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Author
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Topic: Sailing in cold weather
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windy island
Member
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posted November 15, 2004 07:08 PM
   
Rosy cheeksIt was a cold morning. The temperature was -7degrees Celsius. I heard Windy calling to me. Take me out. Get me wet. I knew she wouldn’t stop until I did. I called my friend and told him Windy was suffering. He agreed that we would take her out for one last sail until spring. We loaded her up, stoked the outdoor furnace and left for the Ottawa River just past Arnprior. The sailing was great. Brisk winds steadily around 10 knots gushing to 15 knots. BRRRRRRR. We were on the river for about 5 hours. Sandpiper in cold weather. Even though I had greased the screw very well last summer, I found that in this temperature it is very stiff to crank. My fist mate did all the work but he really struggled. When ever the lines get wet, they freeze up and make it difficult to handle. The plastic window in my working jib almost cracked when I tried to unfold it. My usual trustworthy 7.5 Honda does not like this temperature either. I had to keep it partially chocked to keep it running. Frost was on everything, making it slippery on deck. If Windy Island wants to get wet at this time next year, I’ll just hose her off.
IP: 209.217.117.198 |
Eric
Member
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posted November 15, 2004 07:48 PM
Cool, err I mean kewl  !! When did you go, this past weekend?? It was sunny and clear, but yes very cool!!
I constantly see fisherman in Kempenfelt Bay sittng in their little alumminum fishing boats. Naturally they too have the Mustang floatation suits on, but they are just 50-100ft offshore, sitting there!
I've always wondered what it would be like to blow by them in Paradise, and sail down the bay in the late fall!! I don't think I'd ever be able to find anyone to come and sail with me in these conditions.
Good times  Eric IP: 216.209.15.3 |
windy island
Member
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posted November 15, 2004 09:30 PM
Yes, it was this past weekend. Saturday morning 13Nov2004. There were 4 other trailers at the ramp area, all fishing boats. We only saw one but we did get to blow by it while it was trolling. It was cold, but it was fun. My darling wife say's that I'm an old fool.IP: 209.195.64.16 |
Eric
Member
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posted November 16, 2004 07:19 AM
lol, don't worry about the "old fool" comment. I probably would be lumped into that group too . I'd love to go out for a frostbite sail!!
Derek Hatfield spent time in the winter sailing Lake Ontario, prior to his Around Alone sail, training for cold weather sailing. Eric IP: 216.208.56.44 |
piper576
Member
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posted November 22, 2004 01:17 PM
Windy
When I look at your postings all I seem to get for a picture is a little square that says dot photo with a sunflower in it ...
I tried to go to the site as well but still no pics come up - would like to see them
Is there a trick or do I have to join dotphoto to see your pics, or is ther a addon for my viewer.Bob IP: 209.226.190.133 |
Darcy
Member
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posted November 22, 2004 03:07 PM
I'd be out there if I could. The weekend before this last one I had a chance to go for a sail with my brother. He was putting his boat away for the season. I've been so busy with work I couldn't go (Worked all weekend*!!$**!) My youngest son went instead. They had a greaty day on the water.Apparently our local J-24 fleet is still out there racing. The world can always use more keen people. D'Arcy IP: 67.70.89.34 |
Ken
Member
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posted November 23, 2004 04:33 PM
Ha! What a bunch of fair Wx sailors!We're still in the boat on the water all weekend, every evening and overnight too! 'Course....there's no mast or sails now, and the boat's wearing it's new skin tight plastic pajamas for the cold winter ahead.
[This message has been edited by Ken (edited November 23, 2004).] IP: 141.117.228.250 |
windy island
Member
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posted November 23, 2004 04:39 PM
Bob,
There are 5 photo's at the top of this posting. Do you not view any of them? If you can't view them, I'll check out if there is someother way.IP: 209.217.117.198 |
Ken
Member
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posted November 23, 2004 04:42 PM
Some more shrinking shots of Silverheels III in Toronto harbour.
IP: 141.117.228.250 |
windy island
Member
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posted November 23, 2004 04:44 PM
Looks like you'll be toasty all winter. Good job.IP: 209.217.117.198 |
Canadian Sailor
unregistered
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posted November 23, 2004 05:23 PM
quote:
Originally posted by piper576:
Windy
When I look at your postings all I seem to get for a picture is a little square that says dot photo with a sunflower in it ...
I tried to go to the site as well but still no pics come up - would like to see them
Is there a trick or do I have to join dotphoto to see your pics, or is ther a addon for my viewer.Bob
Have you tried right-clicking the pictures? What browser are you using?
IP: 216.208.193.161 |
whited
unregistered
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posted November 23, 2004 05:58 PM
Ken;
It makes me cold just looking at your setup.
I'd have trouble lasting 5 months on a boat in the Virgin Islands. Well....maybe not if it was a large trawler type of motorboat with a 'full size' bathroom.Where did you get the 45 degree fittings to frame your boat with? IP: 156.34.83.57 |
piper576
Member
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posted November 24, 2004 10:43 AM
Ken;
Looks great and I could tell from your pics that Lynn had a lot of fun with that oversized hair dryer...
Hope you have a good winter with little snow and not to cold.Bob IP: 216.209.120.121 |
Eric
Member
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posted November 25, 2004 09:53 AM
I don't imagine there's many door to door salesmen dropping by lol!!!You got her done just in time Ken! Today we're getting cold northwesterlies. Environment Canada is warning of snow squalls today. Guess I'll be snowblowing Georgian Bay off my driveway  Ken, I hope you and Lynn have another good winter aboard! May it be a mild and short winter for you!! Eric IP: 206.172.171.179 |
Ken
Member
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posted November 25, 2004 02:40 PM
Thanks everyone for the good winter wishes.....0nly 20 weeks 'til we head across Toronto harbour to QCYC. When the boat's cleaned up and has a mast again she'll look much more shippy! The 60 degree fittings are plastic and fits 1x1 lumber exactly. They're available at Home "Despot" and are meant for erecting temporary garden and yard shelters. The hear shrink gun puts out a flared flame about three feet long and is rated at 30,000 BTU. It's not difficult to use...works much better than an electric gun but if you linget too long in one spot you'll make yourself a vent! (Check out the last photo) We do make three or four vents in the vertical walls admidships...this allows a bit of air circulation to help dissipate the condensation that accumulates inside on the plastic cover....mostly due to cooking with the propane stove and oven. We open the galley hatch when cooking. IP: 141.117.228.250 |
