The Weather

[Ish]

So we go from a rain storm last night to -20c and a -40c wind chill from the 88 km westerlies. In a nutshell “it sucks “ Even Tegwen our dog hates it. Dropping butt isn’t much fun with -40. You can learn so much from a mutt.

Like never get too close to the frozen bits with your delicate bits.

[Soñadora]

I bought some dearskin gloves at Menard's in Superior, WI. I lost them in the movie theater last week. I figured I'd just head to Menard's and get another pair ($19).

Nothing. It was like the Grinch came through and took them all. Dammit!

these babies right here:

[derekb]

Weather Forecasting - the best class I took in college - it was my first class of the day during a summer qtr. We would look at the data and make or forecast every day - then see how we did. Really helped when sailing off shore, and later as a pilot.

I raced my Laser in beautiful sunshine and 15 knts of wind on Sunday here in Seattle - Low 40's, plenty warm with neoprene hikers, a mid weight dry shirt under a dry top, some very old Musto Gloves and neoprene socks in hiking boots. Even went swimming twice when I got a little over aggressive in the waves.

[Orestes Munn]

Chilly ride in this morning. Everything was fine except the hands, which I had to stuff into my crotch for a minute at the end to get where I could feel enough to mash my lifeless thumb into the buttons on my lights. Fortunately, I was early and there weren't too many people in the garage. Definitely have to solve the glove issue if we're going to get any more of these single digit temps.

[Joli]

These are ALWAYS in my bag with extra cotton liners when racing a Mac. Nothing worse then cold wet hands while holding a SS wheel at 3 in the morning in heavy rain and seeing your breath. Cold and wet is over rated.

http://www.fullsource.com/rubber-gloves/memphis-gloves-6218/

[Blackbird]

I really want get back to Laser frostbiting in Newport. The one thing stopping me is that usually after the first race, may hands get excruciatingly, painfully cold. After the second race they're fine again. We sail in temps down to about 25. I haven't found a glove that prevents that and still gives me the dexterity to pick up a thousandth of an inch thick control line off the deck. I'd be glad of any suggestions from the assembled intelligence here.

Andy

[Orestes Munn]

I really want get back to Laser frostbiting in Newport. The one thing stopping me is that usually after the first race, may hands get excruciatingly, painfully cold. After the second race they're fine again. We sail in temps down to about 25. I haven't found a glove that prevents that and still gives me the dexterity to pick up a thousandth of an inch thick control line off the deck. I'd be glad of any suggestions from the assembled intelligence here.

Andy

The only thing that has really worked for me is getting my core temp up (didn't work so well this a.m.). The signal to shut down circulation in the extremities is generated by the brain when it sees cold blood. Your core is probably warmer in the second race. In other words, try a thicker cap.

[derekb]

I really want get back to Laser frostbiting in Newport. The one thing stopping me is that usually after the first race, may hands get excruciatingly, painfully cold. After the second race they're fine again. We sail in temps down to about 25. I haven't found a glove that prevents that and still gives me the dexterity to pick up a thousandth of an inch thick control line off the deck. I'd be glad of any suggestions from the assembled intelligence here.

Andy

Andy, A few thoughts. 1) I change out to a larger mainsheet and C-ham in the winter. 2) There are electric glove liners that might help but I am not sure how they will live in salt water over time. 3) I use an older ver of this glove http://www.musto.com/sailing-clothing/g ... black.html as it is designed to get wet and your hand needs to warm that water back to body temp, I would start by pouring a thermos of warm water over the gloves prior to sailing so my hands only need to maintain the warmth not bring the water up to temp. 4) Many people are very happy with titanium liners in their frostbite gear http://www.roostersailing.com/merchant2 ... ode=GLOVHT I have not tried these but many people speak very highly of rooster gear. heck for $15 US I think I will get a set as I need new gloves anyway.

