"Skip Gundlach" wrote:...
We're inching toward an offer on a large sailboat in the Tampa area. Of
course, we'd want a serious and thorough sea trial.

What's the general sea condition/wind this time of year, and later, say,
through October? Is it way calm, like someone who used to live in Sarasota
sez, or, out on the Gulf, doesn't matter?


Hey, Skip,

So is this a Gulfstar 44 or did you discover some other design which
works for y'all?

Anyway, you should be in luck, in terms of a decent sea trial. Typical
Gulf weather pattern this time of year is an afternoon rainstorm.
There'll probably be light air before and/or after but a nice strong
blow which comes up quickly with the rain.

This'll allow you to see how she performs in light and heavy air, see
where the leaks are, and see how easy she is to reef and shake out a
reef, all in a single afternoon's sail. perfect conditions for a sea
trial.

See ya,

Frank