Roger, you said it yourself right from the start. most people (and even more
so on this ng) over report wave height by a factor of 2x to 3x and wind
strength by almost as much.

I have seen people reefed when no whites are anywhere, and tell tales later of
25 knots gusting to 35.

Those are streaks on the water surface. He's talking about the tops blowing
off and keeping right on going. It really gets your attention the first
time you see it.

--

Roger Long



"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
the wind starts blowing the tops off waves in streaks of foam about 24
knots.

Somewhere between 30 and 35 knots the wind begins to rip off the wave
tops and send them through the air like the stream from a fire hose.
I've found it to be an infallible guide to near gale force conditions.
Also, the rigging begins to howl like a banshee in that wind range and
above.