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at every opportunity and getting wet was part of the
experience. Earlier in life, I sailed dinghies
in Scotland on the Firth of Clyde near the site of
the
recent wet and windy British Open golf tournament.
There it seemed to rain just about every day and
heavy warm clothing was necessary as sailing in the
rain was the norm. Now I live in here in Florida
and I won’t go out in my boat unless I can wear a
swim suit! Maybe I am getting older!
This summer, the Punta Gorda
Sailing Club has scheduled six Saturday evening
races to allow the weather to be judged as
acceptable or not for the racers. Four races are
down and all were sailed on schedule. So you can
go out under less than ideal conditions. Maybe we
are just getting a little soft. However, we must
never take the dangers of thunderstorms too
lightly. Sitting out in Charlotte Harbor with 40
ft. of aluminum mast pointing up at the sky is sort
of testing fate. Having sailed through three
thunderstorms in the years I have been here in
Florida has provided a few lessons and has taught me
to watch the weather. Now I review the situation
and I plan accordingly. The aim of any day trip is
to be back home or on two anchors when cruising,
before the weather turns nasty. Typically, during
the summer in SW Florida, the thunderstorms form in
the late afternoon and, if the winds don’t keep them
on shore, they can provide some excitement. But
then they are generally over by the evening and the
nights are usually calmer but hot. Good
ventilation, or an air-conditioning unit if in a
marina, is essential.
Sail boating is still possible
and can be enjoyed in the summer in SW Florida, but
we must plan. Preparation is the key. Listen to
the weather forecasts and keep up to date. Know how
long it will take to reach a safe anchorage and
organize your boat and crew to be ready to take down
the sails, start the engine, and close up the boat,
if necessary. At anchorage during a storm, turn off
all electrical circuits and position yourself and
crew away from the boats wiring and lightning
protection system - typically exposed chain plates
in the cabin. It’s really no different from any
other sailing situation. Be aware of the
conditions, know your boat, and know the
capabilities of yourself and your crew.
Please
click here for additional information
on the Punta Gorda Sailing Club.
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