Close to sailing season again

flounder43

New Member
Close to sailing season again in Minneapolis. I suspect, based upon the weather, that the ice will be off my lake in the first or second week of April. There are no mooring buoys until mid May, however. That is when most people bring their boats back.

Right now, as of March 19, it is frozen over, still.

Nevertheless, I am anxious to get out there as soon as I can, even if I can't moor my boat. But how safe is it to sail given the fact that one might capsize in very cold water? I suppose one just tries to sail in mild wind. Capsizing in 40-50 degree water would be problematic, I think. Do people sail in these conditions?
 
sailing/racing

Sorry, but I have to brag. I was on my Capri in Florida at Thanksgiving. Here in North Georgia, we had our first race of the season in January - it was too cold for the Capri so I raced the Catalina22. Our Feb race was cold, I was on the 22 again, but another daring club member was on his Apolla 16. The March race I was in my Capri and the air temp reached 75 degrees. I took my wetsuit, but didn't put it on because of the heat.

I'm going out this weekend in the Capri. I'm trying out my new home-made whisker pole.

I'm taking the Capri to Florida for Spring Break in early April for a week of sailing in the Gulf and the Choctawhatchee Bay.

-Robert
1989 Capri Mod2
1984 Catalina 22
 
I am envious. It has warmed up a lot here, but still, there ice was very thick here. I think that the second week in April will be best case scenario.
 
Good to hear the thaw is coming. If you end up in that cold water, the moment you hit it , your breath will be sucked away like you have been punched in the gut and then it gets alot worse fast. People "frost bite" sail Lasers in the cold climates all the time but do it in a dry suit or worst case a wet suit. Always wear a pfd so at least they can find you easier.

Warm weather sailing has been great this year here in So CA but I really feel for you guys in the north.

Sail safe and watch out for the swine flu.
 
Flounder: I live in NJ... Budd Lake now, and it is shallow, and the last week has given us some unseasonably warm weather... 90s+ during the day for over 4 days straight.

Even with that I went sailing on last Sunday, April 26th. Water could not have been much warmer than 55 degrees (I know as I used to follow water temps close when I bass fished a lot).

I had a good time sailing, until I experienced a 90 degree wind shift that was coming at me at 15+ knots. I nearly flipped her on her side in that instant (as I was alone and hiking out big time at the time, and spilling to keep me dry).

I, fortunately, hold the main sheet in hand when I sail (although in the cleat). However I managed to free the sheet, and all that really backed was the jib, but even with that my back was soaked!

I dropped sails at that point. Winds picked up from there. I lost my breath with just a splash couldn't imagine a swim.

So go ahead and hit the water when it is cold, but be it a really MILD day for you, or wear a dry suit.

By the way I was wearing a PFD. The winds were dead calm to 5 knots when I launched. In fact to do some CYA, I was sailing with just the main to make sure there were no problems, but the wind completely died, so I raised the jib (evidence there was no wind, I did all that on the water single handed without locking the tiller). Once the jib was up, the wind came up too! Of course.

Needless to say, I am waiting for a calm day, or warmer weather.
 

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