First Sail / Wind Questions

Lewis Baumstark (lbaum@preferred.com)
Fri, 16 Apr 1999 12:17:10 -0400

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
First Sail of the Year:
Last Friday I woke up to overcast, but warm. By about 10am the clouds
cleared out and a breeze kicked up, since I was off I decided to go to the
lake. On the way I noticed that the wind was getting stronger and by the
time I started rigging it was beginning to blow big time. Having no
experience with heavy winds I decided to go ahead and try to sail but with
the main reefed. I launched, parked the car, fired up the outboard, and
pulled out from the beach in what is usually a relatively quiet cove. Right
off I was fighting to keep control of the boat. Starting from the beach,
the water is too shallow to rig rudder or center board so I was running with
motor alone. Usually I get far enough from the ramp to be out of the way of
other boats and do this, not today. I couldn't find anywhere with enough
lee to stop and and rig the rudder and board. The wind was so strong I
was heeling uncomfortably with all sail furled. Finally, I pulled toward
the windward shore as far as I dared and hurriedly let down the cb. That
helped a lot with control and the heel, but I still didn't have the rudder
rigged, nor was I to open water yet. I was really beginning to believe this
was a mistake. I spied a quiet spot where I usually stop and raise sail and
made for it. About this time a strong gust blows my hat off. Naturally
there's a bass boat coming by right at that time. As I begin to manuever to
retrieve my hat, this nice person zips up, picks it up and brings it over to
me, nice guy, but embarassing. Now I can see the open water and for our
little lake it's ROUGH. white caps and LOTS of wind. As I'm finally
getting the rudder rigged, I decide "This is definitely out of my league!"
I'm still in the quiet spot so I remove the boom (sail is furled on it) and
stow it in the cabin to reduce windage, turn and head back toward the ramp.
I manage to get the board up just before I beach, but I loosen the tension
on the rudder and let it kick up by itself. I reload, begin to derig and a
guy comes by on a bike who happens to be a sailor himself (that in itself is
pretty rare around here). He admires my "pretty boat", we talk and during
the conversation he tells me the forecast is for winds 26-28 (can't remember
if it were knots or mph). I get home and check out the Beaufort Scale and
it says 20-27 knots, but some of the gusts were more than that. TOO much
excitment for me!

I was also off the next day, so I tried again. True to form there was
little if any wind on Sat. I drifted around with sails flapping for what
seemed like a long time, then finally picked up a breeze and sailed awhile
before going home.

A book I just finished said you learned something everytime you go out.
That was sure true of my Friday experience! I'll definitely be more atuned
to the wind conditions and I'm going to buy one of those weather radios so I
can get a better forecast.

Now my questions:

For you P15 sailors:

1. What do you consider an "ideal" wind speed for maximum
enjoyment and comfort?

2. At about what wind speed do you reef?

3. At what wind speed do you just stay at home or at the dock?

Thanks.

Lewis Baumstark
P15
Bristol, Tn.