Glad to hear you had the VHF and cell phone, though if the seas are big enough they may not work! I think Mary has it pegged. Don't solo in those conditions without a buddy boat!I understand that the conditions got worse while you were out, so I can't say it was poor judgement, but if the winds were offshore, man that sounds risky! Some of you may have read about Fleet 448's Annual Block Island Sail. The Island is more than 10 miles offshore. The winds were 20-30, seas 4-6' and building. I went out with a couple on their 16. We got about 4 miles out, and were having trouble tacking in the waves. I said let's head back. If it's this bad here, think of the surf on the Island! We went back without incident. Others made the wrong choice. One 18 was left adrift after the Coast Guard rescued the crew. A woman spent 30 minutes adrift after being seperated from her husband on a capsized Getaway. She was picked up by fishermen and taken ashore. A 16 was wrecked in the surf on the island, and several other boats were too damaged to sail back in those conditions. Two of our top 16 sailors made the round trip, but sure looked like they wished they never went. All these boats were within sight of several others almost constantly. We were all watching out for eachother, and listening to our VHF's. Everyone made it back safely, though some boats spent the night on the island. The guy on the 18 should not have gone out so far without some hefty adult crew instead of the child and young woman he was with. And the Getaway did not belong out in those conditions! They din't have the experience to handle it.I'm sure you are a better sailor than they were, but I would urge you to be careful! I think the anniversary of a 16 sailor's death was last week. He went sailing in May off Provincetown, Cape Cod Mass. without a wet suit. He did this despite the advice several of us gave him on the old "Hobie List". I did go back out in the then 6' seas the day of the Block Island Sail, but as crew on a 16 with a very experienced skipper, and another really experienced guy as additional crew. We didn't venture out very far, and were within sight of people on shore. It was probaly the most exciting sail I've ever had! But I was never scared because of my confidence in those I was with, and because we were not too far out. I might add that while the water was probaly 70 degrees, we all had full wet suits on, and PFD's. Anyway you have a good story, and both you and boat are back in one piece! So there is my $20.00 worth... Brian
