It was Friday. The day before, I was planning to go sailing on Saturday. The weather forecast changed my mind. The weather was predicted for Friday NNE 10 mph winds from 10:00 to 12:00 then diminishing to 6 by 2:00 pm with clear skies. The Saturday forecast featured 5-6 mph. I rose a 4:00 am to catch the morning wind, full aware that it would probably be blowing harder on the lake. I arrived at 7:00 am to set up the boat and launched about 9:00 am. I had already been warned by a fisherman coming off the water that the winds were strong. I had a tough time getting away from the dock because the point shielded the wind. It was swirling but generally very light. Finally getting a point of sail, I moved out into the channel on port tack. My intent was to sail on a beam reach past Gordon’s Island straight toward the causeway. The best laid plans… When out of the lea of the point I caught the wind (and the waves). There were moderate white caps and waves from 24” to 30”. The wind was relentless. Wind speeds were generally 14-15 mph with puffs up to 20 mph and very few lulls down around 12 mph. There were also sustained winds in the upper teens. There were also wind shifts with the puffs of maybe 20 degrees. I was up on the gunwales, on a beam then gradually moving to a close haul. I was spilling air, so I could not point up very high. The boat was crashing through the waves with spray flying in my face. The wind was drying my lips and my tongue out, so I was parched with thirst. I could not get to the water bottles on the deck because one hand was on the tiller and the other was on the sheets. The wind was dragging the boat to leeward. I was actually on course to reach a fountain near the shore south of Gordon’s Island and much further east. Before that I was approaching the shoals. I decided to sail south of the shoals and tack between the shoals and the shore. I waited to get a reasonable wind speed, the tacked quickly. I sailed NW on a close haul spilling air, then tacked again until I was south of Gordon’s Island. I thought that sailing under the lea of the island might help, but I was too far way. I tried to tack again, but the tack failed. I was spilling too much air and did not have sufficient boat speed to tack. I tacked again successfully a couple of times. Heading east, still south of Gordons Island, the big one caught me. I was on port tack and sensed that the boat was about to capsize. I yanked the sheets, but only the jib sheet disengaged. The boat settled somewhat so I yanked the main sheet again and the boat settled in irons. I reset the sails and headed on. I tried to tack again and failed again. I finally got a successful tack and headed back into the main channel directly across from Gordon’s Island. By this time, my old back had enjoyed enough hiking out. I was on starboard tack on a close haul but spilling air. I sheeted out to a beam reach and came about. It was going to be iffy reaching the bay at the dock without jibing. The wind was shifting to and fro, toward and away from the point. I also sensed a bit of weatherhelm on the tiller. I did not want an involuntary jib in this wind. I feathered enough corrections go get my around the point, then tacked to a beam reach for the dock. As I passed under the lea of the point the wind died, revived, changed direction, back winded off the shore, etc. When I was 300 feet from the dock, I sheeted in. At 100 feet, I dropped the main on a straight course for the dock. The main did not drop all the way. I ended up in a pile of sails and could not see where I was going. By the time I cleared enough sail to see, the boat was at the dock, but not the one I was aiming at. I crossed over to the starboard side and grabbed a horn cleat to stop the boat. I landed at 10:45 am.
While on the dock, I met a group of people, old like me, that were getting on a pontoon boat to go to lunch. The lady that owned the boat told the others that she brought them along for back labor. I quoted Ben Hur: We keep you alive to serve this ship. They also inquired about the sailboat. I quoted John 3:8 to them in the conversation. One of the men in the group quoted “Praise the Lord and come about”. I don’t know the source. I also showed him the Sonrise logo on the transom.
I was sore and beat up, but happy. After I packed up, I went straight to the chiropractor’s office. He took x-rays and found that my atlas was crooked as well as my back.
The only thing on the forget list this time was my hat. I had a spare in the cuddy.
I also spoke with a lady and her 3 year old child at the dock. She wanted to know the conditions on the lake. Her husband and daughter where out on jet skis. I told her about the waves and wind and the potential capsize. She asked me if that scared me. I told her not any more. I know what to do to avoid a capsize.
Weather stats:
Temperature: 64-85
Maximum sustained wind: 20 mph
Maximum gust: 25 mph
Again, no surprises from what I saw on the lake.
Yes I still have more the learn. I can’t wait for my next lesson!
Mike Caskey #2789