Stemar
Well-known member
If it blows like it's doing here, probably Crete - SotonMet had a gust of 61kt a couple of hours ago!
But like dolabriform, no, I'm not jealous either
Winter Sailing.
- Thread starter capnsensible
- Start date
But like dolabriform, no, I'm not jealous either
rogerthebodger
Well-known member
What is this thing called "winter sailing" we sail all year round
dunedin
Well-known member
So do we.
But I think there is a big difference between "winter sailing" and a "winter delivery trip".
With the former you tend to choose when and where to sail to suit the weather. On the delivery it tends to be more risk of taking a pasting by pushing on when and where otherwise wouldn't.
Mind you, the Captains voyage close to Africa is certainly in the warm south. No risk of needing to chip ice off the rigging!
But I think there is a big difference between "winter sailing" and a "winter delivery trip".
With the former you tend to choose when and where to sail to suit the weather. On the delivery it tends to be more risk of taking a pasting by pushing on when and where otherwise wouldn't.
Mind you, the Captains voyage close to Africa is certainly in the warm south. No risk of needing to chip ice off the rigging!
Sandy
Well-known member
Meanwhile back in a parallel universe
capnsensible
Well-known member
Seen the dartboards heading for the UK. One of those is gonna give us a cold front with air temperatures down to 8c. That's flippin Arctic for me!
Wansworth
Well-known member
Polar wind and rain arriving in Galicia Friday……..make your escape
capnsensible
Well-known member
Yeah seen that coming. Changing planes in Barcelona now. Sun is sulking behind high level overcast and taking a peek now and then at Spain.Polar wind and rain arriving in Galicia Friday……..make your escape
LittleSister
Well-known member
Cold spell? Gib showing 16 to 17 degrees C daytime, and 10 or 11 at night.
UK winter sailing is dreaming of such temperatures, while actuals hover around 0 to 5. (Of course, you don't even get the character-forming benefit of genuinely freezing temperatures either if you have a heater aboard.
)
capnsensible
Well-known member
Had my fill of winter sailing in South UK and Scotland to earn a living. I prefer warm. And the 8c forecast Friday night ain't warm!Cold spell? Gib showing 16 to 17 degrees C daytime, and 10 or 11 at night.
UK winter sailing is dreaming of such temperatures, while actuals hover around 0 to 5. (Of course, you don't even get the character-forming benefit of genuinely freezing temperatures either if you have a heater aboard.
Mind you I've sailed in sleet and snow before. But I was young.
capnsensible
Well-known member
I dreame
I dreamed of heaters.......
Had my fill of winter sailing in South UK and Scotland to earn a living. I prefer warm. And the 8c forecast Friday night ain't warm!
Mind you I've sailed in sleet and snow before. But I was young.
I dreamed of heaters.......
LittleSister
Well-known member
. . .
Mind you I've sailed in sleet and snow before. But I was young.
Aye, me also, and not to mention the ice on deck, too!
It's part of what
Wansworth
Well-known member
Your lucky……….Aye, me also, and not to mention the ice on deck, too!
It's part of whathas made me the man I am todayaged me.
LittleSister
Well-known member
So they tell me!
LittleSister
Well-known member
I remember some years ago I had the bright idea to spend a few days over the New Year enjoying the quiet and empty River Deben on my small unheated boat.
For reasons best known to herself, my girlfriend chose not to join me on this particular 'holiday'.
Temperatures were about zero to 2 degrees. Of course, in such temperatures the inside of a small boat soon becomes horribly damp when occupied and gas stove used. It was grim! I could hardly sleep for shivering. Even the birdlife gave the appearance of feeling hard-done by.
With the benefit of hindsight, I can only hope there was a suitable pay-off in terms of the stiffening of my moral fibre.
For reasons best known to herself, my girlfriend chose not to join me on this particular 'holiday'.
Temperatures were about zero to 2 degrees. Of course, in such temperatures the inside of a small boat soon becomes horribly damp when occupied and gas stove used. It was grim! I could hardly sleep for shivering. Even the birdlife gave the appearance of feeling hard-done by.
With the benefit of hindsight, I can only hope there was a suitable pay-off in terms of the stiffening of my moral fibre.
Wansworth
Well-known member
In the coasting trade many a morning we had to beat the ropes with bits of four by four as the had frozen stiffin a curve left by he coaster rising and falling with et tide…….thats cold,none of your namby Pamby yachting exploits 
The Q
Well-known member
Used to stay in my little 17 ft Lysander in the winter, a good all season sleeping bag made life comfortable. Arm out in the morning, light cooker, , with kettle ready placed on top, watch frost melting on the inside of the cabin. By the time the kettle was hot , it was a reasonable temperature in the cabin.
Going out sailing in the winter and finding the previously dry sheets freezing up as they got wet means it was cold.
Going out sailing in the winter and finding the previously dry sheets freezing up as they got wet means it was cold.
NormanS
Well-known member
I remember a passage in the Caley Canal, when passing a line to the shore, didn't mean coiling and throwing. You just pushed it out like a long stick. The boat was ferrocement, so the surface ice wasn't a big problem.
johnalison
Well-known member
There is something appealing about the idea of setting off with almost no-one else about and waking up with frost on the deck, but for me reality kicks in when I inadvertently touch a piece of stainless steel and immediately lose the use of my fingers. Twenty minutes below and a soak in hot water if I’m lucky, and I might be ready to try again, by which time the romance has gone. We had a few lovely trips out in the winter but they were so few that it didn’t make sense to keep the b oat in commission, but I’m pleased that some are out enjoying themselves, at least, so they say.
dolabriform
Well-known member
I've enjoyed so many sunny winter days sailing, even if it's just for a few hours. Keeping the boat ready to go means I can go for day sail whenever there is a decent weather window.
Stemar
Well-known member
I was seduced by the allure of winter sailing one year, so I left the sails on in the full expectation of enjoying wonderful days of cup-a soup sailing on an empty Solent. No of days sailing: 0. That was party because it meant a two hour drive from NW London, but mostly because the number of blue skied days with the right wind and sensible temperatures was vastly outnumbered by the wet and windy ones.
Now I struggle to keep feet and hands warm in the house, never mind afloat, so it ain't going to happen. Going to work on the boat tomorrow and not looking forward to being outside for hours.
Now I struggle to keep feet and hands warm in the house, never mind afloat, so it ain't going to happen. Going to work on the boat tomorrow and not looking forward to being outside for hours.
