Kicking it up a notch…
Unfortunately, most lake sailors are fair weather sailors. If the winds are piping up over 20 knots, not many will go out. Contrast this with the steady 25 – 30 knot trades in the Caribbean. I would be willing to bet that less than 25% of the sailors on Georgian Bay, excluding racers, have ever reefed their sails. Most will drop them and motor in – if they even go out. While that saves wear and tear on the cloth, it means losing an on the edge of living experience.
My friend Diane, who boats with her husband Brian on Solway, a 27 CS, would cheerfully make this choice. Brian, on the other hand, just loves the challenge but wisely defers to Diane. I think he wants to keep sleeping with her if you ask me.
I recall my first bad weather sailing day. Three of us – a 38 Irwin, Brian and Diane's 27 CS and myself, were in at Hope Island. We had a 22 mile sail back to the marina in 30 knot winds, gusting. Once out of the lee of Beckwith Island, that wind was off the starboard bow almost all the way in. As we prepared to leave, I thought that perhaps I should reef since I was singlehanding. Turns out I was right to think that.
One of the things you read in the sailing mags is that you should reef early. That means that if you think you should reef when you start out, you should. I didn't. I bashed my way through ten miles of four to six foot waves, spending a lot of time with my toes curled tightly onto the leeward coaming looking down at my feet instead of across at them. I finally gave up and hove to in order to take the sails down. I was too tired to continue sailing with reefed sails anyway. The jib of course, resisted my efforts strenuously, tangling its halyard at the top of the mast. I think it only came down because I frightened it with what I was yelling at it.
Upon my return, I found one batten pocket torn out and three tears in the mainsail's seams and two more in the jib. An evening with a needle and palm sorted that issue out. The most valuable thing I learned that day however was just how much my first boat, Publisher's Choice, would take. Even though conditions were difficult and the boat was overcanvassed, she had handled well. Had I shortened sail to my second reef points, I have no doubt I could have sailed her in.
The other thing I learned was that I had confidence in my boat. I knew she wasn't going to let me down, provided I didn't do anything stupid. While I was not enjoying myself all that much, I wasn't frightened. In fact, a large part of the decision to drop sail was that I could see that the sails were taking a beating and I had already seen enough of my sailmaker for that season. I wasn't looking for a volume discount if I could avoid it.
In retrospect, I should have perhaps waited out the weather and returned the next day, thus missing a day of work. I didn't even think of it and wouldn't you know it, the next day was a perfect sailing day. Never fails.
As well, I should have had my battery checked. The VHF would not operate because the battery was not holding a charge properly. Had I gotten into serious difficulties, I was on my own, the others having fired up their diesels and motored on ahead. While they tried to contact me on the VHF, they couldn't know mine wasn't working properly. Had I chosen to sail back to the anchorage or ducked in somewhere, I would have triggered a search by doing so, my friends having assumed that I had gotten into trouble.
George, from the Irwin, was waiting at my slip when I returned, with a dock line, a tall glass of rum and an offer of dinner on his boat with more rum. It doesn't get any better than that.
That day was a learning experience, which is what you call the things you do that you get through without killing yourself – and I don't regret it in the least. I have resewn my sails, checked all the seams, learned how and when to reef and replaced the faulty battery. I also check sails, fuel levels, the VHF and batteries at the beginning of each sail now. Just because I got through it doesn't mean I want to do it again..
And just what did I learn? Well, you are going to eventually get caught in bad weather. Before that happens, learn how to handle your vessel under controlled conditions or with someone knowledgeable on board to guide you through. Make sure your gear can handle the situation. Most importantly, do it on someone else's boat if you can and keep the wear and tear on your gear down!
In the long run, simply knowing you can handle your boat in heavy weather, and that your boat can handle it too, is invaluable. And lastly, you'll know to make sure there's someone at the dock with rum when you finally arrive. You'll need it!
Share on Facebook
