cold wind sailing

[mgoller]

Its about that time of year.
Its always so hard to call it over.  It snowed friday and saturday a little, but today it was 51 degrees and the wind was blowing at 30-40 mph.  I just had to go out again.  First problem was getting away from the dock.  I put her in reverse full throttle, let go of the aft line and the boat promptly blew back towards shore.
I walked the boat to the end of the dock with the engine running (not smart) and jumped in and, with a short letup in the wind gusts, got off. 
I had to motor across to the wind shadow side of the lake before putting up sail.
Not much wind shadow with the down bursts of cold wind.  Got it done with a reef and then sedately sailed for two hours.
I used just a half jib to balance the boat.
As bursts of cold wind would come cats-pawing across the lake, I'd feather the jib and get ready to turn up wind.  The wind was coming from all directions near the shore.  It swirled around the tree line like a tornado.  it was straightline wind in the middle of the lake.
It was a beautiful day and the sun was out. 
Time to go home, I got in enough shadow to drop the main, secure it and sail downwind with just the jib.
Furled the jib in 100 feet from the dock and let the wind just push the boat in.  Still too fast, couldn't grab the dock line without it pulling my arm off, so I just ran in and grounded in the soft mud.
I have to be smart and pull her out soon, but tommorrow is going to be in the 60's and sunny. 
Well, we'll see if she comes out tommorrow or if I'll wait till she is snow covered in late November.

[crbakdesign]

Marcus,

It was windy down here as well.  Saturday they were calling for 25 to 35 knts on the heels of the remnents of Huricane Paul.  Thursday and most of Friday was heavy showers, which cleared over Georgia in the wee hours of Friday.  Three of our boats from our local sailing club braved the rain and sailed out to a creek down the lake to camp overnight and admire the fall colors in the morning.  We decided to pass on that, but instead headed out to meet the winds on Saturday. It was in the sixties with the sun shining when we went out, but felt much cooler with the wind.   

    Luckily, Steadfast is moored in a cove where the winds were moderate, but when we got out on the main channel, the wind roared through the shrouds.  I had prepared to raise my small jib and a reefed main, but since I had a passenger, I just raised the main and sailed up wind, tacking and jibing when necessary.  The tops of the whitecaps were blowing off, and although the waves had only about a mile and a half to build up, the chop was pretty substantial.  Steadfast did good, balanced even without the foresail and climbed up the lake at 4 - 5 knts.  It was glorious fall sailing.  Sailing is possible here year round, but many choose not to because of the chill in the air.  I grew up on Lake Michigan and sailed off the beaches in Chicago among other places, so I know what winter is actually like.  For us down here, winter is when the lake is low, but the winds are steady and there's no PWC or ski boats to contend with.

[Stephenbe]

I have done a lot of late season and early season sailing in Penobscot bay in Maine even after the leaves have gone. I have had some glorious sailing days then. wrapped up in a warm coat a watch cap and gloves with a pipping hot cup of coffee or some instant hot chocolate. Life is good. I had a good mooring in Rockland harbor so I could solo on and off the mooring without problems. many times I just raised the sails and dropped off the mooring. The only problem to worry about is an early Nor'easter. I have gone down to the harbour on many days and watched my mast doing crazy gyrations in five and six foot seas.
Fortunately she allways held.

[crbakdesign]

Speaking of Fall, I was sailing one evening after work, and a sailing buddy took this pic of Steadfast heading for the moon.  It's not often that the winds keep up after dark.

This winter I've got a short list of improvements and additions. 

I want an enclosure for the cockpit for winter camping.  Thinking of using the Bimini as a top for it.  I've also added a bowsprit, now just need a good hardwood carving below it.

[mgoller]

Well the boats out and on its trailer.  Its been unusually cold this fall.  We've had snow flying every other day, and small ponds are frozen over.
My list of improvements for the winter spring are to strip all the hardware, and prepare the gelcoat for some awlgrip.  I've tried to nurse the gelcoat and it just isn't very pretty.  The Vertglass works for awhile but the finish grows surface mildew and looks ugly.
My skiboat doesn't lose any lustre all summer.  I think if I can get a good gloss finish my routine maintenance will be less.
My goal is an original looking Com-Pac II. 
My Dad is a fine woodworker so I'll send all the teak and tiller in for a proper re-finish.  So on re-launch next April it should be looking pretty good.
Nothing else really.  The interior is nice and functional.

[crbakdesign]

Spent the day driving up I-75 to Oak Ridge Tn and back.  The leaves are in full color.   My Gelcoat could use a good cleaning and gloss. The Hull is fine, just the topsides.  I'll wait for Indian summer for that.