"Jeff" wrote in message
. ..
Gilligan wrote:
RB Wrong!

http://www.franksingleton.clara.net/beaufort.html

RB never really said anything specific, only a very subjective
observation - the wind was "near perfect" and "a good breeze." He even
showed the airport wind which was under 10 knots, up to 14 knots, as some
sort of proof that this was a "good breeze." The wind near his slip was
even lighter than that.

As for the Beaufort Scale and wave height, that can only be used reliably
in a fully developed sea where there is enough fetch and time for the wave
to achieve their full potential. For example, according to Bowditch, for
the seas to develop to 90% in a Force 5 would take 12 hours if there is
unlimited fetch, or a fetch of 60 miles if there's unlimited time. RB
doesn't have more the 10 miles fetch from any direction except a narrow
slot to the north-east, and the night before the wind had been light, so
the seas were pretty flat. The result is that even if it had blown up a
bit, the seas would still be pretty flat.

On the other hand, it doesn't take long for a representative sample of the
final number of waves to emerge - even in a Force 4, it only takes a few
hours and a fetch of 5-10 miles for there to be some whitecaps, though
they will not be "numerous." It clear from the picture the wind had
stayed closer to 10 knots than 15.

So what we have here is RB's claim that it was a "good breeze," enough to
heel over a "very stiff boat." And he posts pictures and a weather report
that indicate 8 to 14 knots, although a closer report indicates it wasn't
even that strong. Thus, RB's ideal sailing conditions are flat seas, 10
knot breeze.

The boat is reported not to be stiff at all by other owners.

More lies!