It could be windier than years past. I think it’s more extreme really. The speed between average and gusty is wider for sure. The lulls are more extreme as well.
I find that closer attention to the winds and tidal currents is paramount to a successful trip out, more than ever before.
The old saying about not cursing the wind but adjust the sails could never be truer.
I’m still working but a my age I would gladly take days off to miss the traffic at the ramps and catch the wind when it favors where I go like a Clipper Captain.
I just hope the crew is sober when I call the sail…
At 77, my downsizing plan was to switch to a smaller (12-ft) boat that was designed for stronger winds (SF Bay) providing plenty of safety sailing in lighter (So Cal) winds. Our climate here hasn't seen more wind but much more fog.
Since it is something like -4 C here, and will not warm up before early June, a lot of wind or no wind is irrelevant. Either way you will be frozen before having to worry about the wind. here
Am envious of those of you who have to worry about this issue in mid-April
I had a tide deadline to meet, if I'd missed that I'd have had to stay out until next day so decided to try and beat the forecast front due that afternoon. Now Long Steps is designed to cope with open ocean passagemaking so survival was not in question, she's got options as to shortening sail and I wear appropriate PDF and tether, so off I went with about 10 miles to cover. The front arrived early, and I found myself running off in Beaufort force seven, close spaced big streaky topped waves, way beyond just whitecaps, and the boat was travelling faster than the waves so there was a chance of "stuffing" the bow into the back of the next wave as the boat surfed. I furled the mizzen had already reefed the main, and was considering dropping all sail to slow the boat down and just running off but the boat seemed ok at that speed, I had good control and although I felt that I needed to seriously pay attention, it all felt good. But we've had the hottest summer on record here, and the windiest. I'm currently waiting for the fittings so I can set up a third reef in the main. It pays to be prepared.
I am 83, down sized from a 18 foot Jarcat to a 11'11" SCAMP I am not YET comfortable with the smaller monomaran, am looking forward to more "but in boat time"
When I moved to Albemarle Sound 3.5 years ago, I was surprised by the amount of wind most days. I had been used to the summer calms and light winds in Long Island Sound. But then most of the Sound is less than 100 miles from Cape Hatteras, where storms go to die.
I don't know if it's any different than what it has been. I just know that the banks, the land, the water change frequently. The tides, unless near an ocean inlet, are wind driven, not lunar. And there are SCAs about 25% of the time.
Scientific American says in a Nov 2019 article that winds have increased globally from an average of 7.0 mph, to 7.4 mph, since 2010. Before 2010, there was a gradual lessening of wind speed, since the 1970s. But the trend reversed, in 2010. As to causes for periodic increases and decreases, they range from natural cycles, to urbanization of the land, to global warming. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-worlds-winds-are-speeding-up/
Germany, Munich. It was much windier last year. The fairly accurate local wind forecast has always remained at 2 to 3 BF in summer for the last few decades, except for local events. Last year it was of 3-4 and more important: Gusts 5-6 BF.
As the lift increases quadratically to the wind speed, these were announcements that persuaded the older sailors on the course not to sail the old dinghy after all. Many boats therefore remained motionless on the grass. At 74 years old and dinghy-sailor, I understand that.
I believe these things come in cycles. I have seen several years with high winds, especially in Spring, followed by "normal" years. The best you can be is be a chicken of the sea--when conditions are questionable, don't go out. If things pipe up, reef down and be cautious. As has been mentioned, use your judgement--If you are asking yourself whether it is time to shorten sail, the answer is always yes. You can undo the reef if you are not fighting to stay afloat. Trust your gut and don't try to prove anything.
I am comfortable with the old saying…”Reefing is kinda like thinking you might have to go to the bathroom before leaving the dock….if you think about it…you probably should throw that reef in early!”
When it is windier now, it is gusting well above 30 kts. That never happened in the past unless there was a big thunderstorm or Northeaster. The other problem is when it is not gusting and crazy, it is dead calm. Sailing on a tidal river with up to 5 kts of current is a pain with no wind. Al Gore nailed it.
I have been fortunate to be the slow boat at the tail end of our armada. When the fleet ahead suddenly heels over, I have time to reef. This led me to creating "variable reefing" (posted on YouTube). I can partially or fully reef in seconds.
I think it has taken us a few years to really get wise and preemptive about reefing our sails. I think there are a few adages about this? When in doubt, reef? Or reef early? Or at least be fairly secure in reefing on the fly. But better understanding this has definitely made heavier wind sailing much more enjoyable and interesting and less twitchy!
Saw this trend a half dozen years ago and purchased a storm jib. Figure I get about an extra 4 or 5 trips a year for days when I would otherwise have stayed home.
March was definitely windier here in central TX this year. Sailing this March would have been a challenge. My best friend and I used to sail our heavy ketch on a nearby lake, and she had enough sail options to keep everyone happy in winds up to 30 kts. Fall, winter, and spring sailing were great. Of course, in the middle of a hot/airless summer, she sat forlornly tied to the dock, and we lounged in our air conditioned homes.
It could be windier than years past. I think it’s more extreme really. The speed between average and gusty is wider for sure. The lulls are more extreme as well.