[BeauV]

From my experience back country skiing, I'm with OM. Get your core warm and your hands will warm right up. I'm guessing that you're wearing too little on your chest and legs and that's making hands and feet cold. Simply put, there's no amount of insulation that you can put on your hands to keep 'em warm without the blood going in being nice and warm. If the blood cools going down your arms to your hands, you've lost a lot. In warm weather we're used to wearing light weight stuff which makes it easy to pump etc... but that works against you when it's cold.

I haven't sailed a Laser in years, but when I had to wear heavy gloves I tied the tails of the control lines to the boom so I could grab them from there instead of out of the cockpit.

BV

[BeauV]

Racing to Hawaii

For those of you who have made the passage to Hawaii a couple of times, you've probably already read this. For those who haven't, this is a really interesting read. Stan has nailed the TransPac and PacCup over and over again, and he's willing to share what he knows. You'll enjoy reading this.

http://sfbaysss.net/resource/doc/PacWeatherHoney2012.pdf

Stan, Sally, Jon and Skip crossing the Finish line:

[Orestes Munn]

From my experience back country skiing, I'm with OM. Get your core warm and your hands will warm right up. I'm guessing that you're wearing too little on your chest and legs and that's making hands and feet cold. Simply put, there's no amount of insulation that you can put on your hands to keep 'em warm without the blood going in being nice and warm. If the blood cools going down your arms to your hands, you've lost a lot. In warm weather we're used to wearing light weight stuff which makes it easy to pump etc... but that works against you when it's cold.

I haven't sailed a Laser in years, but when I had to wear heavy gloves I tied the tails of the control lines to the boom so I could grab them from there instead of out of the cockpit.

BV

Yup, but the blood temp only drops slightly and the brain responds by shutting down the blood supply to skin and muscle in the extremities to conserve core heat, which is what makes the hands and feet so cold and leads to some interesting and tricky aspects of hypothermia and rewarming.

The nerves also begin shutting down and what happens there is interesting: Normally, large diameter nerve fibers transmit touch, joint position and block transmission of pain sensation in the spinal cord, which is why light brushing often makes a minor injury feel better. However, those large fibers shut down first in the cold leaving the small fibers, which transmit pain and temperature sensation to go wild. Then everything eventually goes numb.

[Tucky]

I have chilblains in/on my toes from too many times as a child letting my feet freeze so I could skate/sled more. It was easier to scream as the circulation came back just once at the end of the day, and now I pay for it. My hands don't blister but they have a similar problem. When I go cross country skiing I go through the cold hands phase and get my core temperature back up and then see if my hands or feet are going to make it, meaning warm back up. Sometimes yes, sometimes i just have to give up.

Thank heavens cold temps sailing do not cause me problems- once I get the core temperature up my hands/feet always respond. The problem with sailing cold for me is there is often not enough big muscle movement- I just have to start walking in place whatever I'm doing until enough action gets my core up- it really isn't that cold when we are sailing as compared to snow and ice and minus temperatures- it just feels like it.

[Blackbird]

Thanks for the good advice, gents. I think I'm keeping my core pretty warm; I'm more often a little sweaty in my dry suit, it's just the fingertips that really hurt in the cold. I've been using the Musto gloves for a while, but they are pretty much worn out. I'll try the titanium liners and some rubber gloves. And I really like the idea of tying the controls off the deck. That will make life easier.

Using larger diameter lines isn't an option as they would be slower. posting.php?mode=reply&f=5&t=773#

Andy

[Tim OConnell]

These are ALWAYS in my bag with extra cotton liners when racing a Mac. Nothing worse then cold wet hands while holding a SS wheel at 3 in the morning in heavy rain and seeing your breath. Cold and wet is over rated.

http://www.fullsource.com/rubber-gloves/memphis-gloves-6218/

Yes !! I carry a pair of those in my bag (different brand but the same thing) for the point to point or distance races when it's wet and cold.

[BeauV]

Hey all you guys in the PNW, it looks like our nasty old High is headed your way. Could you please send some rain down here?

