Mimico Cruising Club, Wednesday Night Shocker
September 20, 2023
… it was night, so that might explain why it was far from Perfect for Perfect Day!
Reporting by John O’Dwyer
Fall Series #4 – 6th September. 50 boats registered. The average turnout is 35-40 boats. Div 1 – FS, Div 2 – Small WS; Div 3 – Mid WS; Div 4 – Large WM
Weather Forecast: Weds, 6th Sep: Broken Clouds, 22c, humidity 80%, Barometer 102.09 kPa, Winds NNW 11 kts
I was sailing (with Will & Eric) on La Balena, a Nonsuch 30, Div 3 – Mid WS. We had a great start, were hitting speeds of 7.1 (yeh), and were leading our division when the race was abandoned (meh!).
About the weather
Ladies and gentlemen gather ’round as we embark on a journey through the wacky world of weather forecasts and what can happen to sailors as a result. Meteorologists may have fancy gadgets, satellites, and computer models, but sometimes Mother Nature just can’t resist throwing a curveball – or as I would say, “Murphy is feckin’ with us again.”
In a world where we can put a man on the moon and create smartphones smarter than most politicians, it’s astounding how inaccurate weather forecasts can be. It’s like meteorologists are playing a never-ending game of “Guess the Weather” with Mother Nature, and they’re losing big time.
Maybe Meteorologists get their information from a mystical weather wizard who specializes in chaos theory. After all, it’s the only logical explanation for their consistent inaccuracy. Let’s face it, Weather forecasts are about as accurate as a blindfolded archer trying to hit a bullseye on a moving target.
But hey, weather forecasts do have their uses and keep us on our toes with their surprise thunderstorms. So, next time you check the weather forecast, just remember: it’s all just a bunch of hot air and cold fronts, and you might as well consult your pet hamster for a more accurate prediction.
Talking about surprise thunderstorms!
Every weather app I have (and as a Regional Race Officer, I have many), said the storm would pass north of us. And I checked Clime even as we were racing.
Well, it didn’t! All of a sudden, we had winds that were recorded at up to 40 kt, probably averaging 30 kt for a spell. FYI, it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
We have one HANSE 458 SD racer (named Perfect Day … it was night, so that might explain why it was not Perfect!) – Large FS Div that ran into more than a bit of trouble from the surprise storm, OMG! see pics..
The view from the Nonsuch
On a personal note, I wear hearing aids. Seemingly my years in the Army Reserves being the designated competition Light Machine Gun Shooter – LMG – for our Company, and flying small aircraft were not good for my ears – but, boy, did I have such fun! When the storm hit, it was as if the heavens themselves had opened up. The deluge was relentless, a wall of water that seemed to defy gravity, drenching everything in its path. It was a tempest of water and wind, and while we were caught in its fury and could do nothing but continue sailing, we were continuously clocking 7.1!
Anyway, even my ears were waterlogged. As a result, my hearing aids were fried and had to be repaired/replaced for $1k (a mere $500 each!). I bet you no one would ever have listed that as a potential cost of sailing!!!
But boy, did we have fun, and we would have won our division if the race had not been abandoned, but I am not competitive, OK?
