Last Sail Of The Season :(

BarryL · #1 (**permalink**) 11-08-2010

Hello,

This past Saturday, November 6, was my last sail of the season (on my boat anyway).

Here in the north east, summer ended a long time ago (it seems) and today feels like winter. I was hoping to get one more sail in, and when one of my nephews showed up Friday evening and asked if my boat was still in the water, I saw the opportunity.

So Saturday we arrive at my boat around noon. The temperature was in the 40's and the wind in high teens but we were ready for both. My engine doesn't like to start when the temps are below 50, but after a minute of glow plug and shot of ether, she started right up and purred. We took off the sail cover and hoisted the main at the mooring. It was still reefed from my previous sail, so we left the reef in. I dropped the mooring pendants and we motor sailed out of the harbor.

Out in the Sound conditions were great. N wind at 15-18, bright sun and seas that were better than I expected. We had no direction in mind so we beat upwind at 45 degrees apparent. My nephew is 23 and has been sailing more than a few times. He was game to man the helm so I had him steer for an hour while I adjusted the sails and relaxed. I had put the dodger side panels in at the beginning of October, so sitting under the dodger in the sun was nice and warm. I got too warm and had to take my hat off.

The wind was getting light and moving east. We tacked over and sailed close hauled east, moving with the tide. The boat was sailing nicely, the wind was under 15 kts so I shook out the reef and we sailed on. The day was going great and I was sad that I had things to do that night or I would have just sailed on and maybe spend the night aboard (easy to think about when you know you won't do it).

Time ran out and we turned toward home and ran downwind. The apparent wind was way down (like 6 knots) so I just enjoyed the slow sail back the mooring.

Back at the mooring we stripped the sails. I'll prepare to be hauled this week and that is the end of Sailing 2010.

Barry

Plumbean · #2 (**permalink**) 11-08-2010

I was out there on Saturday for my last sail of the season too. It was a beautiful day and I was headed to the marina to get hauled out. I had basically stripped the boat down already, but left on board my 105% blade. Put that up and the full main and singlehanded out of Manhasset Bay over to Glen Cove. Saw only a couple of other boats and thoroughly enjoyed a rail-down blast for the end of the season. Gusts were probably north of 20 knots. Sorry to see it go ...

BubbleheadMd · #3 (**permalink**) 11-08-2010

Yesterday, as we were broad-reaching down the race course at 7.0 knots, I watched the large, rolling wake my old Coronado was kicking up, mightily impressed. I was with my buddies, working towards a common goal, and having fun at it.

We were all swaddled up in winter gear and I felt a moment of anxiety that at some point, it may be too cold to make my escapes upon the sea from society. I think that for some years, my boat didn't get much use and that she too, must be glad to be fixed up and sailed to her abilities. When the water turns hard, I guess I'll just have to satisfy myself by working on improvements to the boat to make next season's sailing even more fun and exciting.

I still have 2 more races though...

TintedChrome · #4 (**permalink**) 11-08-2010

My boat's already on the hard.. making one last trip this weekend to remove the tiller, trial fit and fine tune templates, removal of the winches for thorough servicing, and other stuff for off-boat work I have planned over the winter. Then it's permanent attachment of the covers, a final look-see, a hug of the rudder just cuz I love the ol' gal, and I won't see her 'til late March / early April when I'll complain bitterly about the cold but love every minute of it.

Who am i kidding - I'll probably end up going down a couple of times a month over the winter just to check on her..

Damn, she was never even in the water this year, but I'm already going to miss the regular weekend trips to work on her.

All that to say, I feel your pain!

cb32863 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-08-2010

The boats come out of the water for my boat club around the middle of October and all boats need to be out of their slips by November 1st. Sad too as it has been unseasonably warm in MN this fall. In the 60's today with a nice 10-15 breeze. Would be really nice to be out on the water today....... I am already wishing it was April....

sailjunkie · #6 (**permalink**) 11-08-2010

I can feel the sadness in everyone's posts. Because folks on Canada's west coast can sail 12 months of the year, putting the boat up on the hard for the winter is a novel experience. That said, I respect where everyone is coming from.

While we can sail for 12 months of the year, peak boating season has passed even out here. Parking at the marina is easier; and the marina doesn't have the same buzz that is there during the Spring and Summer.

However, boating is kind of like baseball: the World Series is over, but Spring Training begins in just 3 months!

carl762 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-08-2010

I only hope we don't get a frozen Winter here this year. Otherwise, I plan on keeping her wet. Sailed last Saturday and yesterday. Winds are light though. I'm not ready to give up for the Season.

Stay positive guys. April is not far away.

jrd22 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-08-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailjunkie

However, boating is kind of like baseball: the World Series is over, but Spring Training begins in just 3 months!

I like that!

We will probably only take a few short trips/overnights between now and March.

CalypsoP35 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-08-2010

Had my last sail of the season a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't have planned it better. We had an exhilarating all day sail from Hyannis to Cuttyhunk fighting 25 to 30 kt headwinds (WSW and our rumb line was SW) most of the way. It was sunny but temp was only in the high 40's and wind chill made it seem even cooler. That's when you really appreciate your dodger. As a I tell my land lubber friends that think it's crazy to be on the water in other than ideal conditions, as long as you are dressed appropriately cold weather doesn't bother you.

Once we pulled into CH the winds started calming down. Had a great dinner off the grille and many drinks with a Hunter's moon looking down on us. The next day there was very little wind and we motor sailed most of the way back, but this was OK too, as we were able to breakdown the boat completely and have her ready for hauling out by the time we got back to the mooring. I hate winter!

TintedChrome · #10 (**permalink**) 11-08-2010

It's not *aaaall* bad.. after all, if I could sail 12 months out of the year I'd never get around to doing the nice-to-have improvement projects. I *almost* enjoy the building and creating as much as the sailing, but let's face it: if the boat's in the water, I'm not getting any work that's not regular maintenance or fixing done, and I'm surely not going to be forgoing sail time for shop time.

Then again, I might feel that way precisely because of a "short" season.. Hmmm..