RE: [Cal_Boats] Re: Heck of a Storm

It's easier to shake out a reef than to put one in! From: "'Alfred Poor' ap… [at] verizon.net [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> Date: 12/23/2016 1:21 PM (GMT-08:00) To: 'ccampbell' <cc… [at] lsnm.org>,Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [Cal_Boats] Re: Heck of a Storm Chris writes: “If you're wondering if you should put in a reef, you should.” My view: “If you’re wondering if you should put in a reef, it’s probably too late.” Alfred From: ccampbell [mailto:cc… [at] lsnm.org] Sent: Friday, December 23, 2016 3:29 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com; Alfred Poor Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Re: Heck of a Storm On 12/23/2016 9:32 AM, 'Alfred Poor' ap… [at] verizon.net [Cal_Boats] wrote: Squall lines on the Chesapeake are not all that uncommon, and conditions can go from “Zero” to “Panic” in no time at all. They typically accompany a cold front (as was the case with last Sunday’s weather system), and they can be pretty unforgiving. Whenever there is a change of weather in the offing, my situational awareness scan includes monitoring the western horizon. If I see a low line of black clouds, I drop sails. If you stop to decided whether or not you should get your sails down, you’re likely to run out of time. The good news is that the excitement usually is over in 15 minutes or less. The bad news is that if you’re caught unprepared, well… it’s often bad news. When my brother was sailing a lot with me, I was always the cautious one--"Gee, look at those dark clouds in the west--we'd better reduce sail." And he would reply that we had lots of time, don't worry, and so on. My theory is that it's like reefing. If you're wondering if you should do it, you should. Chris Campbell

Alfred, well said. Another reminder to install the jiffy reefing blocks and hardware that I purchased 15 years ago, but I haven't yet installed. I got caught in a gale heading up to Channel Islands, between Pt. Dume and Pt. Magu in mid September, and could have used them, vs. doing a fisherman's reef and bending the cheek of my jib halyard block. But we did go like hell when we gave up, turned around, and headed home. And yeah, there were forecasts of early season Santana Breezes at the Islands, and the book said "It's suicidal to go to the Channel Islands when Santana Wind Conditions are forecast."Jerry of Shpritz, Ye Olde Cal 24-1, Mother of all Cals On Friday, December 23, 2016 7:13 PM, "vectormenow ve… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: It's easier to shake out a reef than to put one in! From: "'Alfred Poor' ap… [at] verizon.net [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> Date: 12/23/2016 1:21 PM (GMT-08:00) To: 'ccampbell' <cc… [at] lsnm.org>,Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [Cal_Boats] Re: Heck of a Storm Chris writes: “If you're wondering if you should put in a reef, you should.” My view: “If you’re wondering if you should put in a reef, it’s probably too late.” Alfred From: ccampbell [mailto:cc… [at] lsnm.org] Sent: Friday, December 23, 2016 3:29 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com; Alfred Poor Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Re: Heck of a Storm On 12/23/2016 9:32 AM, 'Alfred Poor' ap… [at] verizon.net [Cal_Boats] wrote: Squall lines on the Chesapeake are not all that uncommon, and conditions can go from “Zero” to “Panic” in no time at all. They typically accompany a cold front (as was the case with last Sunday’s weather system), and they can be pretty unforgiving. Whenever there is a change of weather in the offing, my situational awareness scan includes monitoring the western horizon. If I see a low line of black clouds, I drop sails. If you stop to decided whether or not you should get your sails down, you’re likely to run out of time. The good news is that the excitement usually is over in 15 minutes or less. The bad news is that if you’re caught unprepared, well… it’s often bad news. When my brother was sailing a lot with me, I was always the cautious one--"Gee, look at those dark clouds in the west--we'd better reduce sail." And he would reply that we had lots of time, don't worry, and so on. My theory is that it's like reefing. If you're wondering if you should do it, you should. Chris Campbell