"Capt. Neal®" wrote in message
...
I have just returned from several days of sailing. The conditions were
close to perfect
with our commencing our sail on the heels of a norther in winds of 25 to
30 knots. My
guest enjoyed the safe and relaxing sailing except for the second day
where the winds
were steady at about 25 knots but gusting to around 35. Unfortunately, it
was a close-
hauled sail to a little offshore island where we could tuck in behind a
sandbar to
get out of the three to four foot choppy waves that had been kicked up in
Hawk
Channel. My guest had a hard time getting used to the heel my fine,
bluewater vessel
experienced due to being close-hauled in the strong prevailing onshore
winds. She
was happy when we anchored in relatively calm water in the lee of the
sandbar.

The third day we departed from the shelter of the sandbar and sailed well
out
into the Gulf Stream in winds of only 15 to 20 knots.

Congratulations! It's not easy to locate the Gulf Stream.

There were some left-over rollers
from the open ocean of 4-5 feet variety,

Are 4-5 feet waves big ... or small?

Just wondering ....... !!


Regards


Donal
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