On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 10:00:32 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 11:31:58 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:
If a breeze feels twice as strong as one we know to
be 15 knots, most people would call it 30 knots whereas it would actually
only be 21.
=============================

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.

That's a good rule of thumb. By sitting at dock on squally days, you
can compare the "note" of howling rigging to anenometer readings.
That's how I can tell over 30 knots...it gets pretty damned noisy and
stuff not secured begins to leave the boat.

If you are close to shore, however, on a beam reach relative to shore
and coming from there, you get lots of wind sound and a lot less water
sound, because you can have 40 knots and 2 feet of waves. That's why
lake sailing is fun because you can train your ear in less
"uncontrolled" conditions.

R.