Why not sail all year?.

[Nigeldownes]

As a novice who is eager to go sailing whenever, wherever and whatever the conditions, why is the sailing season so short. Most of you confess to being sailing addicts (me included), so why not sail all year.

I started my competent crew last week because I couldn’t wait till summer or spring even. I have cruised before on several occasions however this time the forecast was for force 6 gales and persistent rain.
The actual weather was as expected force 6 with miserable rain and I loved every minute, as did my friend who until this trip was a total novice. Not sure how I tell him its not always so much fun.

In my opinion it was far more of an adventure than any previous time I have sailed before in fine weather, the skipper made sure we were warm by briefing us how to dress before hand and lending us the correct bad weather gear, warm cups of tea turned into a huge treat, and at the end of the first days 13 hour sail I felt exhausted yet exhilarated.

Bring on more bad weather if you please.

Billiew your not included in this question and thanks for the all year round offer, when I become competent I will call you.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Speaking personally, coz there's lots of other stuff to do in life, and winter is a good time to do it.

 

[stevebrassett]

My boat was in commission for 12 months this year. I only got to sail it once but that was down to other things.

 

[Koeketiene]

We stay in commision all year round.
One winter ashore every 3 or 4 years.

I like winter sailing - less crowded.
But you take a chance. Last year was a very good year, this year was a mixed bag.
OCT was very good, NOV not much, DEC more than reasonable, missed most of JAN due to death in the family, FEB - I want a refund.

We sail as a family, and I've found that I can get them out in the wind, in the cold, but not in the rain. So, this WE's not looking good - again /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

At least there's Essex Boat Jumble on Sunday.

 

[savageseadog]

Winter sailing is more viable these days. Better forecasts, nav gear. radar, clothing engines etc. Good fun

 

[Stevie_T]

I started out pretty much the same as you. Extremely keen, sailed whenever I could, crewed for free on Sail Training Vessels all year round. Went through my RYA exams.
Started as an instructor, working weekends, passed my Yachtmaster Instructors. Went full time. Worked all year round and to be honest some of the best crews were out of season, keener usually or just broke and have to get the winter rates.

Anyhow, more night hours in the winter. After a few winters full time I got a job in the Carribean skippering a 50 footer. Then 9/11 happened and the job went with it. Couldn't face another winter on the solent. I guess I was burnt out.

So I got a real job and earned some real money, now we have our own boat.
Its lying in Greece at the moment and I keep thinking about bringing her back to the UK, but I work offshore and everytime I look out at the bleak winter North Sea I realise why I haven't done so yet.

However Incompetent, you have the right attitude, get out there and enjoy it!

 

[A_7]

Osmosis?

 

[jb2006]

I agree with you in some respects - we had our boat out of the water last year from mid december to early march and the late season sailing in the Solent was great - especially a trip round the IOW at the end of November on a bright day blowing a solid NW5, some great surfing from the Needles to St Catherine's and the whole place more or less to ourselves.

There is a school of thought that GRP boats should be out of the water for a period during the winter to dry out (reducing the risk of osmosis) but the need for this has been reduced by the more modern resins and gelcoats (and epoxy boats shouldnt suffer at all).

Finally be careful what you wish for in weather terms. I wished for wind on a trip a couple of years ago - I missed the first leg of the trip but they got the wind all right... F10 on the nose from the Solent to Brixham ... not pretty, good job it was a big and strong yacht.

 

[FWB]

Re: Osmosis

I sail all year, just back from 2 weeks on the boat. I have thought about osmosis but the hull is of modern materials so I dont think that it will be a problem.
In any event if it turns out that I am not immortal after all, then I only need the boat to last about another 20-25 years !

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: Osmosis

If you have cheap little old thing like I have (so no worry about osmosis) and you get time off during the day as I do, winter sailing is great. I also am close to the boat (150 metres) so a 1 hour sail is a viable proposition.
My avatar was a Boxing day sail.
This was a January sail

This was a February sail (ice on foredeck)

This was my webcam sail this January

So there is plenty of fun to be had if you can cope with the short days.

What is bothering me is the appalling sailing weather we had last year. Either no wind or squally, blustery weather. No nice steady F3/4s.

 

[Helina]

This is an explanation why I don't sail during the winter time and why I do !

 

[Lakesailor]

Not a life jacket to be seen!

 

[ReggieK]

We sail all year every year. Saturdays are written in stone. If you can easily access your boat and can be sailing relatively quickly winter sailing is great. Only a few boats out, good breeze.
However, we sail Dublin Bay which is a good sheltered sailing area and relatively mild. We can get a good 3 to 5 hours sailing most Saturdays

 

[capt_courageous]

Good sailing, like diving and mountaineering, is a AAA sport. Anticipation, Apprehension, Achievement. The balance of these obviously changes from person to person. The experience can vary from great fun to ' what the knell am I doing here '. There tends to be more of the latter in winter.

 

[Helina]

No lifejacket but everyone has a wooden head in a helmet ! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Mirelle]

I\'ve been trying it

Kept going all winter.

Conclusions:

1. The family don't like it (let me be precise - my wife won't come!)

2. Very short daylight in December and January (not so bad now)

3. Wear and tear on boat and gear is noticeable.

(wooden boat, btw)

 

[Sybarite]

What I don't understand ( and this is not the first time I have raised the point) is why there is such apparent resistance to wheel shelters, dog houses, etc. I don't enjoy getting cold and wet if I don't have to and this can happen in a mid-summer overnight sail.

Maurice Griffith designed a lovely little boat called Kylix with such a shelter. You could sit underneath it and look out or, standing up, you could look over it.

If you had a modicum of comfort you could enjoy a much longer season.

BTW in France the Glénan sailing school ( cruising) goes on right through the year.

John

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

My issue is that we try to remove soft furnishing, sails etc to avoid too much winter damage through the damp, and therefore going sailing in the winter becomes a PITA as you either need to lug loads to the boat, sail without things like berth cushions, or risk mildew, damp and smelly furnishings, and it becomes difficult to do things like winterise the engine...

Much as there is the odd day that i'd like to sail during the winter, I think that in my book, its easier to lift her out.....

A better strategy for me, is to sail off to find warmer climes!!!!

 

[Twister_Ken]

In that respect winter sailing becomes easier if you are marina-based, and can keep a heater and/or dehumidifier going. Then you can walk on and sail off. But those of us who park our boats away from electrickery have to strip them out in the winter.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

We are in a marina, (or were!), and even then I still like to remove some stuff.... good de-humidifier or not, I still prefer to for example remove the sails, as it would often be 4 or 5 weeks between visits.... however, I guess underlying it all, I agree with your own comment above.... if we didn't use some of the winter weekends to do a bit of DIY, then the house would fall down around our ears, becuase it gets NO attention during the spring, summer and autumn at all!