I find that closer attention to the winds and tidal currents is paramount to a successful trip out, more than ever before.
The old saying about not cursing the wind but adjust the sails could never be truer.
I’m still working but a my age I would gladly take days off to miss the traffic at the ramps and catch the wind when it favors where I go like a Clipper Captain.
I just hope the crew is sober when I call the sail…
In 2024 I sailed 30% less than the last 20 years strictly because of too much wind to launch and to sail
At 77, my downsizing plan was to switch to a smaller (12-ft) boat that was designed for stronger winds (SF Bay) providing plenty of safety sailing in lighter (So Cal) winds. Our climate here hasn't seen more wind but much more fog.
Since it is something like -4 C here, and will not warm up before early June, a lot of wind or no wind is irrelevant. Either way you will be frozen before having to worry about the wind. here
Am envious of those of you who have to worry about this issue in mid-April
I had a tide deadline to meet, if I'd missed that I'd have had to stay out until next day so decided to try and beat the forecast front due that afternoon. Now Long Steps is designed to cope with open ocean passagemaking so survival was not in question, she's got options as to shortening sail and I wear appropriate PDF and tether, so off I went with about 10 miles to cover. The front arrived early, and I found myself running off in Beaufort force seven, close spaced big streaky topped waves, way beyond just whitecaps, and the boat was travelling faster than the waves so there was a chance of "stuffing" the bow into the back of the next wave as the boat surfed. I furled the mizzen had already reefed the main, and was considering dropping all sail to slow the boat down and just running off but the boat seemed ok at that speed, I had good control and although I felt that I needed to seriously pay attention, it all felt good. But we've had the hottest summer on record here, and the windiest. I'm currently waiting for the fittings so I can set up a third reef in the main. It pays to be prepared.
I am 83, down sized from a 18 foot Jarcat to a 11'11" SCAMP I am not YET comfortable with the smaller monomaran, am looking forward to more "but in boat time"
When I moved to Albemarle Sound 3.5 years ago, I was surprised by the amount of wind most days. I had been used to the summer calms and light winds in Long Island Sound. But then most of the Sound is less than 100 miles from Cape Hatteras, where storms go to die.
I don't know if it's any different than what it has been. I just know that the banks, the land, the water change frequently. The tides, unless near an ocean inlet, are wind driven, not lunar. And there are SCAs about 25% of the time.
Scientific American says in a Nov 2019 article that winds have increased globally from an average of 7.0 mph, to 7.4 mph, since 2010. Before 2010, there was a gradual lessening of wind speed, since the 1970s. But the trend reversed, in 2010. As to causes for periodic increases and decreases, they range from natural cycles, to urbanization of the land, to global warming. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-worlds-winds-are-speeding-up/
Germany, Munich. It was much windier last year. The fairly accurate local wind forecast has always remained at 2 to 3 BF in summer for the last few decades, except for local events. Last year it was of 3-4 and more important: Gusts 5-6 BF.
As the lift increases quadratically to the wind speed, these were announcements that persuaded the older sailors on the course not to sail the old dinghy after all. Many boats therefore remained motionless on the grass. At 74 years old and dinghy-sailor, I understand that.
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I believe these things come in cycles. I have seen several years with high winds, especially in Spring, followed by "normal" years. The best you can be is be a chicken of the sea--when conditions are questionable, don't go out. If things pipe up, reef down and be cautious. As has been mentioned, use your judgement--If you are asking yourself whether it is time to shorten sail, the answer is always yes. You can undo the reef if you are not fighting to stay afloat. Trust your gut and don't try to prove anything.
And, keep the dirty side down.
I am comfortable with the old saying…”Reefing is kinda like thinking you might have to go to the bathroom before leaving the dock….if you think about it…you probably should throw that reef in early!”
When it is windier now, it is gusting well above 30 kts. That never happened in the past unless there was a big thunderstorm or Northeaster. The other problem is when it is not gusting and crazy, it is dead calm. Sailing on a tidal river with up to 5 kts of current is a pain with no wind. Al Gore nailed it.
If Al Gore nailed it we could be sailing our small boats in the ice less Arctic he predicted by 2013
I have been fortunate to be the slow boat at the tail end of our armada. When the fleet ahead suddenly heels over, I have time to reef. This led me to creating "variable reefing" (posted on YouTube). I can partially or fully reef in seconds.
I think it has taken us a few years to really get wise and preemptive about reefing our sails. I think there are a few adages about this? When in doubt, reef? Or reef early? Or at least be fairly secure in reefing on the fly. But better understanding this has definitely made heavier wind sailing much more enjoyable and interesting and less twitchy!
Saw this trend a half dozen years ago and purchased a storm jib. Figure I get about an extra 4 or 5 trips a year for days when I would otherwise have stayed home.
March was definitely windier here in central TX this year. Sailing this March would have been a challenge. My best friend and I used to sail our heavy ketch on a nearby lake, and she had enough sail options to keep everyone happy in winds up to 30 kts. Fall, winter, and spring sailing were great. Of course, in the middle of a hot/airless summer, she sat forlornly tied to the dock, and we lounged in our air conditioned homes.