That was the Halloween gale a few years ago, a real Nor'easter. I was riding it out on a mooring exposed when the storm blew south for a time. I heard the racket and saw the wind clawing out some cloth in the upper third of a roller furled headsail on a boat nearby.

Once it had a bit of dacron, it didn't take long to pull out a yard or two, and then shred it to bits, all in a matter of minutes.

The boat held, but that sail was history. I figure 50 knots is enough to damage one if the wind can get a bit of it.

That was a beautiful storm.