winter sailing- have you done any this year?

Tidewaiter2 said:
Bl@@dy cold and wet rain last weekend,
[...]
Rain got everywhere, down collars, soaked gloves, froze fingers
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Yeah. And I didn't even have the benefit of going sailing. Firmly tied up alongside disconnecting and removing heads hoses, degreasing old winches, and discovering deck leaks :(

Cold and sodden.

Pete
 
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For the first time in about 6 years we lifted the boat for only 5 weeks for anti foul etc. however we have chosen a bad winter. No trips yet. Hoping to get out later this week on the Crouch at least for a day sail but I haven't looked at the weather. There's always the heating ducts to lag of course and that will be almost as much fun. Come what may I will be cooking on board on Thursday night.
 
Been out the last three weekends in a row - and only had oilskins on once, the rest of the time technical clothes and wind proof fleece enough.
Lovely sails, anchored for lunch and fast sail back before got too cold, with heating going on to come back into marina.
However we tend to day sail in winter (or use B&B) - interior cushions stripped out for winter
 
dunedin said:
Been out the last three weekends in a row - and only had oilskins on once, the rest of the time technical clothes and wind proof fleece enough.
Lovely sails, anchored for lunch and fast sail back before got too cold, with heating going on to come back into marina.
However we tend to day sail in winter (or use B&B) - interior cushions stripped out for winter
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lilo allows winter sailing without messing up the upholstery

allows the occasional night aboard
 
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Boat is on the hard - re launch last week of april.

But I tried ice sailing for the first time on Saturday..

DSC08952_zpseb0fa5ae.jpg
 
Yes boat is still in (Shoreham) and I have done some winter sailing in Nov, Dec and Jan - to add to the winter sailing in Oct, Sep, Aug, July... That's what 2012 felt like anyway!
 
Moved my boat from Chi to Cowes on January 3rd. We had an excellent sail in flat sea and very mild weather. So mild that we sat on the town quay and ate fish and chips at 8 o'clock at night. Haven't been out since.
 
davidjackson said:
Winter sailing equals oxymoron in my book. Far too cold, thoroughily unpleasant. Winter weekends are for pub lunches by an open fire.
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I used to think that before I found proper technical clothing. Don't try it with old cotton stuff. But technical stuff from base layers through to a proper Gore Windstopper fleece, Dubary boots, Sealskinz hat etc and it is far warmer than going out walking in normal clothes. And far far far preferable to doing the maintenance jobs outside in the winter - they are far better done in May IMHO.
If you haven't tried real tech clothing yet consider it - son recently spent two weeks in an area where -10C to -20C overnight, but +10 when sun out. He had lots of the right gear and found it enjoyable and not too cold - though drinks froze completely overnight
But we choose our days and never go out if forecast winds above 15 knots due to wind chill - but we have still been zipping along fast most days in the perfect winter wind zone of 5 to 15 knots.
 
Just too wet this winter. Went and looked at the boat the other day - a nice coating of green goo, but we know it will clean up fine in the spring.
 
just out of interest

dunedin said:
I used to think that before I found proper technical clothing. Don't try it with old cotton stuff. But technical stuff from base layers through to a proper Gore Windstopper fleece, Dubary boots, Sealskinz hat etc and it is far warmer than going out walking in normal clothes. And far far far preferable to doing the maintenance jobs outside in the winter - they are far better done in May IMHO.
If you haven't tried real tech clothing yet consider it - son recently spent two weeks in an area where -10C to -20C overnight, but +10 when sun out. He had lots of the right gear and found it enjoyable and not too cold - though drinks froze completely overnight
But we choose our days and never go out if forecast winds above 15 knots due to wind chill - but we have still been zipping along fast most days in the perfect winter wind zone of 5 to 15 knots.
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spot on with the wind

I will avoid anything over ten knots

you do describe a fairly expensive outfit though

would you be willing to briefly tot up the total cost of your winter outfit

the boots alone are going to cost £250

this is some alternative sartorial advice from the KTL school of fashion



Dylan
 
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Fantasie 19 said:
Love to have a go at that - how did it go?? What was it like?
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It was fun!! and a little bit cold. -5c and not much wind..

It's even more dependent on the weather than sailing, need ice (safe) w/o to much snow on top and wind.

There are almost no friction between the ice and the skates, so once you are moving you get incredible speed (top speed is well above 60 knots) - I did not measure my speed but it feels fast when you lie on your back just above the ice.

When little wind (as I had) you might need to do a running start to generate sufficient apparent wind to get moving.
Once you are sailing you have wind on the bow regardless of heading..

Beam reach
DSC08951_zpsa5d6ba18.jpg


Upwind
DSC08952_zpseb0fa5ae.jpg


Downwind
DSC08972_zps845c7158.jpg


This is video from Netherlands

And here is a link to a video taken an hour drive south, same place as I sailed but not my video
[video]http://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=10152391866695468[/video]
 
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