[MHml] be careful what you wish for...

[Bill Gibbs]

Seems safe to wish for good wind and good weather, doesn't it?  Besides, we
Califonians love to brag to our friends who actually have a winter.  But
there can be too much of a good thing.  
 
Good wind for example.  We normally have an on-shore breeze.  Occasionally
we have winter offshore winds called the Santa Anas, strong, gusty, and hot
from the desert.  They battle the on-shore breeze resulting in a wide
variety of conditions, depending on which wins.  Yesterday's race forecast
was 10 knots, with afternoon gusts to 15.  At 10:00 AM it was blowing 25
offshore in the harbor, most unusual.  We carefully raised the main to the
2nd reef and went out to the start, under main only.  Outside we had 25
gusting to 45, mostly 30-40.  Just a bit outside our comfort zone.  We scoot
the 5 miles to the start as the gusts strengthen.  We were undercanvassed
for the light wind, and not overpowered in the gusts, but the boat would
accellerate suddenly with each gust.  We practiced a couple of careful gybes
in the flat water, no shock loads wanted.  As we were idling along with
slack sail prestart, there's a bang at the boom and little balls are flying
everywhere.  We have a short traveler track on the underside of our boom,
the main sheet attaches to 2 unrestrained ball bearing cars there.  The
track end stop had ripped out and the cars were trying to get off their
track, losing balls in the process.  Coming head to wind allowed us to get
the boom under contol and keep the main sheet attached.  But I didn't feel
like racing in 30-40 with a jury rigged main sheet, so we bailed out never
having started.  Just getting back to the harbor and into our slip was an
adventure in these winds.
 
These warm strong dry 30-55 knot winds also bring warm weather weather.
Just right for fires.  And today Moorpark (my home town) is burning.  Only a
couple thousand acres so far, and still a couple miles away me, though
others are on the edge.  The wind direction is keeping the smoke off me, so
far.  A little rain or snow would be most welcome at the moment.  These
winds are forecast to weaken this evening and for humidity to increase,
helping the fire fighters.  
 
So, no more strong wind and warm weather wishes from me for a while.  :-)
 
Bill
Afterburner
 
 
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