[Lin]

Beau, I can honestly say that we here in the PNW (well, in Vancouver area at least) have had far less rain than normal and more sunshine, since late June (unless my memory fails me). It was the prettiest Fall that I can recall, and our winter is mild and lovely.
Normally, I woudl be thrilled to share some of our rain!

[Ish]

Beau, I can honestly say that we here in the PNW (well, in Vancouver area at least) have had far less rain than normal and more sunshine, since late June (unless my memory fails me). It was the prettiest Fall that I can recall, and our winter is mild and lovely.
Normally, I woudl be thrilled to share some of our rain!

The weather report I saw said that we had only 30% of normal precipitation this winter.

[BeauV]

Well, you PNWesters are about 15 percentage points ahead of us. With this weather pattern, I don't see either of us getting any rain anytime soon.

[Cherie320]

It could be no rain, no water for lawn, no lawn to mow, more time to sail.....but it's more likely to be no lawn, need new landscaping, and less money and time for sailing. I think I'd rather we get a bit of rain. Pat

[Orestes Munn]

You guys need rain, Pat. No question.

We, on the other hand, have a nice low, tracking to the south and intensifying to the 980s when it hits the water. After the snow, the back end will get temps down to the single by digits again. Maybe Tim or Larry will contradict me, but I can't remember a recent season when the 500 mb line spent this much time so far south south of the Mason-Dixon.

[Lin]

I just saw this warning for parts of R.I, Mass. and Conn ...
http://rightweather.com/2014/01/winter-storm-warning-blizzard-watch-sne/

To Andy and others in the area - stay safe and warm, and get yourselves some Ice Bay Glacier Gloves!

[Soñadora]

it's effing cold...

[JoeP]

Good one Rick!

[Soñadora]

Rick is starting to hate the weather.

[LarryHoward]

Rick is starting to hate the weather.

On the Chesapeake, we're starting to think about those things we have to do before we launch in 4 weeks or so. After all, spring frostbites start the first week of March.

Sorry. With all the beautiful fresh water you have, we have to give you a hard time about something.

[cap10ed]

Rick B. may rag on my ass but the winter blasts he is taking on the nose is a good thing for all of us. We have long held the ice is our security blanket to keep the water levels up. I just hope we see some significant jumps in the levels this season. This is a welcome piece of news. Enjoy the read.


http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com ... sing-ways/

[Joli]

Thanks Cap. Interesting read. I would have thought the evaporation would be highest in the summer too.

But this winter is getting fricking old.

Rick B. may rag on my ass but the winter blasts he is taking on the nose is a good thing for all of us. We have long held the ice is our security blanket to keep the water levels up. I just hope we see some significant jumps in the levels this season. This is a welcome piece of news. Enjoy the read.


http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com ... sing-ways/

[Britches]

I'll take the cold as well - this weekend I'm going with my mom to walk through the sea-caves in the apostle islands as they have froze over this year. Many years this doesn't happen, so I figure we might as well take advantage of it. They are awesome during the summer, so I'm excited to see them in the winter. It is supposed to be 10F Saturday, so it should be a decent temp for a hike unless the wind is whipping. We are planning on going out on a 5 mile loop that should hopefully be less crowded than the standard 2 mile loop. I don't like the looks of the one picture - woof - too many people...

http://www.nps.gov/apis/mainland-caves-winter.htm

[Joli]

Very cool. I was surprised to see that lake ice generally forms until about mid March. We have a ways to go yet.

I'll take the cold as well - this weekend I'm going with my mom to walk through the sea-caves in the apostle islands as they have froze over this year. Many years this doesn't happen, so I figure we might as well take advantage of it. They are awesome during the summer, so I'm excited to see them in the winter. It is supposed to be 10F Saturday, so it should be a decent temp for a hike unless the wind is whipping. We are planning on going out on a 5 mile loop that should hopefully be less crowded than the standard 2 mile loop. I don't like the looks of the one picture - woof - too many people...

http://www.nps.gov/apis/mainland-caves-winter.htm

[Soñadora]

It's 22f right now

people are losing their minds