SBYC CHRF Spring 2 on J70 Escape

This Sunday we sailed out for SBYC 2019 CHRF Spring 2. We knew that there was a gale and small craft warning during the race. Santa Barbara forecasts tend to be iffy. You really cannot decide till the time of the race and sometimes afterward.

Issued: 2:32 PM Feb. 16, 2019 – National Weather Service

...GALE WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM PST MONDAY...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 3 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON...

\* Winds...Northwest winds 20 to 30 kt with gusts to 40 kt are

expected when winds are strongest.

\* Seas...Combined seas of 8 to 10 feet with periods around 9
seconds are expected when waves are largest.

SEE THE COASTAL WATERS FORECAST (CWFLOX) FOR MORE DETAILS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Gale Warning means winds of 34 to 47 knots are imminent or
occurring. Operating a vessel in gale conditions requires
experience and properly equipped vessels. It is highly recommended
that mariners without the proper experience seek safe harbor
prior to the onset of gale conditions.

We were a little lite Sunday. Could have used an extra 150 to 200 pounds on the boat. I am still happy that everyone wanted to go out. The call to go in was because I did not feel we could hold the boat down with just the main alone.

Some wind stats from Sunday:

Lighthouse 4 on Sterns Wharf

SB East Buoy