Went out today for a sail on Lake George.
We started at the far end of Huddle Bay. The wind was out of the south, and we were heading north with just the Genny unfurled all the way. We were doing 2.5 knots. Before we got to the lake we furled the Genny and raised the main. When we got onto the main lake, there were whitecaps, one foot swells. We were now doing 4.8 knots and sometimes heeling at 30 degrees. My wife was now at the helm and steered into the wind so I could go on deck and reef. I reefed the second reef point. What a pain, but thrilling. Once reefed, it was a pleasurable sail. When I eventually tacked south, I really could not make headway, so I started the motor and proceeded until we arrived at a point where I could tack and make headway. I was now heading west, so I was not trying to point too far into the wind. It was a great sail. The two of us enjoyed it.
Heeling at thirty degrees was fun. The two of us have gone beyond 45 for the fun of it. You don‘t go anywhere, but you get horrifying stares from power boaters. I have a wife who is not scared to go well beyond 15 degrees.
July 24th sail
- kingtoros
- Chief Steward
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2021 4:47 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
Re: July 24th sail
Great sail log! I have had the same trouble sometimes where the wind ends up pushing me around instead of doing the whole air lift/physics thing with the sail to move me in the direction I want.
- Russ
- Admiral
- Posts: 8299
- Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:01 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Bozeman, Montana "Luna Azul" 2008 M 70hp Suzi
Re: July 24th sail
Not my admiral. We were out yesterday and when we hit 15 degrees I got the looks. I said "But we're doing 5 knots". No joy. So I eased the sails and brought it back up.
Mountain lake winds can be inconsistent. A good captain must be ready for changes quickly.
--Russ

