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Do you sail year round on the lower Chesapeake?
Deltaville? Norfolk?
Or is year round sailing not done on the bay?
A quick look at today's forecast shows its in the upper 40's and lower 50's this week, with overnight lows in the upper 20's. I imagine it will be even colder in January.
What is the length of the season in that area?
Mid/Upper Chesapeake season is about 9 months +/-.
There will be plenty more decent sailing days this month, but I will be heading out to winterize this week. March is about 50/50, more like 80/20 if you have a cabin heater.
When my brother kept a boat in the Mid-Bay region, he never had to winterize the engine (a bit risky, if you ask me). Down in the Lower Bay it's probably safe to forego winterizing?
Will be interested to hear reports from further south.
I'm just up the potomac (mid bay) and sail year round. Last Sunday (Herrington Harbour North) went out and raced, and won, in mid to high 40's 14-18knts and constant rain. There's 2 more races left for the 'frostbites', after that I'll go back to sailing my own boat through the winter as much as I can. I've sailed with my friend on his Catalina in Janurary, just depends on how bad the winter is, and how many layers you wear.
We sail year round. Thought it really does depend on the weather most of the time. We do have a tradition of spending the night on the boat on New Year's eve and sailing on New Year's day. You know, start the year off right.
As far as winterizing.... out board engine, no problem. Water supply, we just bring what we need.
I keep my boat at Placid Harbor just north of the Solomons bridge. We sail all year. Winterize freshwater system and head. Keep a small heater in engine compartment. If it gets below freezing for more than 24 hours I run down and winterize it. Simple to winterize, and a few gallons of anti-freeze is worth it for the ability to sail on those nice winter days.
What’s the story with winterizing? Remove the hose from seacock, slide big funnel into it, run engine and ooze antifreeze into funnel until antifreeze runs out of rear pipe. On small engine it takes less than а gallon. It is $8 at most. Yes, you have to use right ecologically friendly antifreeze. Yes, it may not replace all water in the engine. Antifreeze is rated for minus 70 degree. It will mix up inside of the engine.
5 minutes later you have your engine ready for next time to go out.
Keep all other systems winterized. Hang solar shower bag with water in it over a sink. Now you have running water for guests. Or just boil a kettle.
Use skiing gear – face masks, gaggles, gloves, bibs, etc… Sail conservatively, use mainsail or genoa only.
I used to sail beach cat in winter. Big boat is too boring; there is nothing to do… It’s colder too, body isn’t working. Still, if weather is nice there is no reason to skip good sailing day
Crazy...what is ecologically friendly? The "pink stuff" won't contaminate water tanks or harm humans but I don't believe it is eco-freindly...though certainly more than the "green stuff". Do you have something else in mind that IS eco-friendly?
propylene glycol instead of isopropylene glycol?
We have it in every human application - tooth paste, mouth wash, skin moisturizer.
I mean any big city dump more "stuff' into water than singly boat in winter
Thanks for all the responses.
I've been known to sail in freezing temperatures in the Midwest, and that was in November. Sounds like I would enjoy the Lower Bay most of the year.
Interesting scenario. I only know you via Sailnet, but I think you would really enjoy sailing Chesapeake Bay. The tides here are not very significant, the bottom is soft (no hard groundings), it's all pretty much line-of sight navigation, fog is a rarity -- fairly tame compared to New England or the PacNW, for instance. And yet the cruising grounds are for all practical purposes limitless.
One caveat we've found is that summer sailing, at least in the Mid and Upper Bay, is not the greatest. It's not so much that there isn't any wind (usually a seabreeze will eventually fill in by the late afternoon even on listless days), it's more that it's so bloody hot and humid. And, due to the stinging jellyfish that are plentiful during summer, it's hard to jump in the water for a swim and a cool off.
But I am originally from New England, so my heat tolerance may be lower. In any case, we've come up with a routine where we do our annual boat haul-out during summer and just skip mid-July to mid-August entirely.
As for airport access, I understand the Norfolk area is fairly convenient and has decent service. Not the place to go if you need non-stop to Singapore, etc, but generally fine for domestic service and connections.
If you ever get out this way to poke around some (especially up closer to Annapolis) be sure to let me know and I will give you a nickel tour.
Thanks John, I will. I appreciate the offer.
Jellyfish? Is there anywhere in the world that is the perfect cruising ground?
That is one thing we are spoiled with currently. By mid July when its hot and muggy, relief is only a short jump away. Cool fresh lake water is the best. We even bathe in it and my wife loves to wash her hair in it. Don't worry guys, we take care of this business in remote locations only.
Thank you for the excellent response Adewall (and all).
This is all long term thinking, nothing is going to happen in the next year or so (especially since I will have to sell a house in the current market conditions). Thanks again everybody.
Of course that is weather permitting. Last year I was able to sail late in November and early December and again in January. It all depends on the weather... this year with "global warming" I have not been out since early November, I would add that personal holiday necessities and some work have kept me from sailing lately, but mostly, it has been too cold.
Then there was that rare winter back in late 70s that you could have walked across much of the Bay and in fact I ice skated on the Severn. It is all part of the beauty of The Chesapeake Bay.
I was wondering why that shiny stuff wouldn't stop following me. Hopefully some of the hideous white stuff doesn't come or else I may not be able to go out on my spotless 100K boat for another 4 months.
mrwuffles mind: I shouldn't be talking my boats out back right now but had to say something.
With the lowest temps in 10-12 years forecast here, I might visit our boat, now under wraps, fire up the heaters, make a cup of cocoa, and fantasize about spring.
Wimps that is nothing we got a nice brisk high of 19 friday and 1-3 inches snow tomorrow morning on top of our past ice storm. Things will be interesting if I have school . But I probably will.
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