Big wind today (Sat., Feb. 22) throughout the state of Florida.

Rick White is up at Lake Eustis, near Orlando, for the George Washington Regatta, and he called in a brief report. This is a multi-class regatta for all sorts of small monohulls and multihulls. Because of high winds, all the monohulls opted not to race (Sunfish, Flying Scots, Lasers, etc.) In fact, most of the multihulls also did not want to go out -- except for the Wave sailors, who said, "Well, hey, we want to race!"

So as it turned out, all seven Waves raced, as well as three Inter 20's, three Windrider Raves, and three open class boats (Nacra 6.0 and two Hobie 16's).

They only sailed one race, during which the wind was 20 knots gusting to 30, and by the time they finished, Rick figures it was a pretty steady 35. He said the only boats that didn't pitchpole or capsize were Norm Freeman and Dave White, both on Hobie Waves.

In another post today John Williams mentioned that their race was canceled today in Pensacola because of 25-35 mph winds.

And it has been 20-gusting-to-30 in Key Largo all day.

Best thing, though, is that it is WARM wind. Usually in the winter when the winds are strong, it is due to a cold front with winds out of the north. Today they are coming out of the south. It is a rare treat.

Man, excuse the expression, but what a bunch of limp-wrists.

I'd absolutely kill for 20-30knot wind.

Try to show a "tad" more respect for your elders. These days when sailors have a problem with their wrists, it is more likely to be arthritis.

I just don't understand why people WOULDN'T want to sail in that kind of wind.

hmmm...damage...pain...$$$....reasons enough for me!

I'd still sail. I suffer from "Sudden windspeed death syndrome" around central NC. In the morning I'll wake up...

"OHH GOODIE WIND!"

...trailer the boat to the lake, rig it push it in the water, sail out to the middle of the lake and then proceed to sit there for hours upon hours in the baking sun because the wind died out... completely.

I didn't buy a catamaran, much less a boat to sit around and get a sun tan. Sure I'd prefer 10-15mph, but given the choice between no wind and to much, I'll take to much anyday. At least I wont be bored out of my skull, and as you guys know, I'm getting pretty good at fixing my junker

If you usually sail on inland lakes, you probably know that on a light air day the worst place to be is in the middle of the lake. Depending upon the time of day, there will usually be either a land breeze or a "sea" breeze along the shoreline, sometimes making it possible to sail all the way around the lake on the same tack.

And during the "slack tide" of the wind when it is switching over from land breeze to sea breeze, there is usually no wind anywhere.

Inland lake sailors are among the best -- and most patient -- in the world.

Anyway, the next time the wind dies on you in the middle of the lake, paddle to the shoreline and then sail the scenic route.

today the wind is blowing 35mph gusts to 50+.

There are races scheduled for today that I was going to take the flying scot to, but I don't think the club would like it if I broke the one scot in the fleet

And, besides that, it is hard to race when you are the only one on the water.

I assume, of course, that you WILL be taking your cat out just for fun.

I am reminded of a story Bernie Villa, veteran cat sailor from the Sandy Hook Catamaran Club, told me.
One day a group of cat sailors showed up for the scheduled races. Conditions were very harsh, high wind and rough water. Bernie polled the group to see what the consensus was as to whether to go or not. He noted with interest that it was the most capable, experienced sailors, who were best able to deal with the conditions that voted not to go.

Its going to be particularly tough to race in here in NC since all of the moderately sane sailors who organize the races have cancelled b/c they like to keep their boats and bodies in one piece...oh, and one particular Hobie 17 isn't quite ready to sail yet.

Someone wont quit bugging me about it either.

I agree with Maugan. My son Tom and I do not really get going on our H-17's until it is blowing over 25. But then, we are both in the 200# class. See attached picture of Tom at the 1990 Nationals in the Gorge, wind was 30 to 45 MPH all week. We each only missed one race, each due to equipment damage.

Caleb Tarleton H-17

2nd try with the attachment. Caleb

If the wind comes up over 30pmh, we justpile people on the Hobie Getaway.

That boat is just a darn good high wind boat. We bought a Wave when they came out and traded for a Getaway once they came out. I gotta say, it is a cool boat in high wind.

Hi, Mary,

I tried to find you Sat. morning but the skippers' meeting was about to start and I don't know what you look like so it was going to take a little bit of sleuthing to find you. Maybe next time.

Regarding fluky wind on inland lakes, you know the saying: "that's why lake sailors look old and tired all the time." Gimme the Gulf any day. (One day, John, I'm going to crash one of your parties up there in P'cola.)

Though the Eustis regatta was in my backyard I did not take my Rave up there. Wind gusting to 35 is not what you want with a trimaran that has the capability of having NO hull friction (my Rave) in wind like that. Sailing with only three foils in the water can be hairy at 18mph windspeed. Sailing in twice that is just asking for a pitchpole or worse.

I left before the racing started but I wondered why no one was willing to go out with one reef. Do the cats and monos not have reefing points? The wind at 11 a.m. was only about 12-16, I think, if that.

My fellow Rave pilots were finishing setting up when I left but none of them had a reef in their sail. Hmmmm. I'd like to know what happened to them. I'll have to call them later today.

Ah, but I have other interests, as well. There was an exotic (fabulously excellent!) car show in Mt. Dora just down the road from the lake; a dangerous event for me to attend with accompanying wife's hand clamped onto my wallet. The crowd probably thought, "Oh, look, that woman is leading her husband around by his butt." The next day in Tampa we bought a little sports car for said wife. She's been a little glum since we sold the long held Alfa Spider. That was better than pitchpoling on Eustis but it would have been great with a little, or a lot, less wind up there.