Small Craft Advisory

[Joel73]

We made it to Ocracoke safely... having a blast!

We had planned on leaving Ocracoke today but the NE wind is crazy! We decided to wait until tomorrow to leave... hopefully it will subside. Maybe we should wait until Wed? ..... What do you think? Maybe just use the jib? It's really choppy out there right now... overheard the ferry on VHF and he mentioned 4-6' waves in the Pamlico.

PAMLICO SOUND-
816 AM EDT SUN SEP 30 2007

SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE CAUTION IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS
EVENING


TODAY
NE WINDS 20 KT. WAVES 3 FT.

TONIGHT AND MON
NE WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. WAVES 2 TO 3 FT.

MON NIGHT AND TUE
E WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. WAVES 2 TO 3 FT.

TUE NIGHT
E WINDS 10 TO 15 KT. WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.

WED AND THU
NE WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT.

[Joel73]

[camaraderie]

Hey congrats on the crossing...glad you are enjoying yourselves.
I dont think you need to make any decisions just yet and are probably best waiting till the AM for a decision...but if it really is 15-20 out of the East...then you should have a nice reach all the way home which will seem like less wind.
I would put a reef in my main before leaving and only shake it out once you're out on the sound and feel comfortable. On the other hand...if you have the time...what better place to hang than ocracoke??!! Have fun!

[Idiens]

Anything under 20 knots and 3ft waves is comfortable sailing on my boat. At about 20 knots and/or 20 degrees heel, I reef. If its puffing up a bit more I may remove one or other sail, depending on wind direction. Over 30 knots, a bit of furled foresail usually suffices.

[sailhog]

Joel,
I just got in a few minutes ago from a super-fantastic morning of sailing. The wind is the same direction and velocity here as where you are, and we sailed jib-only, six-plus kts on a run. It's blowing out there, and it isn't going to stop for at least three days. Reef at the dock as Cam suggested, maybe fly the jib only. Nice looking wife, by the way...

[Sapperwhite]

Damn Joel, my boat won't even make hull speed unless it's about 15kts (i'm pretty heavy for being so small). Throw a reef in and catch some spray. That is unless you are looking for an excuse to stay, in which case by all means, stay.

[Boasun]

If you are caught in it while out there you live with it, taking reefs and putting on small head sails.
But if it is blowing while you are in port, you wait it out. One reason if you are in a hurry to go someplace you would have gotten a stinkpot. Recommend while waiting it out; a bay window, a roaring fireplace and a hot toddy or two. As you watch the clouds roll by.
Note: Same list for when it is snowing. Especially if it is snowing.

[retclt]

There's a great little beach bar right on the waters edge of Silver Lake. That's where I'd be even if the sailing was perfect . . . . . . . you lucky . . . . . . .

[sailingdog]

very nice... Cam's advice is sound...

[RickLaPaz]

And not a single pic with the chute up?..............