Fall is truly Michigan's Sailing Season

Fall in Michigan? Really? Absolutely! Okay granted, the kids are in school, vacation time is used up, and Football is in session. But also consider, water temps are still simmering from their August highs, the colors are turning and the winds are freshening. According to wind statistics published by Windfinder.com for Lake Saint Clair, the probability of a Beaufort Scale 4 or greater wind jumps from 15% in July to 55% for October and the average wind speed jumps from 8 mph in July to 14 mph for October. For South Haven, the jumps are similar with the probability of wind jumping from 26% to 54% and the average speed jumping from 9 mph to 15 mph for the same time period.

Yacht and sailing clubs are aware of this as evidenced by the proliferation of Fall or "Frostbite" regattas. If we look at the events section of SailMichigan.org, 12 open or class regattas or regional events are scheduled in September, and 3 in October (there are likely more which have escaped our notice). This does not count additional "club only" races which are not covered by our calender. In addition, both high school and collegiate sailing competition begins to heat up with at least 22 events scheduled throughout the midwest for the Midwest Collegiate Sailing Association and 10 events secheduled through the Midwest InterScholastic Sailing Association for the high school teams. These events stretch from September through November.

The biggest limiations to Fall sailing may indeed be College football on Saturdays and the NFL on Sundays. Otherwise, what could be better than a cup of coffee in the morning, putting on a light windbreaker and long sleeve sailing shirt, and slicing your hull through a light chop on an autumn tree-lined lake? If you typically tarp or shrink wrap your boat the day after Labor Day, reconsider the 30-40 days of the sailing season you are about to give up. The tarp can wait until after October 15th. If you own a dry suit, you could wait until November!

What do you think?