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Another fine October sail

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5368 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/20/2012 : 22:54:58

All through the week, I checked the weekend weather and as time went on, the weather forecast was predicted to be around 70 degrees on Saturday and 65 on Sunday with brisk and building winds both days.

Saturday was slated to start off with fog and calm winds, and as the morning wore on, the sky was expected to clear. Winds were expected to be around 12 kts with gusts building to 20.

My plan was to tack upwind while the winds were mild in the morning, and to run downwind during the stronger gusts in the afternoon.

So, I got out early as the sun began to peek around the low clouds and fog. I pulled out of the harbor with four or five other boats and we all went our separate ways. I decided to tack about 6-8 miles upwind so I'd be set for a run on my way back. I generally avoid doing that, since its usually the slowest point of sail.

Once I got to my destination, winds were still around 12 kts, but there were no gusts - yet. Nonetheless, I shortened sail. I turned downwind and started off very slowly. I started on a broad reach instead of a straight run to get a little more speed. At this point I was about 1-2 hours away from my home port.

After a little while, the winds started really picking up, so I veered to a more downwind course, and set my sails to wing-and-wing. I typically set my mainsheet under the end of my stern pulpit (by the lifeline attachment point) to act as a preventer and set the jib on the opposite side. I was moving very well around 5.2 kts, but the sensation on a run was quite calm. I measured wind speed with my handheld anemometer, and I read 6-8 apparent wind with 12 in gusts. That was about 11-13 true with 17 in gusts.

As I headed toward my homeport, I needed to change to a broad port reach and only then did I feel the true wind. Finally doused the main entirely and furled the jib 1/2-way. I made it back to the harbor with an hour of daylight to spare and can't recall having had a better time out this late in the season.

And with the warm, sunny weather, I was absolutely delighted to be out. I'm hoping I may get to go out for a while on Sunday, with winds building to 15+ by 4pm.

It won't seem as mild as today was, but in mid-February, the mid-60s is like nirvana.... so I'll take it, and wear my under armor!

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - on

CarbonSink62
Navigator

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USA
208 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2012 : 04:47:43

I used the fine weather to bring my dinghy home and drop off the first load of stuff for my winter cover.

I like your plan better.

Ken

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2012 : 12:52:06

I saw a C25 yesterday on the Patapsco River near Baltimore, and was curious whether it was one of our members? Anyone?

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2012 : 17:37:08

Seeing that we never had a good sail after Oct. 15 during 2010 and 2011, I had originally planned to haul last weekend, but I postponed to this Friday. Then when I saw this weekend's forecast I postponed yet again to next weekend. I'm glad I did!

We had an incredible sail yesterday with 12 kt sustained and high 60s temps. Despite the fact that our sub-optimal timing forced us to beat against the current, the wind had just enough of a northerly component to allow us to beat 5 nm downriver at 4.5 kts against the current with only a couple tacks. Just as we were getting a little chilled from the high apparent wind, we turned around and ran/broad reach back at 7 kts.

I had planned to take tomorrow afternoon off from work to sail in the predicted 70 degree weather, but it was so beautiful today that I decided "why wait until tomorrow?" So we went out again. (I normally don't try to nag my wife with sailing on consecutive days, but I couldn't resist.) This time we went later in the day and ran upriver with the current into Philadelphia, then beated back into 14 kt sustained with gusts to 20 kt. Once again, the wind was a perfect direction to minimize tacking on the river. But as the sun went down it got real chilly, so the Admiral went below to read and I donned a flannel cap and gloves.

This season overall has had great sailing weather - the best of the past three seasons - and we've taken advantage of it with lots of daysails, three overnights at various destinations on the river (including downtown Philly, which was really neat), and a one-week charter in the Chesapeake. This stuff could get addicting!

Edited by - TakeFive on 10/21/2012 17:41:02

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5368 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2012 : 20:16:06

Monday looks good around here, as do Thursday (68) and Friday (75).
I hope to sail on Friday PM and Saturday.
I'm planning to take down the mast next Sunday and will motor up river on the following weekend.

Edited by - on

pfduffy
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2012 : 06:19:55

Great sailing weather on the Barnegat Bay yesterday as well. Nothing better than fall sailing. The summer fools have all put their speed boats away for the winter and I get to enjoy quite on the bay.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2012 : 07:24:48

While you guys were out playing, we were hauling out and turning the yacht club into a storage facility. We had grey skies, drizzle, and a strong breeze.

Glad you all had fun. For us the long sleep is about to begin.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2012 : 11:16:22

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by pfduffy
 ...The summer fools have all put their speed boats away for the winter and I get to enjoy quite on the bay.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">But I'm still out in my "speed boat" on Fishers Island Sound (for a few more days)... Then it's over for 2012.

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NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2012 : 12:02:24

Same here in Texas. Summer a-holes and heat are gone, so the sailing fun begins.

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2012 : 10:51:51

This recent Sunday was fantastic...cool but w/ a strong warm sun, steady wind at 15, went out on broad reach for an hour at 5+ mph and then spent 3 hours working our way back, again at 5+... and although a little early to be certain, this coming Saturday is looking mighty fine too...

Edited by - on

TCurran
Admiral

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USA
588 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2012 : 14:50:37

Also had a great sail Saturday, mostly downwind for about five hours, spent the night on the hook off of a friends house. The guy lives on a small island in the ICW only accessible by boat. Every year he digs a hole and cooks a pig and some turkeys, invites a bunch of folks and throws a great luau...this year we even had hula dancers. It was cool enough at night that the wife had to find a blanket. Paid for the Saturday sail on Sunday with a four hour motor run straight into a north wind. It was still a beautiful day, the winds was just blowing the wrong way...hope all of you northern guys can get at least one more sail in this season.

