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Lake Michigan Sailing
#Alcort
#LakeMichigan
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I sail sailfish / flying fish out of Upper Michigan.? Then again, only in the hot months?of July - September.? Superior's cold no matter what month it is.? Can't offer much about Lake Michigan, other than pick your day and weather window and stay (reasonably) close to the shore.? We've gone out on days where we expected just a leisurely slow sail and ended up coming back through some nice rollers. From the beach we usually wade out until we get to knee deep, then give the boat a push and climb on.? We leave the dagger board as far out of the slot as we can get away with and lower it as we go.? Sometimes some hand paddling is in order -- my son has said he wants to figure out how to mount a kayak paddle somewhere for this, and coming back when the wind dies.? Haven't figured out how to do that one yet. On Mon, May 4, 2020 at 3:47 PM Andrew M via <amakinson1=[email protected]> wrote: I have a nice old Sunfish that I have been sailing on lakes in Northwest Indiana (NWI). |
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Hi, Shawn,
On 5/4/20 4:06 PM, Shawn L wrote: I sail sailfish / flying fish out of Upper Michigan.? Then again, only in the hot months?of July - September.? Superior's cold no matter what month it is.? Can't offer much about Lake Michigan, other than pick your day and weather window and stay (reasonably) close to the shore.? We've gone out on days where we expected just a leisurely slow sail and ended up coming back through some nice rollers.I used to use a short (~2.5 feet) canoe paddle tied around the handle to the bitter end of the halyard, and stuck into the cockpit well for this. (My mother insisted on this when I was a teenager.) It works pretty well. I've also used the daggerboard as a paddle. This is a bit tougher when you're trying to get off a lee shore, but works about as well (though a bit clumsier) in the no-wind situation. - George -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- When I remember bygone days George Dinwiddie I think how evening follows morn; gdinwiddie@... So many I loved were not yet dead, So many I love were not yet born. also see: 'The Middle' by Ogden Nash ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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I mostly sail my Minifish on inland lakes, but once a year I spend a week launching it from the beach in the Atlantic (South Carolina).? It is hard to launch if there are waves, and I used a lot of trial-and-error to figure it out.? I strongly recommend starting on days with small waves and working your way up! I have tried launching with and without the rudder and sail rigged up.? It works best to have the rudder set up and the tiller held near the middle position with a bungee cord (a.k.a. "tiller tamer").? If the wind and waves aren't too big, I push the boat out with the sail completely rigged and flapping loose (I stay on the upwind side of the boat to avoid being hit by the boom).? In waist-deep water I insert the daggerboard and push down the kick-up rudder, then hop into the boat (from the upwind side), then pull in the sheet and sail out through the waves. If the wind and/or waves are too big I rig up the mast and spars, but I keep the sail furled up on the spars (down on the deck) while paddling out through the surf.? Once I'm past the breakers I insert the daggerboard, push down the rudder, and haul up the sail.? I use a telescoping paddle:
?? My only major mishap has been coming back in to the beach on a day with fairly high wind and big waves.? I made the mistake of trying to sail through the breakers all the way in.? The boat tipped over and turned turtle, and the upper spar got caught in the sand underwater.? Since then I always lower the sail and furl it onto the spars before paddling in through the breakers.? Don't forget to raise the daggerboard and rudder! On Mon, May 4, 2020 at 4:06 PM Shawn L <shawn@...> wrote:
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开云体育I made a place to securely store a full length paddle as many days I need it to get back up my canal.? Invest also in a tiller lock.? I showed mine on a previous post.? It is a necessity if you need a free hand or need to paddle.? A must if you have to make an adjustment on something on the water. ? Mr Mike ? Sent from for Windows 10 ? From: gdinwiddie
Sent: Monday, May 4, 2020 5:02 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [SunfishSailor] Lake Michigan Sailing #LakeMichigan #Alcort ? Hi, Shawn, ? |