Sailed today....

[brackish]

...and it was great.  67 degrees, blue cloudless sky, winds 8-12 mostly out of the WNW. 

I think it is fitting that one day after our local paper confirmed that we have broken the all time record for snow accumulation in a season (set in the 1935-36 season), and more than likely will confirm the coldest winter ever, we get a break.  Going to be nice all week, I'm committed for Tuesday and Thursday, but will probably go sailing Wed. and Fri.

Those of you in the frozen North....think Spring.

[BobK]

I also got out today.  Call it a hold on day.  The winds were SW 20mph with gusts to 38 - temp 70.  The radio said something about lake wind advisories - I had to put 2 reef's in the main and use the 110 jib.  Hit 7.6mph on a reach.
I called my brother in Chicago while I was out - he hates me now. 

[Bob23]

YOU GUYS MAKE US SICK!!!!!
bob23

[Billy]

I got out today too!!!

Granted I live in Tampa Bay, but I have only been sailing 7 times this year, oh yea It's only Feb!!! (I may get my 1st tsk tsk for that comment!)
But I'll be the jealous one come July-Sept when it is 90 degrees and there is no wind.

[rdcvsmith]

I drove by my marina and looked out toward the water.... does that count? (NO)

[rwdsr]

I'm jealous, although I did get the forward hatch off so I can start to repair it, and do some other things to get ready for the water here.  Temps in the 60's here this week.  Yay!!!!!!

[skip1930]

It's a balmy 34 deg F here in Sturgeon Bay and everything is glassed over with frozen dew,
but we'll be 45 deg on Thursday for a day or two. Then a drop in warmth again.

skip.

[Bob23]

Monday it got up close to 60F here in the4 South of NJ and I thought about taking the Force 5 out for a spin. Then I thought about what my wife would do to me if I died of hypothermia in a capsize. The boat remained on her trailer. But, springs-a-comin!
Bob23

[skip1930]

Remember the rule of 50

50 years old
50 deg F water
50 minutes.

Adjust as these variables change.

skip.

[kickingbug1]

went out in the garage and started the outboard---does that count?

[Tim Gardner]

Skip could you update that to the rule of 60's (I saw your photo in the off topic section 'born in '51 ')

Regds  TG

[skip1930]

Sure. The rule of 50 is 50 years old, 50 minutes in 50 degree water.
And on St Patty's Day an old fart turns 60 years old, that would decrease the time of 50 minutes to say...35 minutes? If the water was 50 deg F.

If the water was colder then 50 deg F. Still less time, unless your really young. Then time may increase.

Basically if the water was real warm and your real young then the time may be for hours.

Have a feel for the way this works?

And if your 'Frost Biting' and you go over in water that should be frozen then an involuntary reaction is to gasp in a breath of hopefully air. But usually the head is under water, ears flooded and the gasp of air becomes water. Your dead and sunk till they drag your body up from the bottom.

skip.

[Salty19]

Brack,

Please send the sun and blue skies up North.  Also we need rain (cannot launch at the ramp now).  Thanks in advance.

[Billy]

Does the rule of 50 apply to where you live? I live in FL and anything under 60 (air temp) is too cold!!!! even though I'm only 30.

[skip1930]

You would be surprised how cold 80 deg F water is after a few hours of bobbing around in the jellyfish pool.
Though the 50 minutes may very well become 50 hours. It's a big ocean.

skip.