[Rhodes22-list] Chesapeake Sailing

[Leland]

Chris,

I couldn't go out on Friday but probably wouldn't have anyway with the high
wind.  I don't normally go out anymore if the wind is above 20 knots, and
between 15 and 20 knots it can be more work than fun for me.  You hit the
nail on the head when you mentioned the waves.  Where we sail we frequently
get a lot of chop if the wind gets very high, and you'll find that it's
easier to sail in 20 knots of wind with a little chop than 15 knots with a
lot of chop.

Learning to sail perfectly is an unending endeavor.  I found that learning
to sail somewhat perfect was less of a learning curve than learning to furl
my sails back in during high wind.  For the mainsail, Mary Lou's advice
about the position of the boom is very important.  Tighten the mainsheet so
the boom remains centered and use the motor to ensure you are heading
directly into the wind.  It's true that the sail furls better if the boom is
slightly to the starboard side, but ignore that.  It furls in just fine with
the boom centered and you do not want any high wind tension on the mainsail
when trying to furl it in.  A little tension on the outhaul line helps keep
the sail from flapping around beyond control.

I've had four years of making every mistake imaginable.  Let me know if
you'd like to go out for a sail and I can show you all kinds of things you
shouldn't do.

I did make it out on Saturday and it was wonderful.  From 1 to 6 p.m. I
measured the wind from 3 to 7.5 knots, and the only serious chop was from
the powerboaters at Kent Narrows.  Couldn't ask for better conditions.

Good luck!

Lee
1986 Rhodes22  At Ease
Kent Island, MD



Mary Lou Troy-2 wrote:
> 
> We haven't been out yet. Cleaning the genoa today (I know, we should 
> have done it in the fall but it has to be done outside on a tarp.)
> 
> You should be able to furl the main even in those winds. The boom has 
> to be at just the right angle (up and down - we find that just below 
> horizontal works best) and centered. In high winds, we generally will 
> be motoring into the wind when we furl it.
> 
> We try to remember to use McLube Sailcote on the edge of the slot and 
> the lower bearings before we raise the mast for the season, but we 
> forgot again this year. I'll do it as high as I can reach and it will 
> still reduce friction. We sometimes have to help the outhaul through 
> the blocks if it seems to be binding there.
> 
> You don't always have to go around the bar at Herring Bay. I wouldn't 
> do it in a high wind situation, but we've gone out across that bar 
> many times. I also wouldn't do it when the water is all blown out 
> from a north wind but generally at anything but dead low tide it 
> shouldn't be a problem. We just go to where there is 4 and 5 ft 
> showing on the chart and cross there. I don't think we've ever seen 4 
> ft. there. Of course the shoaling changes from storm to storm so we 
> are cautious and have the depth sounder on.
> 
> Glad you are getting out on the new boat.
> 
> Mary Lou
> 1991 R22 Fretless
> Rock Hall, MD
> 
> 
> At 11:25 AM 4/27/2009, you wrote:
> 
>>Did anyone get out on the Chesapeake Bay this past weekend?  I am trying
to
>>get to know my new boat and tried to take her out Friday but the wind was
>>blowing a good 18 knots with gusts above from the SW direct into the
>>Herrington Harbor North inlet, white caps, good size waves and too much
>>wind.  I started to take out the main and tack back and forth around long
>>bar then decided it was too windy and too much sea.  But then I couldn't
get
>>the main back in because it was blowing back and forth so much.  I
continued
>>to motor sail to a leeward shore and was able to take the sail in and
ducked
>>into Herrington Harbor South for a break from all the wind.  My gps
>>registered 7.3 knots when I motored back to HHN at half throttle surfing
the
>>waves back home.  Saturday was a much better day to sail with 3-6 knot
>>winds.
>>--
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