Had a great time this weekend.. After the July 0 to 5 mph doldrums the wind is picking up in the Apostle Islands 10 to 15 with gusts to 20 and Breezy ... Fastest wind I've been in so far...
With Full Sails the 12 to 15 gets a little hairy and 18 knot gusts get down right "Holy Shite" ...Especially on the back side of the Madeline Isl with the long fetch and 5'-7' waves...
Bout half way thru beating to wind we dropped the
jib and ran main only which calmed things considerably...we then cut the SW corner of Madeline short and found my CB bounces at 5'6" and shoal Keel starts rubbing at 2'6" (just like the specs said they would)...
Fortunatly soft sand and not too "embedded".. We carried the
anchor out to deeper water and with
winch on
rode pulling out and outboard "wiggling" stern side to side we Kedged out to deeper water and freedom... Which is good cause it was getting dark...
Next Day was even breezier (steady 15 gusts 20+) so we reefed both main and
Jib before leaving harbor and what a difference that made...! Same boat heavier winds and totally different "feel" ...running flatter, more in control and we were running faster speeds to boot...
Super run length of Bay pushing hull speed+ fastest I've logged on
gps... Great ending to adventuresome weekend...