{"id":248,"date":"2013-09-02T18:29:00","date_gmt":"2013-09-02T18:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sailingthanksdad.com\/index.php\/2013\/09\/02\/small-craft-advisory-really\/"},"modified":"2020-04-01T16:16:44","modified_gmt":"2020-04-01T16:16:44","slug":"small-craft-advisory-really","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sailingthanksdad.com\/index.php\/2013\/09\/02\/small-craft-advisory-really\/","title":{"rendered":"Small Craft Advisory? Really?"},"content":{"rendered":"

2-September-2013
\nOn Saturday I went sailing with friends from work. The morning brought storms across the entire area, but had passed over the Waukegan area by 9:00. We left the dock at 11:30 to overcast skies, but they cleared after about an hour and a half. Winds started out light in the 5 knot range and then grew a bit to the 10 knot range. Wave were in the 1-2 foot range.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was a nice leisurely sail.
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On Sunday my brother and I went out. The day started out with little wind then dropped to zero for a while. At 1:00, as if someone turned on a fan, the winds went from 0 to about 10 knots and then to 15 knots for the rest of the afternoon. Waves were in the 1-3 foot range.<\/p>\n

It was a good sail.<\/p>\n

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On Sunday, the NOAA marine forecast had a small craft advisory in effect. For Lake Michigan that means \u201cSustained winds or frequent gusts between 22 and 33 knots inclusive, and\/or seas or waves greater than 4 feet.\u201d The forecast was for winds in the 20-25 knot range and waves 5-6 feet with an occasional 10 footer with winds and waves decreasing throughout the afternoon.<\/p>\n

If the waves were actually getting to 10 feet, we would not have gone out sailing. Based on my experience though, over the last couple years, I know better than to base my sailing on a NOAA weather forecast. So, my brother and I decided to go to the boat and see for ourselves what the weather was like.<\/p>\n

When we got there winds were less than 10 knots and waves were in the 1-3 foot range.<\/p>\n

So we went out, had an excellent sail and had the \u201crail in the water\u201d a couple times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Rail in the Water<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Even though the forecast called for decreasing winds and wave through the afternoon, we experienced just the opposite. While we were out winds built to 20 knots and waves to 2-4 feet with an occasional 6 footer thrown in for good measure.<\/p>\n

Click here for- > Google Earth GPS Track 2013-08-31<\/a><\/p>\n

Click here for- > Google Earth GPS Track 2013-09-01<\/a><\/p>\n

Click here for- > Google Earth GPS Track 2013-09-02<\/a><\/p>\n

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