Quote:
Originally Posted by Sapperwhite
Personally, light air isn't a big deal for me. If it takes me an extra hour to get to some spot on the bay then so be it. I've been out on the bay when one of those summer t-storms kick up out of nowhere. I make my way for "deep water" and love it. I pump right through the chop. Sure the rides a little damp from the low freeboard, but I feel as safe as if i were on land. I wouldn't want to do that in a Hunter etc etc. The flip side to that is, how often are you going to get caught in stink on the bay??? Not often. Everything is a trade off. |
Those are interesting observations. By and large I'd agree that the Chesapeake usually offers at worst moderately challenging conditions. But every now and then, she surprises you with a fierce summer storm, or an early spring / late autumn gale that can really kick your butt. It's happened to me plenty of times in almost two decades of sailing the Bay.
My personal experiences aside, some years back I read an account in (I think it was) Ocean Voyager/Navigator about a guy that circumnavigated in a Valiant 42. He related that the worst weather and conditions he experienced on the entire around-the-world voyage -- the only time he feared for the ultimate safety of his boat and life -- were during a fierce summer thunder storm on Chesapeake Bay.
Food for thought.