Where's the disconnect?

[David van den Burgh]

I shot this video last year around the end of September. I was standing on our dock watching the waves roll down the channel and spill into our marina. Winds were 30-35kts over a 24hr period, or so.

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Although the video is from last year, the recent westerlies OJ speaks of hit here on Friday evening and kicked up a repeat storm. This time, however, I cleared out of our marina and headed across the channel to a better protected harbor. And that made all the difference.

Oh, and wind velocity around here is determined from the masthead instrument, an onshore weather station, or the southern Lake Michigan buoy.

To the original poster's question, would I go out in this mess? Nope. To do so would be foolhardy. Have we been out on the lake in stuff like this? Once. Was it fun? It was exhilarating, but very tiring. It required careful and constant attention at the helm. Wind velocity is one thing; wind-whipped waves are something else entirely.

[barfwinkle]

nm

[mike ritenour]

LaVida was hunkered down in Toronto during Saturday's big wind, but the harbour had three foot seas in it and they had to cancel the air show. However I'm pleased to report that Queen City YC still held their famous pig roast, even when, during the night the wind hit a sustained 38kts and nearly tore down their pig roasting shelter!! Bravo!
On Sunday, we had to return to the USA, so we stuck our nose out into Lake Ontario around 1100.
Wind was West 15 to 20 kts., seas 2 to 4'. Second reef, scant genoa and we were off like a shot.
As we pulled away from Toronto's weather (the city is so large it makes its own wind and sometimes weather), the seas began to build and soon they were 5 to 7's and in an hours time, 6 to 8's with the wind sustaining around the mid to high twenty's. It was a PERFECT day for a Western fetch.
As we locked on our homeward course across the lake (32.9nm) the waves began coming on that odd angle of starboard stern quarter, so you had to keep an eye out for them. "Windy" (our Monitor windvane) didn't miss a beat until in the middle of all this lovely wind, it suddenly stopped and we rolled around in bumpy seas for about an hour and then just as suddenly, it blew back to 25kts and stayed like that until we doused our sails just off Olcott light.
Awesome day of sailing, if you like to turn a corkscrew that is, but otherwise it was just one of those perfect blue sky days, lots of sun and good games of scrabble to while away the voyage home.
Doesn't get any better!
Rit

[Paul D.]

Here is 30 knots on Lake Superior in our 33. It should be noted that we were fast coming under the lee of the Minnesota north shore so the waves were not that big - 6 foot or so at most, but they are short. Also, the wind went on up to 45knots after this was taken.

I was fairly busy tightening up the anchor, the dinghy and the weather cloths. Lost two battens and 40 feet of the leech of the genny. I fully expect work at 30 knots or more!

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[mike ritenour]

Paul,
Your vid made me homesick!
Rit

[tartansailor]

On the ocean 30 kts of wind is not such a big deal. The waves can get really big but they're usually pretty far apart so the ride isn't too bad as long as you're not taking them on the beam. But you WILL be very wet.

On a lake or bay however, the waves generated by 30 kt winds are much closer together -- a short, ugly chop. Both you and the boat are likely to take a beating. So it's best to wait for calmer conditions unless you really want to practice your heavy weather boat handling skills.

Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

Absolutely correct. There could be 40' seas, and if the DPD is say 45 sec. then you have a nice swell ride .
Take a 3' chop in DE bay with a 4 sec. period in 20 knots and the ride is just plain uncomfortable.

At my age, the disconnect in our venue is a 15+ knot forecast.

Dick

[winthrop fisher]

hey mark,

ever one goes at there own speed,

but 30 knots is not that bad in lakes or in the ocean...

you are making it harder on your self...

stop reading and just go for it and get away from land...
winthrop

[Boyd]

Its one thing to get caught out in 30+kt winds and surviving, and another to go out when you know its blowing that hard just for the "fun of it".

I have been caught out in continous 27kt conditions with gusts over 30. The boat will definately take more than me and keep me safe if not comfortable. But I am in it for the pleasure not the terror, exhaustion, hypothermia, and bruises.

The wind is not the problem, its the waves that are generated and they are partly a function of the length of time the wind has been blowing at that speed. Going out when it looks not so bad is way different than coming back. Getting back can be more dangerous than getting out if you are entering a shoaled inlet.

Open ocean waves are definately different from shallow water waves. The seas that develop in places such as the Bahama banks in 10-15' depths can get VERY nasty at wind speeds of only 20kt especially if the tide is against the wind.

I will pass on the "thrill" of going out when its that bad.

Boyd
s/v Tern
CD30 MkII
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

[Como No Cruising]

Voyaging in the Atlantic can be very interesting in 30 knot winds. Not at all comfortable. Even in the Pacific it was not that much fun. Give us 15-20 any day.
Will