Delivery skipper and instructor Bernie Weiss of Stamford CT, who prefers not
to get dragged into these discussion but with I sometimes share the more
amusing exchanges sent me this excellent description of LIS conditions and
strategy with permission to post it here.

Begin quote:

The description is somewhat of an exaggeration, but conditions are not as
benign as many would think. Some comments and observations:

1. True, most safe harbors are reasonably close to nearly any mid-Sound
position, even in dead-center, where New Haven Harbor is 15+ miles from the
Long Island Shore. The prudent mariner watches his weather and -- sensing
something potentially dangerous and urgent -- heads for a hidey-hole with
time to spare.

2. Unpredictable are the squalls that come roaring out of the southwest. The
NWS frequently barks more often than the weather actually bites, but we
get'em several times each summer. The squalls usually come from the
direction of New York City and Westchester County: The sky suddenly blacks
out, the wind goes from a comfy 8-10 southwesterly or southerly to a gusty
and blustery cold 40-50 kts from the NW or N. Sails are struck, all
electronics and electrics secured, foul weather gear and PFDs donned, guests
hurried below, etc. Lightning strikes are close enough to feel the heat and
curl the hair. All of this is accompanied by deafening thunder, horizontal
stinging rain and sometimes hail the size of bottle-caps. Wind whips the
seas (not usually more than 2-3') into a froth. The storm cell moves at 50
kts or better, so visibility is quickly reduced to a boatlength or two. But
as quickly as it comes, the damned thing passes. The wind shifts 180 degrees
and immediately begins to moderate. The sky clears, and the entire episode
spans about 30 minutes. Many recreational mariners are terrified during the
squall, but are exhilarated to survive it; they talk about it for years.

3. During such squalls, we frequently find that our position has changed
less than 1/4 mile, maintaining control by steering across the wind by
magnetic compass until the wind shifts, then steering back on the reciprocal
course. Engine not required; there is plenty of propulsive windage on the
rig and hull. Aside from moderate heeling, my boat handles very well under
these conditions. Of course, I do not tack; I beam reach until the wind
shifts, then jibe and beam reach back to my approximate starting point. It
helps to have a navigational aid such as a mid-Sound buoy nearby for
reference. Also, I caution boaters if, when they see a squall coming and
doubt whether they can make it into a harbor, STAY OUT IN THE MIDDLE. Boat
control in mid-Sound deep water is easier and safer, certainly less risky
than colliding with a harbor breakwater or running aground out of a channel
or smashing into a dock while trying to reach the relative "safety" of a
marina.

4. Lightning strikes are rare. In my 45+ years of boating on LIS, I've only
heard of one. Close doesn't count.

5. The worst weather on LIS comes from the East, but is highly predictable.
Easterly winds averaging 15-20 kts often accompany fronts, often herald
rain, often blow for 2-3 days, and are uncomfortably damp and cold. These
winds come off the Atlantic into the "open" (East) end of the Sound, and
pile up the water in the "closed" West end of the Sound. Worse, a sustained
2-3 day Easterly wind will generate 5-7' seas in the Western Sound. I advise
recreational mariners to stay home under such conditions. Crashing into such
seas, or rolling in their troughs, is no fun for a weekender or cruiser.

6. The gusty Northwesterly breezes we see around here are the third most
dangerous weather conditions. These winds almost always occur following the
passage of a front. The Northwesterlies are usually 10-15 kts, with gusts to
20 or 25. Because the gusts are unpredictable, they catch cruisers
off-guard; people lose their footing on slippery decks and have occasionally
been blown overboard while tending a sheet or jibing a spinnaker pole. Lives
have been lost. If one must sail in a Northwesterly, I advise sticking close
to the North shore of the Sound, where the lee of the land affords some
protection. In a Northwesterly, the seas on the South shore of the Sound
(close to Long Island's sandy beaches) make boat control difficult because
the bottom tends to shoal up quickly and generate steep waves with deep
troughs.

7. In Long Island Sound, the most reliable, user-friendly, and most
favorable breezes are Southerlies. They are gentle and warm, 10-12 kts. In
the lee of Long Island, such breezes rarely generate waves in excess of 1-2
feet. The prevailing winds, however, are Southwesterlies. During the sailing
season the morning winds are typically light and variable, but in fair
weather the Southwesterly sets in around 1-2 pm and blows until an hour
prior to sunset. Then it dies.

8. In metropolitan New York, some summers are accompanied by really hot
spells. During these times Long Island Sound is characterized by virtually
no wind. At least, not enough wind to sail with. During these periods many
locals describe Long Island Sound as The Dead Sea.

9. The advice offered in your post ". . . the area is small enough that you
can pick your weather and seek shelter . . ." is valid.

End quote.

His bio is he

http://www.atlanticyachtdelivery.com/about.php

One of the prices we pay for the general tone of discussion around here is
that people like this tend to stay away.

BTW I would note the difference in tactics described above from "we had no
steerage, as we couldn't make way. We were passengers."

--
Roger Long

Gee. I wonder why he got to contribute to the LIS section of Reed Almanac?

Gotta stop pulling wings off of flies and go do something useful
..
--
Roger Long

On Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:36:24 -0500, wrote:

Bernie is a schmuck, with a side order iof putz. No wonder you are
friends.

Do you know Bernie? I've met him several times and he never
impressed me that way at all.

You on the other hand are one sick puppy.

On Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:36:24 -0500, wrote:

Here's today's sailing puzzler: If you are 6 miles off of Guilford
Connecticut in the LIS and a line of squalls that effectively form a
wall across the Sound is spotted on the horizon from deck level,
headed from the west towards you at 50 knots. Which "hidey hole" can
you reach in a sailboat that is capable of about 7 knots flat out
under power?

You do realize that thunderstorms are visible for hundreds of miles.
They reach as much as 65 000 ft of altitude. Plug that into the
formula of your choice.

Casady

On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:40:29 GMT, (Richard
Casady) wrote:

On Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:36:24 -0500, wrote:

Here's today's sailing puzzler: If you are 6 miles off of Guilford
Connecticut in the LIS and a line of squalls that effectively form a
wall across the Sound is spotted on the horizon from deck level,
headed from the west towards you at 50 knots. Which "hidey hole" can
you reach in a sailboat that is capable of about 7 knots flat out
under power?

You do realize that thunderstorms are visible for hundreds of miles.
They reach as much as 65 000 ft of altitude. Plug that into the
formula of your choice.

Casady

You do realize you are full of baloney?