heavy weather????

[Fran49829]

I agree 100%. Wear life jackets all the time. Experienced sailors know that you really never know when you are going overboard, it is really that simple. I now wear an inflatable with harness even though I only clip on when it gets nasty.

[DuaneIsing]

I take an additional precaution: I try not to be worth more to my wife dead than alive.

(strictly tongue-in-cheek folks - it''s Friday)

[Shaman]

Consider if you will, San Francisco bay. The norm for a day on the bay are 18-25, and if it''s 10 mph more in "the slot" That said, the wave height isn''t all that great, but the current is awsome, only to be outdone by the inland passage. We sailed a 30'' Bristol an 30-35''s with a jib and reefed main, but sail our 36 ft magellan in 5-7 ft seas with a full load [on the sea trial we sailed her with main, mizzen and 150 in 25 mph, and didn''t put her gunnels in the water. {that said she is a heavy full keel blue water boat} Thus, it''s truly the captain''s experience, and knowledge and the state of equipment that make the difference. By the way. we took the 150 off the Magellan, and she trucks along in low 20''s at a respectable hull speed of almost 8 kts, and on her feet. with out all that weather helm that wears one out.
The secret, as taught by my sailing mentor,.."REEF EARLY".

Shaman