted breeze of 10-15 kt from the north with gusts to 20 kt, and an almost-full moon in a clear sky.

At sunset I sailed east across the Chesapeake Bay about 10 miles straight towards the rising moon, hove to for some snacks down below, then sailed back west at about hull speed, across the 2 ft waves. As I approached my marina and dropped the sails, the wind died completely. Amazing!

It was probably the most beautiful conditions I have ever sailed in, day or night!

Sail on. Sail on!!!

Edited by - on

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2010 : 11:56:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JohnP
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by SEAN
 Night sailing is great ..just start with a warm light wind night
and full moon ..gps /check the weather too !!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thanks for the prescription, Sean!

Thursday night had temps in the low 80's, a predicted breeze of 10-15 kt from the north with gusts to 20 kt, and an almost-full moon in a clear sky.

At sunset I sailed east across the Chesapeake Bay about 10 miles straight towards the rising moon, hove to for some snacks down below, then sailed back west at about hull speed, across the 2 ft waves. As I approached my marina and dropped the sails, the wind died completely. Amazing!

It was probably the most beautiful conditions I have ever sailed in, day or night!

Sail on. Sail on!!!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Isn't that the best? Hoping to get a night sail in tonight.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4306 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2010 : 15:10:07

Me too! Finally the heat and humidity have dropped to bearable numbers. headed to the boat shortly. If anyone has any picture requests for some project on the boat let me know tonight and I'll see what I can do.

Edited by - on

Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 08/28/2010 : 09:13:26

My first sailing experiences were at night and in the cold. It's what turned me on about sailing. In the dark with the stars reflected on the water and no sound but the the hiss of the bow wave, I felt like I was floating in space. Bundled up against the chill in the air, warming my hands and belly with a hot cup of coffee it was cozy and peaceful and the work-day world was swallowed up by the darkness.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 08/28/2010 : 09:29:02

When I was a 5 year old in Mich my dad would put all 4 kids and mom on the 18 ft sawfish catamaran, hang a lantern from the forestay and night sail on a semi small Lake. HUGE fun

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 08/28/2010 : 14:51:48

I remember an evening on a little lake connected to the eastern shore of Lake Michigan... A couple sailed across the lake to our place on a C-scow. They left for home in dead darkness--the lake was like a mirror with no discernible air movement. They had no engine... just pointed the boat toward the other shore. The big sail just hung there, and there wasn't a ripple. Some 10 minutes later they were maybe 75 yards out... An hour later they were in the middle of the lake, and maybe two hours later they were home--about a mile and a half away. That was by far the most impressive "light-air" (no air) performance I've ever seen! (And no, they were apparently not sculling with the rudder--that would've made visible ripples--there were none.)

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 08/28/2010 15:05:04

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 08/28/2010 : 16:32:20

So maybe they were using the fan and a long extension cord like on the other thread...

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2010 : 06:13:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by islander
 So maybe they were using the fan and a long extension cord like on the other thread...

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

My wife, she is blonde, thought once upon a time that our wind generator could be turned on if there was no wind. YCMTSU!

sten

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2010 : 21:08:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 YCMTSU!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yup--just reverse the wires and point it aft...

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 08/30/2010 21:08:45

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2010 : 05:38:05

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 YCMTSU!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yup--just reverse the wires and point it aft...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Actually, she thought you would point it forward such that it filled the sails... She was thinking about sailing or at least how to look like we were.

sten

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