MacGregorSailors.com

I have had such bad luck the last couple years trying to find a nice day to sail my out of Toronto. Invariably one of two things is true:

1) avg wind speed is 5kts ( or less) and the boat doesn't move

2) avg wind speed is good (10+) but coming from a southerly direction (SE is the worst) causing 5ft+ swells and very little enjoyment

What conditions do you guys look for on Lake Ontario?

I’m not on Lake Ontario, but am focusing on your comment about #1 on your list, lack of wind speed. This is what a 150 Genoa is for.

As for your second challenge, wind coming from the wrong direction, you get what you get. Make the best of it. When given lemons, make lemonade You’re sailing, life is great

Ray

I have a 150, but in light winds it still feels like a whole lot of nothing (typically 1-2 kts VMG)

Actually this summer was much more problem #2, but we had an atypically unsettled summer. Usually July and August are hot and stagnant in Toronto.

In that light a wind, you have to play with the 150 to find the most power. You may also want to have less center board in the the water. Is your engine raised all of the way while sailing? Some don’t

Ray

Unless your saying I can tweak my way into a 100%-200% speed improvement under those wind conditions, i'm afraid you're missing my point. I want to take the boat out with friends and have a spirited, exciting sail. But not so exciting that the crew is white knuckled terrified

With my X I hope for 30-50% of the wind speed.

And yup, when the waves are 3+ feet - it's miller time. You get what you get. Have you thought about a different location? I find myself a tad jelous of Sturgeon Bay in Wisconsin.

You can’t buy a salami and a sliced rye bread, and expect to feast on bœuf bourguignon

If you get a white knuckle sail from winds 5kts or less, you shouldn’t be asking for advise, you should be giving lessons Start your motor, and idle at a 1,000 RPM’s. It’s a good assist.

Ray

In my sailing grounds, a 5 mph wind is a reasonably good day. With a completely unfurled genoa and the main up it gets me about 2 knots of speed, which is perfect for a nice relaxing sail. Nice smooth water, no wind chill, no excessive healing, no issues docking. A relaxing low speed sail isn't going to impress your more excitement craving friends, but it works for me.

All that being said, I'm in Lake Erie, Buffalo. The conditions all summer have been pretty bad for sailing. It seems like it was either raining, or it was sunny with 30 mph winds. Definitely the worst season I can remember. But its over now. Here's looking forward to better days next season.

avg wind speed is good (10+) but coming from a southerly direction (SE is the worst) causing 5ft+ swells and very little enjoyment

Have you thought about a different location?

May be the answer for enjoyable days if the normal wind makes it too choppy on your side of the the lake. Find a smaller lake protected from the waves and then enjoy the wind.

NiceAft wrote:If you get a white knuckle sail from winds 5kts or less, you shouldn’t be asking for advise, you should be giving lessons Start your motor, and idle at a 1,000 RPM’s. It’s a good assist.

Ray

That's not what I said - in fact I said exactly the opposite. I find those conditions far too unexciting. Sometimes unexciting is exactly what is called for but not always. I'm looking for conditions that will let me make 4-5 kts without the boat violently rocking every 10-30 seconds from wave period

Paul that sounds like Lake Ontario this season as well. Better luck next year I guess. A new location might be in order also, but since I live 5 minutes from the lake here it's tough to beat the convenience. I was thinking of docking at Gananoque for part of next season, I hear the sailing around the 1000 Islands is terrific.

Seapup wrote:May be the answer for enjoyable days if the normal wind makes it too choppy on your side of the the lake. Find a smaller lake protected from the waves and then enjoy the wind.

What about Toronto Harbor, that big area behind the Toronto Islands? That's protected from waves from the south (where I am ), and it's plenty big for sailing. I've sailed there with the MMOR crowd a few times, in fact.

When you guys are throwing the wind my way, which seems like a lot this season I might add, and my passengers don't want the heavy seas and green complexion frmo 4-6 ft seas, I stay in Irondequoit Bay, which gets no waves from the Lake due to the tiny, curved inlet surrounded by huge rocks for wave damping.

I sail the East end of Lake Erie at the mouth of the Detroit River and have to say that this has been a great year for sailing this area. Winds have been moderate at 7-10 MPH for most of the 27 times that we got out so far this year. Going out today with 10 MPH NE winds with 14 MPH gusts. Hoping for a few more days like this before I have to pull the boat on the 31st. We did have a couple days with light winds and used the iron genny at idle to keep forward momentum. A day with light wind on the water is better than a day at work...... Make the most of it.....

Yeah the Harbour is pretty sheltered, the problem is getting there. I'm about an hour away by boat from the east, and if it's too rough to sail comfortably it's too rough to get there. Trailering isn't an option - no boat launches downtown, and I wouldn't want to tow it through traffic anyways.

The other option I have been thinking about is Prince Edward County - I think Picton/ Adolpous Reach is pretty sheltered, and West Lake could be an option as well depending on water level.

dthiesmeyer wrote:I sail the East end of Lake Erie at the mouth of the Detroit River and have to say that this has been a great year for sailing this area. Winds have been moderate at 7-10 MPH for most of the 27 times that we got out so far this year. Going out today with 10 MPH NE winds with 14 MPH gusts. Hoping for a few more days like this before I have to pull the boat on the 31st. We did have a couple days with light winds and used the iron genny at idle to keep forward momentum. A day with light wind on the water is better than a day at work...... Make the most of it.....

Ummm ... you are near Toledo OH, or just north of it, yes? Wouldan't that be the west end of Lake Erie? I'm at the east end, near Buffalo.

To contrast our weather experiences, I would normally get out at least 25 times (its been as high as mid 30's) or more during a typical season (May 15- Oct 15, about 22 weekends). Sailing time for me is limited to weekends (about 44 possible days), plus holidays, and some select Thursday and Friday evenings after work. Getting out requires all the stars to align with crew availability on those possible days plus decent weather. This year I got out 6 times sailing, and twice motoring, and not very much of the lost opportunities were due to crew issues. I always look at it from a $$/hour perspective. Assuming an average 4 hour sail day and approximately $2000/year to keep the boat in the water (slip fees, insurance, etc), last season cost me about $2000/(25*4 hr)=$20/hr to sail. This season cost me $2000/(8*4 hr)=$62.50/hr. That's some pretty expensive sailing in my mind.

paul I wrote:Ummm ... you are near Toledo OH, or just north of it, yes? Wouldan't that be the west end of Lake Erie? I'm at the east end, near Buffalo.

Yes, you are correct, that would be the WEST end of Lake Erie. Went out yesterday and sailed EAST 25 miles round trip in a little over 5 hours. Great sailing. Will be going out again on Friday and maybe Saturday.

Thanks for straightening me out Paul...