Cold water sailing

Will it harm my boat/sails/rigging if I take her out in cold air/water? The water is around 35 degrees and the air may get as low as 30 this weekend. Of course the breeze is gonna be ideal for sailing so I wanna take her out if it won't do her any harm. BTW, i've got all the cold water gear (drysuit etc...) so this isn't a concern for me.
Thanks
Cory

Your boat will be fine. Just be careful your blocks don't get full of ice. It will make it hard to run the lines through them.

I have seen pictures of guys in Scandinavia who are sailing on a boat that is sheathed in ice.

_________________
Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO

I'd check with these guys:



Passage of the Drake in a Hobie Cat!

Try to keep spray to minimum and off your mainsheet. I've sailed in those conditions and once the lines got wet, we had about 15-20 minutes until total line rigamortous. What happens is you lose your ability to sheet out the main, I had to push it out with my foot while flying a hull. Works as a great cruise control though. I get an ice cream headache just thinking about water that cold.

And now for one story of our local "rock star" sailor who is the only person I know of that has sailed a beach cat in every month of the year here on "the lone prairie".

February as I recall. Main sheet froze up so pulled the boat up onto the ice, removed the sheet, took it to the truck and laid it on the dashboard to thaw out via the defroster. When thawed continue sailing.

That's dedication

_________________
hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297

our water temp is still I the 70's I think, air is going to be upper 50's low 60's this Saturday, were all trying to figure out if were going to sail or if its going to be to cold!

_________________
Brad Stephens
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(866) 786-5266 <--- Advice HOTline
http://www.sunjammers.com
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These photow were taken by Hakan Frojdh in Sweden:




Now that's cold!

Hey All,
Thanks for the advise. Looks like blocks cased in ice are going to be my biggest concern.
The photo of those folks sailing through the icebergs is mental! they absolutly get the ironman award!!!!
Thanks a millioin
Cory

If you could keep your lines dry and traveler track free of spray "ice" your set. You could last longer if you had a main sheet that doesn't soak up the water. Frozen lines are frozen lines. Oh and don't put your tongue on the boom.