give up my Sirius radio in the cockpit playing through my new speakers, or a cozy enclosure on a cold night where we can sit with our friends in a moonlilt, winter anchorage ( we sail EVERY weekend, even Jan/Feb/Mar) we would be very unhappy. Nothing beats pulling out of the marina on a thirty five degree, but sunny winter day, with the wind blowing twenty...even thirty, letting out a little headsail with all my lines led into the cockpit (even the halyards for the roller furling main and genny) and comfortably sailing all day, even though we are the only boat out there. Yes, there's some truth to the fact that if you're not careful you can find yourself in very strong conditions before you know it when you are so protected. Yes, it's harder to see out of at night. But, it can all be lowered in about five minutes and I CAN'T build a fire in an OPEN cockpit to go sailing when it's freezing outside. So, I give you partial credit and you have to give me a little! I'm not a BOLD sailor....I'm an OLD sailor. Here's a picture of my Admiral, Susanne when we were anchored to watch the New Bern Christmas parade this past December. It was blowing around fifteen, raining hard and VERY cold. We had about eight folks on board for dinner, drinks and parade watching all evening. I wouldn't miss that for anything.