Fall sailing

[Neil Gordon]

They keep saying on the radio that the summer is "officially over." For me, though, summer starts in March when the cover comes off and ends in November when the cover goes back on. Inside that window, I'm in the water from about the second week in April until the last week in October.

How do you define your sailing season?

[Warren Kaplan]

I get my boat in the water (Oyster Bay, Long island, NY) during the last weeks of April or very early May. Last year my boat was hauled the 2nd week of November.

For me, anyway, the best actual sailing is in September and October. Great wind and great comfortable weather!

[Neil Gordon]

[quote="Warren Kaplan"]For me, anyway, the best actual sailing is in September and October. Great wind and great comfortable weather!/quote]

And for the most part, the powerboats are beginning to be put away for the winter.

[Oswego John]

Hi Neil, Warren and all,

I just couldn't pass on this thread it's one of my favorite seasons to sail. This is quite a coincidence. Around noon today, I was talking on the phone with the GLF captain. One of the subjects we discussed was how enjoyable fall sailing was. The breeze is A-one and the hot sticky weather is a memory. Around here, after Labor Day the boat traffic is greatly reduced.

Some of my most cherished memories are of sailing in the Autumn. A late sailing buddy of mine and I made an annual pilgrimage in late September or early October to the Finger Lakes to sail for a couple of days, usually until our arthritic bones told us that it was time to head for home. The Finger Lakes in Autumn are simply beautiful. The rolling hills, painted in brilliant color, numb the senses. They are one of my favorite places to sail.

I remember one year in particular. It was getting late in the day and nightfall was descending on us rather rapidly. It was a beautiful evening with no one in sight. For that moment, we owned Cayuga Lake. My friend asked me if I felt like calling it a day. I told him "not really". He nodded his head in agreement. About that time, we both looked on in astonished amazement as a bright orange ball arose over the hills to the east. Shortly after, the biggest, brightest Harvest Moon imageinable steadily rose in the sky above the lake. It lit up the area almost like daylight. I am incapable to describe the awesome sail we had that night.

Yes, fall sailing was very special to me. It was a big part for me of what memories are made of. Every autumn I recount that special evening sail that we had once upon a time.

O J

[Warren Kaplan]

The Finger Lakes in Autumn are simply beautiful.

John,

As one who spent 4 years doing graduate work at Cornell University in the mid 1960s, I can attest to the stunning beauty of Lake Cayuga in October. Alas, I wasn't a sailor then.

I guess I was just lucky because I did my undergrad years, in the early 1960s, at the University of Vermont, right on Lake Champlain.
The second week in October in Northern Vermont is absolutely breathtaking!. I wish I was sailing the big lake then!

[Ron M.]

Years ago I learned to sail in Pleasant Bay on Cape Cod,on a small 20'er.Summer months it was very congested but still fun to sail.After Labor Day we had the water largely to ourselves-it was bliss.The seals would return and swim along for awhile and we would be seronaded by the bands playing at the wedding receptions in the 5star resort,or we would listen to the Pats.Fall is my favorite time to cruise, much easier to get a mooring or slip or find a quiet place to drop the hook.I don't usually haul until a week or so befor Thanksgiving.Once I have to put on socks thats it.Enjoy the fall.RM
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CT3

[rtbates]

365 days of the year. We never haul because of the weather. The best sailing is after summer is over and the air gets a chill to it. It tends to drive the power boaters away.

Eagerly awaiting the arrival of our first fall fronts. Winds over 30, water flat. The best feature of inland lake sailing.

Randy 25D Seraph #161

[Carter Brey]

I am incapable to describe the awesome sail we had that night.

Well, John, you did a pretty damned good job. What a great memory that must be. I really enjoyed reading your description.

CB

[Didereaux]

Poking about in large wading pools ain't sailin'. Y'all come on down to Corpus or Aransas or Galveston, we'll show you some sailing waters! Complete with 20knt+ winds, lots of of waves, and lots of steel pokey things all over the damn place to teach you how to slalom. Oh yeah, did I mention the humongous steel behemoths captained by serial killers and bi-polar blind helmsmen?
heheheh

Central TX? pshaw most of us sweat out more water on a July day on Galveston Bay than is in three central Texas frog ponds.

<double big grin>

[Warren Kaplan]

Here is beautiful Cayuga Lake taken from a bluff 10 miles north of Ithaca, NY....on October 20, 1999. (I "borrowed" this picture)

<img width="540"src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/Se ... Cayuga.jpg">

[PenBaySailor]

I have always had my boat out of the water by mid-October. Any later than that and it is either too cold or too flukey. I do love sailing along the Maine coast, in and out of the islands and inlets and seeing all the splendor of the foliage showing its true colors. It is truly breathtaking on a late-autumn afternoon.

I'll take some pictures to share with y'all.

Paddy

[rtbates]

Poking about in large wading pools ain't sailin'. Y'all come on down to Corpus or Aransas or Galveston, we'll show you some sailing waters! Complete with 20knt+ winds, lots of of waves, and lots of steel pokey things all over the damn place to teach you how to slalom. Oh yeah, did I mention the humongous steel behemoths captained by serial killers and bi-polar blind helmsmen?
heheheh

Central TX? pshaw most of us sweat out more water on a July day on Galveston Bay than is in three central Texas frog ponds.

Whenever I need a dose of hot salty shallow water I fill my tub up with hot water and add 20lbs of Epson salt. Feels just like Galveston Bay. haha

Like most folks I sail where I live, 20 minutes away! I have sailed in CC, Port Aransas, lived there for 18 years. I go back every so often to get a fix of the salty sea air. As a matter of fact I'll be all over the coast the first two weeks of Oct.

Randy 25D Seraph #161 Where the water is sweet and deep!

[Bob G.]

My house is on the water on the largest lake in New Jersey. I take my boat out as soon as the ice melts, and bring her in as soon as we go shopping for a turkey. For those of you who have traveled through the most populated state per square mile in the U.S. can not imagine how it is on the water. To give you an idea, I don`t take her out on the weekends past 9:00AM,simply because I can`t get her off the dock due to the wake effect created by you know who.

Fall is the best time. I now have my lake back

This year I`m thinking about keeping her out until we start Christmas shopping. BURRRRRRRRRR!!!!

Bob G.

[Neil Gordon]

Hard to imagine a better hour than the sail I had last night. Started just an hour before sunset... beam reach both ways on Dorchester Bay... a handful of sailboats on the bay, only a power boat or two.... no wakes... didn't have to alter course for anyone... wind was light, but enough to get us to 4 kts or better. Boston at sunset from Dorchester Bay is magnificent.

(I also found that my stbd running light is out... corrosion, probably... so on my list to brighten up the contacts!)

[Ron M.]

Six or so years ago I moored my CD25 up in Nahant and would take a late afternoon sail over to Marina Bay for a cocktail or two and back after dark.The water was quiet in Sept. and early Oct. and the Boston skyline magnificent,especially with a little moonlight.RM
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W208