Edited by - on

AquaHolic
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2012 : 13:20:55

Great posts everyone...keep them coming! This is getting me excited to bail from work in a few minutes to hit the lake. I also took advantage of the favorable winds last weekend and had my first experience singlehanding my C25. Took me a few months to work up the nerve but in the end everything went great. Sailing with crew tonight and looking forward to my first night on the hook (I am liveaboard in a marina) this Sat with lows down to 40 and 10-15 sustained winds forecast.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5368 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2012 : 18:27:54

Chris
What do you do for heat on your boat? Do you have a vented cabin heater? CO is quiet but deadly.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2012 : 07:07:03

Great post Bruce! Where's the pics

Edited by - on

AquaHolic
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2012 : 07:13:00

Bruce I haven't quite solved that one yet. I have a vented a/c unit that also works as a dehumidifier which puts out a little heat. If it comes down to it I have a small portable heater I can use with the hatch vented. It has an automatic timer with a shutoff but I just need it warm up the cabin before I lay down for the night so I will kill the power first. I like it cold and in Texas it's generally not too much of an issue. I'm open to suggestions if you have a better solution!

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2012 : 11:01:05

On Saturday my wife and I went out sailing on our new boat with my friend Matt. He hadn't been on the new boat yet and was curious to try it out.

Winds were in the 20-25kt range. We started out with a reefed main and no jib. The roller furling system on the boat (Hood 710 LD) doesn't allow for reefing and the 130% jib was a bit large and resulted in excessive heel. With a reefed main downwind we were easily getting to hull speed. The new boat really likes downwind. A small squall caught up with us, gave us some big waves to ride, and kept the excitement going. My wife commented that she was really happy that Matt was with us. She normally doesn't like high wind conditions, but felt more comfortable with two more experienced sailors on board (I guess she is counting me as one of them).

After less than an hour we were very close to Kenmore and decided to turn back. We headed east across the sound so that the return trip wouldn't be entirely close hauled and require excessive tacking.

For the trip back we tried with both the jib and without. The boat pointed better with the jib, but we had too much heel for reasons raised before. We ran without the jib and made our way back at a slower pace (around 3.5kts average) instead of the 6+ that we had on the downwind. We still made it back to Shilshole in a fairly short period of time.

The weather was exciting and my wife said it was fun despite conditions that normally scare her away. All in all a great day of sailing.

For comparison with your trip: temp was in the upper 40s to lower 50s, wind averaged about 25kts and gusted higher, and it rained about 1/3rd of the time. I'm still getting used to the new boat and wouldn't mind trying it out in a little less wind, but these windy days have been fun too.

The next day a friend sent me this report:
http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2012/10/funnel-and-waterspout-seen-near-everett.html

That was happening less than 10 miles north of us. I'm glad we weren't up there!

Finally, the thread keeps catching my eye because a friend used to own a boat named October.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2012 : 15:09:02

We have been enjoying 80+ degree days here, very unusual for this time of year, but they say it's going to start getting colder tomorrow and will be chilly, and maybe wet, this weekend. Of course, chilly to us is balmy to you guys up north. LOL!

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2012 : 17:17:25

I use a ceramic heater similar to this one. It will burn me out of the boat in about 20 minutes if I turn it up all the way. I usually keep it on low and stay very comfortable.

[url="http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=100669067&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&PID=1319015&cm_mmc=CJ-_-1319015-_-10368321&cpncode=31-43883422-2&AID=10368321&cj=true&srccode=cii_13736960#.UInV08VmUmk"]HEATER[/url]

Edited by - GaryB on 10/25/2012 17:20:27

AquaHolic
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Response Posted - 10/26/2012 : 13:43:42

Thanks Gary, that looks similar to what I was planning to use. Figure it should be sufficient for the small cabin on my boat. I'm itching for some salt air if you ever need some crew!

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awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2012 : 08:56:01

and another fine October sail:
http://alexwetmore.org/?p=1302

I was out on the boat both afternoons this weekend. It only rained a tiny bit and we had wonderful sails both times. The wind in Puget Sound is a lot of fun at this time of year.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2012 : 12:20:49

Since my prior post 10 days ago, I've endured the announcement of disappointing quarterly earnings from my company last Tuesday, announcement of a 25% workforce reduction in my division last Wednesday (yes, they do move that fast), a haulout of the boat on Saturday, Hurricane Sandy Mon-Tues, and notification today that I will be keeping my job (for now, at least). My pleasant October sail seems like a VERY distant memory!

I can't wait to get back on the water next year! Fortunately I have a BVI charter booked in January to whet my appetite.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5368 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2012 : 14:11:47

Man - ain't life a puzzle? "You're flyin' high in April, shot down in May" there's a lot more to that old song…
Sorry to hear about the layoffs - that goes right to a person's identity, or at least their pocketbook.
Let's make hay while the sun shines. Maybe there are some great boat deals out there!

But seriously…
While I've been working away at my digital media job, behind the scenes there have been uber-execs getting cold feet about my division. Absolutely nuts and paranoid, we have a license to print money!

I got my last pink slip in 2009 and I keep looking over my shoulder. I spend about 3-4 hours per week looking on LinkedIn, talking to recruiters and buddies in my target companies and selectively interviewing. Always better to look for a job while you still have one.

But not to hijack my own thread

but I still have one more November sail left to go - this Saturday at 10am and looking for volunteers. I'm going to motor from Milford to Shelton to my winter haulout. I'm psyched to do it. Fixing hotdogs, got a cooler of margaritas and tailgating when I get there! Woo Hoo.

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