NOAA NY area winds (scroll down to New York Harbor)
National Weather Service NY temps and winds upriver
Live calculating Tide, Sunrise, Sunset and Moon Calculations Haverstraw (non-gov site)
Regional Radar- (turn on animation to see directional change- doesn't work on iphone...for iphone download WABC-TV news app and clock on animated radar)
When you walk in the forest you see each unique and individual tree. In this blog we celebrate the blossoms of each tree, nature and experiences of life.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Integrating Variability with Predictability
Sailing during this late summer has included times of easy expectation and also times of hair raising excitement. Small boat sailing is a process of examining the natural conditions and then constructing a plan to work with them in order to move the boat through the water. This post is about working with variability and predictability.
The wind, weather forecast, tidal current, sun and moon angles, sail selection and sail trim all provide data that gets integrated before embarking and then again when out on the water. On calmer days you can take your time. On windier days with gusts 30% higher than the norm you get a change in apparent wind direction that require a prompt sail and steering adjustment.
Predicability
The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides 2-3 day forecasts that have proved to be pretty accurate. I keep the sites bookmarked on my iphone. Most of the time I only read the first...what are the winds going to be today?
NOAA NY area winds (scroll down to New York Harbor)
National Weather Service NY temps and winds upriver
Live calculating Tide, Sunrise, Sunset and Moon Calculations Haverstraw (non-gov site)
Regional Radar- (turn on animation to see directional change)
Variability
Last weekend was a great northwest wind day. Northwest winds come when a Canadian high pressure system comes to town. They are characterized by periods of steady wind and then variable gusts. On the North-South oriented Hudson River a northwest wind means it is easy to sail South. Sailing back to the North requires tacking and sailing a longer than a straight line distance (86 sec video).
Last weekend on Haverstraw Bay the winds were 10-15 knots with gusts to 25 knots. (A knot is 1.1 mile an hour).
This sailor near Fisher's Island on Long Island Sound experienced the variability and the force of the northwest wind that contributed to the boat grounding. This and other accidents that day are described in "The Day"- Thanks Joe)
Sailing blends the predictable and the variable that makes every voyage different. When the variable gets outside the range of predictable conditions a chain of events can happen so quickly that the training of what to do next, a process of real time integrated thinking, may not keep up. Accidents can happen. Some years I have shied away from heavy and variable winds conditions. This year I find it invigorating.
We wear life jackets, practice MOB (man overboard) drills and it's been great. More posts on sailing to follow.
Predictable Currents at Buoy 25 |
Predicability
The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides 2-3 day forecasts that have proved to be pretty accurate. I keep the sites bookmarked on my iphone. Most of the time I only read the first...what are the winds going to be today?
NOAA NY area winds (scroll down to New York Harbor)
National Weather Service NY temps and winds upriver
Live calculating Tide, Sunrise, Sunset and Moon Calculations Haverstraw (non-gov site)
Regional Radar- (turn on animation to see directional change)
Variability
Last weekend was a great northwest wind day. Northwest winds come when a Canadian high pressure system comes to town. They are characterized by periods of steady wind and then variable gusts. On the North-South oriented Hudson River a northwest wind means it is easy to sail South. Sailing back to the North requires tacking and sailing a longer than a straight line distance (86 sec video).
Last weekend on Haverstraw Bay the winds were 10-15 knots with gusts to 25 knots. (A knot is 1.1 mile an hour).
This sailor near Fisher's Island on Long Island Sound experienced the variability and the force of the northwest wind that contributed to the boat grounding. This and other accidents that day are described in "The Day"- Thanks Joe)
Sailing blends the predictable and the variable that makes every voyage different. When the variable gets outside the range of predictable conditions a chain of events can happen so quickly that the training of what to do next, a process of real time integrated thinking, may not keep up. Accidents can happen. Some years I have shied away from heavy and variable winds conditions. This year I find it invigorating.
We wear life jackets, practice MOB (man overboard) drills and it's been great. More posts on sailing to follow.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Learning to Sail
This is a resource post to help new sailors understand more while they are out on the water. An Introduction to US Sailing Association is here. It is a little dated but has the principles have not changed.
Learn to Sail- great videos from US Sailing Association and a Primer on Sailing See here for a list of many 1 minute videos
Points of Sail - learn the language. Depending where the wind is coming from with respect to the boat, a specific name is used. - Source: US Sailing The Ultimate Source in Sailing Education
Knots used on a sail boat
Demonstrated on small boats these videos give you an idea of what to do when tacking and jibing. Both Videos are from US Sailing.
Tacking - You are tacking when zig-zagging back and forth to sail upwind.
Jibing downwind (heads down). You Jibe when the wind is at your back and you want to make a turn.
The audio explains the call and response between the helms person (person steering) and the crew (person moving the lines and sails).
They also have a self learning page on definitions. When you hear the words, port, starboard, bow, stern, leeward, windward it's great for new sailors to know in advance what the term means.
Man Overboard Drill- In case it happens...
Learn to Sail- great videos from US Sailing Association and a Primer on Sailing See here for a list of many 1 minute videos
Points of Sail - learn the language. Depending where the wind is coming from with respect to the boat, a specific name is used. - Source: US Sailing The Ultimate Source in Sailing Education
Knots used on a sail boat
Demonstrated on small boats these videos give you an idea of what to do when tacking and jibing. Both Videos are from US Sailing.
Tacking - You are tacking when zig-zagging back and forth to sail upwind.
Jibing downwind (heads down). You Jibe when the wind is at your back and you want to make a turn.
The audio explains the call and response between the helms person (person steering) and the crew (person moving the lines and sails).
They also have a self learning page on definitions. When you hear the words, port, starboard, bow, stern, leeward, windward it's great for new sailors to know in advance what the term means.
Man Overboard Drill- In case it happens...
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
After the Storm
As a teen I took up sailing with an attitude when my father moved from the speed and noise of power boats to the slow and quiet of the sailboat. As an adult I have gone through periods of sailing my boat, sailing on friend's boats, and no sailing-no boat. For the past five years I've had a 22 foot trailer sailer. It is a perfect low maintenance vessel used on the water in summer and resting in the driveway in winter. My intention this year has been to share sailing with friends and family. And it is going oh so perfectly!
Last night was a late start because of the a thunder storm traveling from west to east. We were on the edge of the storm and delayed our embarking to wait for the rain. The rain stopped and right before going out we saw this rainbow- touching land to the south and the north. Out on the water the thin wispy clouds continued to pour over the western slopes. We traveled to Ossining, toured the prison by sea and returned with a dark, star lit night as the wind died and the current built against us
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