During my admittedly few winters above the frost belt, I have only fond memories of the last few days of the season. And Ive always admired those who didnt let the tilt of the Earth dictate the way they arranged their days.
This month, Practical Sailor contributor Drew Frye reviews measures to take if you plan to extend your sailing through the winter. It is something Frye himself has done for more than a decade on Chesapeake Bay. Practical Sailor readers who have been with us for a few years are familiar with Fryes work, much of which is carried out from the deck of his PDQ 32 catamaran, Shoal Survivor. (See The PDQ 32: A Comfortable Cruising Cat, PS November 2013 online.) The boat, as far as I know, has not spent a full winter out of the water since Frye bought it.
The depth and variety of cold-weather-related PS tests that Frye has carried out over the past few years have made him our unofficial ambassador of chill. His reporting on winter goes well beyond the normal scope of season-themed articles, which are typically aimed at hauling out for the season. Most recently, Frye brought his testing experience to bear on bubblers and other devices that keep marina slips ice-free through to spring. The report, Keeping Ice at Bay (PS November 2016), hints at Fryes other passion: ice climbing.
Fryes climbing habit routinely makes its way into Practical Sailors pages. His past research into fiber lifeline chafe (Fiber Protection Plan, PS September 2015) and elasticity in cordage (Testing a Dynamic Traveler, PS January 2016) drew directly from his own experience with climbing ropes. And Frye, of course, was the brains behind our comprehensive reports on coolants and anti-freeze, and how improper their use can actually promote water-tank contamination (Will Your Tanks be Clean Next Spring? PS November 2014).
A related pursuit that occupies Frye is the endless search for ways to reduce onboard weight. As the owner of a catamaran, he recognizes that for many sailors, every equipment upgrade presents an irresistible opportunity to shave extra pounds. His interest in high-tech fibers instead of metal shackles (Going Soft on Shackles, PS April 2015) is an example of his work in this area.
The inspiration for this months article on winter prep, however, had little to do with an interest in ice or saving weight-it was the simple desire to stay on the water as much as possible.
One of the finer pleasures of winter sailing is the solitude it affords. As Drew wrote when he first pitched the story, It has always seemed a shame to me that the great majority of boats in the country are only used in the summer. Even on the middle-section of Chesapeake Bay, where the water freezes only a few weeks of the year, I have the waters virtually to myself on some of the nicest days.
While reviewing the veritable library of winter-related tests that Frye has produced for us in recent years, I was gripped by a moment of worry. From what I could tell, Frye had covered every possible ice-related topic. What else could our winter aficionado cover?
Fortunately, Fryes curiosity is irrepressible. Our ambassador of chill is approaching summer sailing with the same enthusiasm he has brought to off-season sailing. He has recently added another tool to his testing arsenal: a simple UV chamber that will allow him to accelerate sunlight exposure tests. This means those of us who are compelled to take a break from sailing each winter will be well prepared next summer-which will be upon us before we know it.
