October Sailing in Annapolis
Posted by: renda on Jul 06, 2007 - 03:02 PM
Tuning
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Jesse Falsone provides some tips on the location for the 2007 North Americans
October Sailing in Annapolis
by Jesse Falsone, 505 USA 8629
Ask most Annapolitans what the best month for sailing is in the Chesapeake, and chances are they will say October. October is the month that fall truly takes hold in the Mid-Atlantic, and weak thermals give way to strong autumn gradients. All the heating from the sweltering summers keeps the waters relatively warm through October, and air temperatures can still reach the upper 70’s late into the month. It’s also the time of year where the hoards of recreational powerboats start to vanish, giving way to the hoards of racing sailors that litter the bay on any given weekend. Passing over the scenic Severn River Bridge on a nice weekend day will be proof-positive of Annapolis’ claim to “Sailing Capital of the US”. The waters are absolutely covered with sails, as a famous Nancy Hammond print depicts.
The virtues of October sailing are well known to the constituents of the local clubs, and major regattas abound throughout the month, not to mention the famed Annapolis Boat Shows that draw hundreds of thousands of people to the city docks. It seems that every club and class has a regatta fixture in October, and they don’t want to give it up. This is one reason why the 2007 505 NAs are being held during the week. This October Annapolis will host some big events, like the Lightning NAs, the J105 NAs, Albacore Internationals (go Barney!), and many popular keel boat regattas like the AYC Fall Series. The weekday schedule for the 505 NAs gives us the opportunity to enjoy the best the bay has to offer, but without the crowds on the water vying for valuable sailing real estate. It also gives us unlimited and unfettered access to club resources, including equipment, facilities, and personnel. We will be basically all alone on the bay, save for the watermen and merchant ships. This gives us maximum flexibility on where we can safely lay the course depending on wind conditions.
It’s fair to say that we will likely get a taste of everything during the week of racing, although there’s a chance for a predominantly light or heavy air event. However, October fronts typically blow through quickly, and even if high pressure dominates, it’s usually accompanied by some isobar crunching and good wind conditions. The typical wind direction in a classic October gradient is Northwest, and a bit gusty coming from off the land. Any type of low-pressure circulation off the coast can really make the breeze pump, with winds into the mid and upper 20’s not uncommon. However, a summer-like southerly flow can also take hold in October, although the chances are less by late in the month. This southerly flow can be light or heavy depending if there’s anything driving it, like the coastal lows that migrate their way north from tropical climates. Fall southerlies tend to be more stable and less shifty since heating off the land is less. Hurricane season is essentially over by late October, so no worries there.
The Albacore class put together a nice wind hindcast for the upper Chesapeake based on NOAA data collected at Thomas Point Light for the last three years from September 17 through October 17 (this was done for the Albacore Internationals). Noting that this data is actually pretty conservative considering it looks at a slightly earlier time-frame, the numbers are still pretty encouraging. See the table below.
The time-series data in the figure below shows that there are periods where the average wind speed is over 15 knots for numerous days (multiply m/s by 2 to get knots), probably due to frontal activity, and times where the wind is lighter, under 10 knots, for sustained periods. There are also times where the average wind speed fluctuates greatly during the course of the day. So, again, Chesapeake sailing in October can provide just about anything.
Since we will likely have our pick of racing areas, the choice will depend on conditions and our PRO. The sailing area is typically a 20-minute sail from the docks, more or less depending on the breeze. If we are sailing in Racing Area A, I would advise you to read Stuart Walker’s summary of current effects in that area located here: http://www.severnsailing.org/weather/tidalcurrenteffects.shtml
Some crazy things can happen in this area, especially when the wind is Northerly and the current flows across the course. A view of the different racing areas is located here: http://www.severnsailing.org/racemanagement/instructions.pdf
I would also advise everyone to honor government marks, especially by the Tolley Pt. area where it gets shallow closer to shore with a rocky bottom that will keep you up late with epoxy work on your board. Also, cutting dramatically inside the Spider Buoy can prove dangerous, so play it safe and stay to the outside. Other than that, there’s deep water everywhere we should be sailing, with the only other exception being close to shore in Racing Area C.
There is no “Brawl for the Wall” here in Annapolis. This is proper sailing, so watch for shifts and puffs. The right can pay, the left can pay, and the center can pay from leg to leg. There is a condition in Area A where you need to hit the left hard in an Ebb Tide to escape adverse current, but this effect is most noticeable in light winds (again, see Walker’s article for details). Sometimes you can see the tide line on the water, and this can be a major clue as to what is happening, and where you need to be. The strongest current is in the deep shipping channel to the west, and it isn’t likely we’ll be sailing there. However, watch the direction the anchored ships are pointing because they always point in the direction of the current in the channel. On the course, pay attention to crab pots for current information. Generally, the current doesn’t run much over 1 knot in the areas we sail, but can be stronger during full moon tides or when the wind pushes the current.
Wave conditions depend on the wind direction and duration. A strong sustained southerly can bring some nice swell-like conditions since the fetch up the bay is very long. We’re not talking West Coast rollers here, but long enough for sustained surfing in a 505. Westerlies are generally flatter, while Northerlies can get very choppy. Luckily, we won’t have to deal with powerboat chop, which accounts for most of the waves during the summer months.
What should you wear? Well, that depends on your preferences, but I would advise you to pack gear for warm and cold weather because anything can happen in October. Most likely you will be able to wear shorts and a fleece top during the day on land, or even perhaps a T-shirt if that southerly flow takes control. I would also bring some long pants, however. A good analogy would be to pack like you would for Santa Cruz in May – cool off the water, and potentially very cold on the water. It can rain in October also. Check the long-range forecast before you pack.
So, it’s anyone’s guess what the Chesapeake will give us come October, but the odds are in our favor for a great event, with a range of conditions to suit everyone’s strengths. There’s no better time than October for some great sailing on the bay!
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