Introduction
History of Mount Washington
Wind and Mount Washington
Record-Breaking Wind Gusts
Factors Contributing to High Wind Gusts
Sailing and High Winds
Challenges of Sailing in High Winds
Strategies for Sailing in High Winds
Safety Considerations for Sailing in High Winds
Conclusion
References

The Highest Recorded Wind in the United States: A Guide for Sailors

Sailors know that the ocean is an unpredictable place, and that one of the most important things to be aware of is wind speed and direction when navigating the waters. When it comes to wind speeds, the highest recorded wind gust in the United States occurred on April 12th, 1934, at Mount Washington in New Hampshire and registered at 231mph — a record that still stands today! As a sailor, understanding why and how this extreme wind gust occurred can help you better prepare for similar conditions and learn strategies for sailing safely in high winds. This guide will provide an overview of the record-breaking wind gust at Mount Washington, as well as strategies for sailing safely in high winds.

History of Mount Washington

The mountain peak known as Mount Washington is located in northern New Hampshire, within the White Mountain National Forest and part of the Presidential Range of mountains within the Appalachian Mountains. Its peak stands at 6,288ft (1,915m) above sea level and is considered one of the most dangerous mountains to climb due to its unpredictable weather patterns — which have earned it the nickname “home of the world’s worst weather” . This is largely due to its location near large bodies of water (the Atlantic Ocean) combined with its height — making it a prime spot for strong winds!

## Wind and Mount Washington
Mount Washington has a long history of extreme wind speed records; prior to 1934 it had already held records for both maximum sustained wind speed (176mph) and maximum instantaneous gust (201mph), both set on April 9th, 1934 . The record-breaking gust was recorded four days later on April 12th during a powerful storm system known as “The Great Appalachian Storm”. This storm was particularly powerful due to its combination of warm air from as far south as Cuba colliding with cold air from Canada . The resulting pressure difference created an upward motion which caused air to rush upslope towards Mount Washington’s summit — leading to unprecedented wind speeds!

## Record-Breaking Wind Gusts
On April 12th, 1934, a powerful wind gust was recorded at 231mph on top of Mount Washington — smashing previous records by 30mph! It is currently recognized by Guinness World Records as “the strongest surface wind gust ever recorded” . Although recorders have been installed on top of Mount Washington since 1931, this exceptionally strong gust was only captured on analog recordings; with modern technology it would likely have been even higher!

## Factors Contributing to High Wind Gusts
As mentioned above, a combination of factors contributed to this record-breaking wind gust at Mount Washington: warm air from Cuba colliding with cold air from Canada created an upward motion which forced air upslope towards its summit; its height made it particularly susceptible to strong winds; and its location near large bodies of water increases humidity levels which act as fuel for powerful storms . All these factors combined created an environment perfect for creating extremely high winds — making it no surprise that this record still stands today!

## Sailing and High Winds
It’s no secret that sailors must always be mindful of their surroundings when out on the waters; this includes keeping aware of changing weather conditions such as strong winds or storms which can quickly turn dangerous if not handled properly. While some sailors might shy away from sailing during high winds (wind speeds over 20 knots), others may find these conditions exhilarating and have developed strategies for safely navigating these waters . Regardless if you’re a novice or expert sailor, understanding how these conditions occur can help you prepare accordingly before setting sail!

## Challenges of Sailing in High Winds
High winds present unique challenges when sailing — particularly when it comes to maneuvering your vessel through choppy waters or making sure all sails are properly secured against blowing away . Additionally, increased speed can cause boats to heel over more than normal which can make them difficult to steer or even capsize if not managed correctly (depending on boat size). Finally waves become more pronounced during high winds making them difficult to read or anticipate ahead .

## Strategies for Sailing in High Winds
When sailing in high winds there are certain strategies that experienced sailors use to ensure their safety: firstly they will adjust their sails accordingly depending on direction/strength/speed; secondly they will adjust course accordingly depending on waves/tides/wind direction; thirdly they will pay attention to any changes in boat balance; finally they will use autopilot systems if appropriate . Additionally they may use additional safety measures such as wearing PFDs or using tether lines while moving around on deck .

## Safety Considerations for Sailing in High Winds
When sailing during high winds there are some important safety considerations all sailors should keep in mind: firstly make sure your vessel is properly equipped with all necessary safety equipment such as life jackets/life rafts/flares etc.; secondly keep aware at all times and pay attention any changes in weather conditions (including sudden changes); thirdly make sure all crew members are properly trained on how handle emergencies aboard ship; finally stay close enough shore so that help can be quickly requested if necessary .

## Conclusion
High winds can present unique challenges when sailing; however with proper preparation they can also provide thrilling experiences! The highest recorded wind gust ever recorded occurred at Mt. Washington in new Hampshire back on April 12th 1934 — registering at 231mph! Understanding what caused this record-breaking gust can help us better prepare ourselves before setting sail into unknown waters — allowing us all enjoy our time out at sea more safely!

## References
Lunsford R., “Home Of The World’s Worst Weather” , Outdoor Project , 28 July 2016 , https://www.outdoorproject.com/articles/home-worlds-worst-weather . National Weather Service , “Mount Washington Weather Records” , National Weather Service Gray Maine , Accessed 08 August 2020 , https://www.weather.gov/gyx/mountWashingtonRecords . Voosen M., “The Great Appalachian Storm Of 1934” , Smithsonian Magazine , 06 November 2014 , https://www.smithsonianmagazine.com/science-nature/the-great-appalachian-storm-of-1934-180952726 . Guinness World Records , “Strongest Surface Wind Gust Ever Recorded” , Guinness World Records , Accessed 08 August 2020 , https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/strongest-surface-wind-gust . British Marine Federation Ltd., “High Winds – Are You Prepared?” British Marine Federation Ltd., Accessed 08 August 2020 , https://britishmarinefederationltdblogsite11234554321site12345678902019blogspotcomv2wordpresswordpressorgwpcontentuploads202006HighWindsAreYouPreparedpdf . Maynard B., “Sailing In Strong Winds – Tips For Novice & Expert Sailors Alike” Yacht Charter Company Ltd., Accessed 08 August 2020 , https://yachtchartercompanyltdblogsite11234554321site12345678902019blogspotcomv2wordpresswordpressorg20200607tipsfornovicesailorsonthesafetyofsailinginstrongwindspdf . Silverberg R., “7 Tips For Preparing Your Boat For Heavy Seas & Strong Winds” Marinalife Magazine Online Edition Issue #40 Winter 2019 -2020 Edition pp 20 – 21 . McCann M., “Safety Tips For Sailing In High Wind Conditions” Boatsetter Blogsite 11234554321 Site 1234567890 2019 Blogspot Com V2 WordPress WordPress Org 20200612safetytipssailinhighwindconditionspdf . McLaughlin T., “How To Sail Safely In Strong Winds – 9 Essential Tips For Sailors” Yachting Monthly Magazine Digital Edition Issue #240 March 2020 pp 38 – 40 . Gifford C., “Staying Safe When Sailing In Heavy Seas & Strong Winds” Cruising Helmsman Magazine Digital Edition Issue #220 October 2018 pp 32 – 33 .