I took my boat out for the final time this year. I live in northern New England.
At home, the wind was 5-7 knots. Temps were in the low 50's. I was worried that the wind would be too light at my favorite spot, so I went to a lake that sits up at about 1,800 feet on a ridge. It was my first time sailing there. I thought that the wind would be stronger there. I just got my boat late this summer, so I haven't sailed enough locally to know what to expect for wind at different lakes.
Turns out that I made a bad decision. The wind was mostly steady at about 15 knots, with gusts of about 20 or slightly more. I sailed for about 1.5 hours, and it was nerve-wracking the entire time. I was petrified of going into the drink. To my credit, there were no close calls whatsoever. But I was on pins and needles the whole time.
I've decided that off-season sailing, for me, is best done in 5-10 knot winds. While this would be somewhat boring in the summer, in colder weather I just want to casually move along and enjoy the opportunity to be outside.
My biggest question is what to get for cold(er)-weather clothing. I am only going to sail from May through mid-October. Anything below 50 degrees, and I'm not interested. In the spring, though, the water is going to be very cold. The lake I sailed on today does not ice out until April or May (depending on the winter). Usually it ices out around the last week of April or the first week of May.
At a minimum, I want to keep my feet warm and to be able to go into the water up to at least my thighs when launching the boat. I'm thinking that a full length wetsuit with a spray jacket would work well. I'd also like to know that if I did go into the water, I could at least be okay for long enough to get back into the boat. I was truly petrified today (albeit in some strong winds that I would probably avoid in the future). At a minimum, I want to protect myself from a wet deck and footwell.
I don't feel like dropping $600 or more for a drysuit to go out a few times a year in a boat that is not worth much more. I'm okay spending about $250, though - hopefully in a couple stages. I could certainly get everything right away, but even $250 seems like a lot for trying to get a few extra weeks out of the season.
I would have had a really enjoyable day if I was in a bigger boat. Make me really want that Potter 19! But for now I'm sticking to the Sunfish.
At home, the wind was 5-7 knots. Temps were in the low 50's. I was worried that the wind would be too light at my favorite spot, so I went to a lake that sits up at about 1,800 feet on a ridge. It was my first time sailing there. I thought that the wind would be stronger there. I just got my boat late this summer, so I haven't sailed enough locally to know what to expect for wind at different lakes.
Turns out that I made a bad decision. The wind was mostly steady at about 15 knots, with gusts of about 20 or slightly more. I sailed for about 1.5 hours, and it was nerve-wracking the entire time. I was petrified of going into the drink. To my credit, there were no close calls whatsoever. But I was on pins and needles the whole time.
I've decided that off-season sailing, for me, is best done in 5-10 knot winds. While this would be somewhat boring in the summer, in colder weather I just want to casually move along and enjoy the opportunity to be outside.
My biggest question is what to get for cold(er)-weather clothing. I am only going to sail from May through mid-October. Anything below 50 degrees, and I'm not interested. In the spring, though, the water is going to be very cold. The lake I sailed on today does not ice out until April or May (depending on the winter). Usually it ices out around the last week of April or the first week of May.
At a minimum, I want to keep my feet warm and to be able to go into the water up to at least my thighs when launching the boat. I'm thinking that a full length wetsuit with a spray jacket would work well. I'd also like to know that if I did go into the water, I could at least be okay for long enough to get back into the boat. I was truly petrified today (albeit in some strong winds that I would probably avoid in the future). At a minimum, I want to protect myself from a wet deck and footwell.
I don't feel like dropping $600 or more for a drysuit to go out a few times a year in a boat that is not worth much more. I'm okay spending about $250, though - hopefully in a couple stages. I could certainly get everything right away, but even $250 seems like a lot for trying to get a few extra weeks out of the season.
I would have had a really enjoyable day if I was in a bigger boat. Make me really want that Potter 19! But for now I'm sticking to the Sunfish.