On Nov 22, 7:04*am, "Roger Long" wrote:
...*You'll get better responses if you can
demonstrate that you are a real person with a real boat. ...

I'm sure I'm missing an important bit of your argument but as long as
folks ask on topic questions of a type that can at least potentially
be answered I don't care if the posters are boat owners or cruisers or
what. Why should it matter?

--Tom.

wrote

I'm sure I'm missing an important bit of your argument ...

You did and it's my fault for sloppy writing. I wasn't trying to say he
isn't welcome or shouldn't be asking questions here but that he would get
better and more considered answers here if he provides enough information to
assure people that they are real issues and enough data to provide
reasonable answers.

For example, his current question is whether he should take his 28 foot
sailboat down the coast. There is no answer to that. There are 28 foot
boats that shouldn't go across Long Island Sound and 28 foot boats that
could make a safe circumnavigation. All we know is that it has a mast
(maybe). Since he provided links to hundreds of pictures of old VW's and
none of the boat, I'm not inclined to give him any time.

I agree that, "I don't have a boat and have never sailed but think I would
like to try the cruising life.", is an excellent and legitimate question for
this group. You'll notice how few answers Neal got about his refrigeration
problem BTW. If you had asked that question, the thread probably would
have gone half a page.

I was just trying to give him some advice.

--Tom.

On Sun, 23 Nov 2008 07:28:20 -0500, "Roger Long"
wrote:

wrote

I'm sure I'm missing an important bit of your argument ...

You did and it's my fault for sloppy writing. I wasn't trying to say he
isn't welcome or shouldn't be asking questions here but that he would get
better and more considered answers here if he provides enough information to
assure people that they are real issues and enough data to provide
reasonable answers.

For example, his current question is whether he should take his 28 foot
sailboat down the coast. There is no answer to that. There are 28 foot
boats that shouldn't go across Long Island Sound

Long Island Sound is not always as benign as you seem to think Roger.
It has one of the highest average windspeeds on the East Coast, and is
also known for squalls that travel it's length, and can take gentle
rolling 2 foot seas to 7 foot breakers in a matter of minutes, with
winds of 60-70 knots.

The quiet period on LIS is only two months out of twelve. It's not
always guaranteed quiet, then, either.

And, yes, I've sailed in Maine. It has some different challenges, but
not any that are any more difficult to deal with. Someone with your
misinformed attitude could get in a lot of trouble in a hurry down
here.

wrote

(His usual putting words in the OP's mouth and then turning his words into
an attack on the OP's competence.)

Where did I say LIS was benign? I said there are 28 foot boats that
shouldn't sail across it. Sounds like you would agree.

I'll agree though, is would have been a clearer post to just say "the
harbor". The issue isn't the conditions, I've seen similar in Maine, but
the fact that the area is small enough that you can pick your weather and
seek shelter which isn't always possible going around the NJ shore.

--
Roger Long

On Sun, 23 Nov 2008 09:28:23 -0500, "Roger Long"
wrote:

wrote

(His usual putting words in the OP's mouth and then turning his words into
an attack on the OP's competence.)

Where did I say LIS was benign? I said there are 28 foot boats that
shouldn't sail across it. Sounds like you would agree.

(Rogers usual putting words in other people's mouths)


I'll agree though, is would have been a clearer post to just say "the
harbor". The issue isn't the conditions, I've seen similar in Maine, but
the fact that the area is small enough that you can pick your weather and
seek shelter which isn't always possible going around the NJ shore.

Based on the above, you could be ripe for a very bad surprise on the
LIS. You don't often get more than a few minutes warning that a "fist
of fury" is about to hit you. There is no such thing as finding a safe
refuge.

In the summer months, virtually every weather forecast includes a
warning about thunder storms. They are small and localized in area,
but often pack a huge wallop. Last June, We were caught out in a
string of them. There was no way to get around them, as they formed a
wall coming at us. My warning was whenj I looked on the western
horizon and saw that familiar (to me) low dark line. We had been
loafing along in about 6-8 knots of breeze. We immediately struck
sails and tied everything down tight. Locked the lockers, clipped in,
and donned lifejackets. Within 15 minutes of seeing that line on the
horizon, we were knocked down twice by winds in excess of 60 knots and
6-7 foot seas that were confused to say the least. There was lightning
striking all around the boat, and at several points we had no
steerage, as we couldn't make way. We were passengers. Everytime there
was a break, we headed out towards the middle to gain some room.

The USCG announced the oncoming cells on VHF AFTER we had been hit.

We later learned that a beachgoer had been killed by lightning on
shore just opposite of our position. He was under a pavilion at a
state beach and the pavilion got hit.

On Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:59:59 -0500, wrote:

We immediately struck
sails and tied everything down tight.

It's been my experience on several different boats that you are better
off with a double or triple reefed main and no jib. Having a little
bit of main sail up gives you far more control with only minimal risk
of being over powered. On boats with a very large main sail and/or
minimal reef points, a small staysail or storm jib might be the way to
go.

On Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:06:42 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:59:59 -0500, wrote:

We immediately struck
sails and tied everything down tight.

It's been my experience on several different boats that you are better
off with a double or triple reefed main and no jib. Having a little
bit of main sail up gives you far more control with only minimal risk
of being over powered. On boats with a very large main sail and/or
minimal reef points, a small staysail or storm jib might be the way to
go.

But then you don't have the mighty Yammie 9.9 OB to keep way,
do you?
Hey, just kidding.

--Vic

"Wayne.B" wrote

It's been my experience on several different boats that you are better
off with a double or triple reefed main and no jib.

That's been my experience as well.

--
Roger Long

wrote

(A terrifying account)

Wow. It sounds like no one should be sailing on LI sound, including you. I
had no idea it was the Bermuda Triangle of the Northeast.

--
Roger Long

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
wrote

(A terrifying account)

Wow. It sounds like no one should be sailing on LI sound, including you.
I had no idea it was the Bermuda Triangle of the Northeast.


Roger, on the other hand, my eldest brother sailed with Cap'n Zeb Tilton, on
the schooner, Alice S. Wentworth.
and was becalmed three days on Long Island Sound.

Leanne