Great Day Sailing Yesterday on Lake Erie

A forum for discussing topics relating to MacGregor Powersailor Sailboats
Post Reply
User avatar
dthiesmeyer
Chief Steward
Posts: 58
Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2014 11:50 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Westland, MI / Lake Erie Metropark Marina / "Good Times" - 2010 26M - 60HP Bigfoot

Great Day Sailing Yesterday on Lake Erie

Post by dthiesmeyer »

This time of year is great for sailing as long as you dress for the weather. Yesterday was a little over 50 degrees F, but the wind was a steady 15mph with gusts to 20. We were out for a little over three hours and covered 19 miles at an average speed of 6mph. The only draw back was the shot across our bow from a worried duck hunter that was floating in the middle of the mouth of the Detroit River with about 50 duck decoys in tow. I am thinking about mounting a cannon on my bow so that I can return fire (only kidding). I had a great sailing season with the boat slipped for the whole season. Went out forty-two times and covered nearly 660 miles so far. We are going out again on Friday before pulling it out for the season. Sad time for "Good Times" and me. :(
JamieJune
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2016 12:06 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Stanley, New Mexico

Re: Great Day Sailing Yesterday on Lake Erie

Post by JamieJune »

Perhaps, for this time of year, twin .50s on the bow may be helpful... or at least awesome looking. Sort of a PT Boat-ish look. (Ammo's pricey, tho.) :D
User avatar
NiceAft
Admiral
Posts: 6730
Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:28 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Upper Dublin,PA, USA: 2005M 50hp.Honda4strk.,1979 Phantom Sport Sailboat, 9'Achilles 6HP Merc 4strk

Re: Great Day Sailing Yesterday on Lake Erie

Post by NiceAft »

At this time of year I am jealous of those out sailing in the crisp air of Fall. Nice Aft is sitting in our driveway waiting for the tarps.

Ray
~~~_/)~~~
User avatar
dlandersson
Admiral
Posts: 4966
Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:00 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Michigan City

Re: Great Day Sailing Yesterday on Lake Erie

Post by dlandersson »

Nice. 8)
dthiesmeyer wrote:This time of year is great for sailing as long as you dress for the weather. Yesterday was a little over 50 degrees F, but the wind was a steady 15mph with gusts to 20. We were out for a little over three hours and covered 19 miles at an average speed of 6mph. The only draw back was the shot across our bow from a worried duck hunter that was floating in the middle of the mouth of the Detroit River with about 50 duck decoys in tow. I am thinking about mounting a cannon on my bow so that I can return fire (only kidding). I had a great sailing season with the boat slipped for the whole season. Went out forty-two times and covered nearly 660 miles so far. We are going out again on Friday before pulling it out for the season. Sad time for "Good Times" and me. :(
Y.B.Normal
First Officer
Posts: 335
Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:55 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Western PA

Re: Great Day Sailing Yesterday on Lake Erie

Post by Y.B.Normal »

NiceAft wrote:At this time of year I am jealous of those out sailing in the crisp air of Fall. Nice Aft is sitting in our driveway waiting for the tarps.

Ray
~~~_/)~~~
I just finished the Winter shelter for Y.B.NORMAL, my 26M. The low last night here in WI was 34*.
No snow yet, only a few flurries last weekend.
User avatar
1st Sail
Captain
Posts: 680
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:58 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Moline, IL '06M 50hp Etec
Contact:

Re: Great Day Sailing Yesterday on Lake Erie

Post by 1st Sail »

I wish I could say the same. We have been flooded off Ole Miss. river over the 4th, most of Sept, and now all of Oct. Fall is amazing along the river bluffs. Now the current is running 4-8knts. I had to pull the boat before they pulled the ramp docks 5 weeks ago. Lost the entire fall. No worries. I'm selling the company this year then off to sail the inside of the USA.
User avatar
Tomfoolery
Admiral
Posts: 6135
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2011 7:42 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Rochester, NY '99X BF50 'Tomfoolery'

Re: Great Day Sailing Yesterday on Lake Erie

Post by Tomfoolery »

My phone is showing rain for a week. The mast is folded and secured, but I'm not much interested in going out in 40F rain to haul the boat, or even go for a joy ride. :P

But you're right - fall sailing can be nice, often with more steady winds that are conducive to sailing.
K9Kampers
Admiral
Posts: 2441
Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:32 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: NH, former 26X owner

Re: Great Day Sailing Yesterday on Lake Erie

Post by K9Kampers »

Y.B.Normal wrote: I just finished the Winter shelter for Y.B.NORMAL, my 26M. The low last night here in WI was 34*.
No snow yet, only a few flurries last weekend.
Ha! I always wait until the coldest, wetest, windiest day of November til I put my :macx: to winter rest. At least thats the way it turns when I shake out the tarp!! :D
User avatar
Tomfoolery
Admiral
Posts: 6135
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2011 7:42 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Rochester, NY '99X BF50 'Tomfoolery'

Re: Great Day Sailing Yesterday on Lake Erie

Post by Tomfoolery »

K9Kampers wrote:
Y.B.Normal wrote: I just finished the Winter shelter for Y.B.NORMAL, my 26M. The low last night here in WI was 34*.
No snow yet, only a few flurries last weekend.
Ha! I always wait until the coldest, wetest, windiest day of November til I put my :macx: to winter rest. At least thats the way it turns when I shake out the tarp!! :D
Same here. The oil filter has a November date written on it from last fall, and will again this fall.

My FIL likes to remind me of the time they flew up here from Florida for Thanksgiving, and I asked if he'd help me lay the mast down on an Aquarius I used to own that I stored at a marina 40 minutes away. "Sure", he says, "as long as it's not snowing." He hates the cold and especially the snow.

And to this day it's a running joke because it was very windy and the snow was blowing sideways so hard I had to have my oldest son hold the main halyard upwind to keep the mast from going over sideways as I lowered it by hand (no baby stays and MRS on that boat - one of the best things about this boat :wink: ). My poor FIL will never let me forget it, though when he gives me grief I threaten to give his daughter back. :wink:

Almost December on the south shore of Lake Ontario - who'd a thunk it would be snowing in late November? :D :D :D
Post Reply