A calm settles over the Salish Sea as fall arrives, when cool weather and school draw vacationers back to their urban dwellings. Crisp air renders the raven’s call, and the eagle’s response, more penetrating. And all marine, forest and avian life renew their prominence as the true stewards of the island north.
Plying a vessel through this time and space brings a heightened appreciation for the elements and the denizens that keep this region wild at heart. The short daylight period slows us down. The passing gales untether us from our fixed agendas. This time of year takes me back to my years navigating the deepest reaches of SE Alaska year-round in the 80s and 90s. It’s humbling being out there, knowing both your joy and your life rely on your attention to safety.
It’s a dual experience. The same conditions that draw us out in cooler months – open water, spacious anchorages, quiet marinas, and uncrowded port hospitality – also raise our alert for the hazards of boating. These hazards are ever present in all seasons, but the winter months bring them to the forefront of our mind and our preparations. Consider that fewer boats in winter means fewer helping hands if things go south on you. Even some of the towboats are hauled out for the winter.
Colder temperatures
Let’s talk about winter boating conditions, and preparing to stay safe so you can enjoy being out in this special season.
Salish Sea winters bring two versions of cold, from high pressure systems and low pressure systems.
High pressure brings the clear, blue beauty we love any time of year in the islands. In summer it provides our warmest weather, as the sun heats up the land & air. But in winter, high pressure brings our coldest periods – so don’t be fooled into dressing light when the sun shines on the water. This is the time for your thickest layers, for reliable heat on the boat, and lots of hot cocoa.
Low pressure brings the gales, with sideways rain. But while rain & fury are unappealing, temperatures are higher. Watch for cloudy days that are warmer yet reasonably dry; they don’t take as much out of you to keep warm. When it does rain & blow, your attire and your trip plan should adapt. Yet don’t let it be said that an orca parting the water as mists shroud the island shores isn’t one of the most beautiful sights in the world.
Two variables rob heat from us fastest in winter: wetness and wind chill. So don’t just watch the temperatures, prepare for all conditions. Which brings us to…
Clothing Choices
“There’s no bad weather, just bad clothing choices”. While some may agree more than others, likely anyone reading this article is open to being more than just a “fair weather sailor”. Not just for sailboat cockpits, one step out of the toasty pilot house can ruin a powerboating day if you’re not dressed for it. The key is layers, and what they’re made of:
- Always wear a PFD – your time alive in the water gets very short in winter. But keep inflatable PFDs on top. Under a layer they’ll inflate, but your lungs may not.
- Synthetic and wool layers retain thermal properties when wet. Outdoor enthusiasts say “Cotton kills” because once it’s wet, it stays wet, and looses any thermal benefit.
- Down is also useless when wet.
- Rain gear should consist of jacket, pants, boots & rain hood/hat. A rain hood over a watch cap is ideal for warm & dry.
- Breathable raingear is worth the extra expense, as rubber coated nylon becomes a sweat bath when you’re active.
- Dry gloves are important; bring more than one pair.
- Rubber boots should have deck soles. Insulated boots for winter are great, or just get a size up for thick thermal socks.
Shorter days
Since time immemorial, life in the north has slowed down in winter. Let’s take this opportunity to unplug from our hasty lives. Choose shorter routes & runs. Soak up the local culture at ports along the way. Spend extra time in a secure anchorage.
Dark comes on fast in winter. Plan to moor at least an hour before sunset. And make sure your navigation lights operational. Running lights are required from sunset to sunrise, and other times of reduced visibility.
Gales and Storms
A rule of thumb for winter boating: If you have to be back by a certain day, better not to go. You might cross into the islands in idyllic conditions, then find your self trapped by a series of gales & storms that could endure for days or weeks. Consider your options. Can you work remotely? Take a ferry back? If not, best to make other plans. Too many a mariner has lost their life attempting to get back on anyone but Poseidon’s schedule. Truly, consider the benefits of sleeping late, playing cards, telling stories, re-checking the lines, and cooking up hearty stews in the galley while waiting out a gale or two in an island marina. In Alaska, such conditions invariably resulted in the breaking out of instruments and folk-tunes.
Paying attention in and around the marina
While the relatively mild northwest winters mean we needn’t shrink-wrap and dry store our boats, there are cautions we must take to keep them safe and operable through the winter.
- Anchoring out to save money in winter can cost you the whole boat. Folks make bets on which boats will drag onto the breakwaters when the first “thinning” gales come through.
- Less boat traffic is nice, but this means fewer helping hands on the dock – when the winds are stronger. Make sure your maneuvering & docking strategies are a match for the conditions.
- Check your lines and double up those bearing the greatest load.
- Double up your fenders that take the force of the boat when it’s blowing. They will both share the load, and also play backup when fenders ride up & out, after which your hull grids its way through the gel coat.
- Sailors – secure your furling genoas! Not a gale blows by that jibs aren’t blown out of their furlers and shredded. The primary cause is an unsecured furling line. The prevention is making that line fast, wrapping jib sheets 2-3 times around the furled sail, then securing the sheets well.
- Powerboaters – beware the flybridge trap! It’s easy to forget the function of a flybridge – to see and hear 360˚ around the boat while maneuvering & docking in the marina. Cool wet weather leads people to cocoon them in canvas. But the conditions that trigger side curtains impose hazards they vastly exacerbate: reduced visibility made impossible by rain & condensation; “sails” that blow you into other boats before you can regain control; and while tied to the dock, a gale will rip your expensive canvas right off. Your sheltered helm and toasty salon are down below for inclement weather.
- While full winterization isn’t required here, drain deck-level watery devices to prevent freezing, add a dehumidifier below, and keep some heat moving through the boat. Check her often, so she’ll be there ready for your next “cool” adventure.
