This was a day that in the past, we would have stayed at the dock - but we need to get out in these kinds of winds if we are going to live aboard and be costal cruisers! I also wanted to try out something I had read a few days earlier - just using the Genoa - by itself for anything 80 degress to the wind or higher.So winds out of the NW blowing 13 - 17 with gusts over 20. Temp was 54 when we left the dock at 12:15. Barometer was 30.09.
After getting out of the marina, we were quick to get the genoa up and we were going strong with the wind on a broad reach. Once into the Chester, I took the helm and played around with the configuration for a while - learned something new and we didn't sacrifice comfort, safety or speed!!