What conditions are you happy to go out in?

[prv]

I crewed on a Falmouth Working Boat while racing - my idea of racing, trimming the sails every few seconds while passing around pasties & beers ! - and those guys know their stuff re sending down topmasts in winter, it's a local byelaw that oyster dredging can only be done under sail.

Yep, I'm well aware of the Working Boats, although sadly I have never got to sail in one - very jealous

All kinds of working vessels used to send down topmasts for bad weather - from pilot vessels in winter to ships entering the southern ocean (topgallant masts in their case rather than topmasts) to Tilman on his Arctic voyages. No question that snugging down the rig and removing windage is a good idea - Kindred Spirit had a pole mast so nothing I could do up there, but I have pulled in and stowed the bowsprit and jib in preparation for a windy trip before now.

Pete

 

[Alan_B]

In F5 I'm out with all the rags on show, if it's F5 gusting 6 it's time to put the Number 2 on. I haven't been out in a steady F6 but imagine for me it'll be first reef and No 2. Any more than that and I'll stay at home. I've a second reef which if I ever need I can use, but I home it wont ever get to that point. Mainly because the chop would prob give me a fair battering and make any progress to windward slow. I'm always racing and there is always a few beats to do, and being on inland water the waves are close and raise quickly with the sudden changes in depth. My wee 20ftr wouldn't appreciate it, and neither would my nerves.

 

[NPMR]

Turned out that all means of getting out to the boat were closed! Club launch not working for some unexplained reason. Water taxi off duty as it was too windy. Our dinghy, on board the boat!!

So now we've had to re book it for November 5th. (first tide and crane available) which means that the mooring has to be resolved - only supposed to be used to October 31st - the insurance sorted - supposed to be ashore by Oct 31 I think, and the launch stops on October 31st anyway, so we'll need to find a way to get out to the boat (swinging mooring) etc etc.

All-in-all a bit of a pest.

Mind you, it was rough out at sea, where we would have had to go, across the bay. It's only about 5 miles but it would have been grizzly. And it rained and drizzled so vis was poor.

Ho Hum.