Another YM question...

[doris]

A few points.
Dilette is not that easy,at night with a big swell running round the corner from C de la Hague.
If the wind is going North then St PP may make a lot more sense than Cherb but if it rises and stays easterly then St PP is almost untenable.

Biggest question to all is: Has anyone actually sat out a blow in Braye. I know it's going to be horrid but someone metioned doubling up everything and finding a bus shelter. Maybe v. sensible. The fixed mooring ropes are heavyweight and with a couple of backups the boat will probably survive a lot more easily than the peeps. The piccies of boats on Windmere yesterday illustrated things like that.

If they have to leave with an E/NE they will be in Weymouth in 7-8 hours, if it goes N then they can tack up to Yarmouth in the lee of Blighty. Going to Cherb will show them the biggest seas they are likely to ever see!

 

[Sans Bateau]

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Indeed - but then not everyone sails H&P designed boats

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You've got a sauce! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[BlueSkyNick]

yeah but H&P also knew how to keep a ketch up /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

which reminds me - Snowleopard's idea of heading for Alf Resco's in Dartmouth meets with my approval - a great breakfast !!

 

[Robin]

The buoys in Braye are indeed heavy duty but it is the connection to the boat that is the weak link and certainly a few years ago were a nice little earner to local fishermen, reclaiming the wanderers whilst their crew were in the pub. It doesn't have to be a strong wind or even from the NE, there is often a swell, especially by the wall, that can cause rope warps to saw through in minutes. We carry a length of 10mm chain for just such situations, long enough to go over the bow roller, through the ring and back over the roller. We have a line threader and pull a second line through with the chain attached, then tie the other end of the chain to the free end of the line to make a complete loop and adjust the whole so the chain is in position and taking the load. Leaving is easy, just pull the loop chain up on board, untie and stow whilst taking the strain on the original pickup line.

Normally we chose to anchor in Braye anyway, a light NE can be OK but is better up in the NE corner (long way from shore) but it can still be rolly anywjhere there if there is a swell of any kind. Calmest is with a wind holding the boat to any swell, ideally a SW one. There is a sort of back wash swell at certain states of the tide over by the breakwater that can be very uncomfortable, and at certain times the sea breaks really spectacularly over the wall and can reach nearby boats! The reason we normally chose to anchor is that we will not risk being rafted up which is a frightening prospect if conditions deteriorate and that can be just a swell comming after a tide turn in the Channel, even with no wind.

Again, most people know this but comments for newcomers to be warned.

 

[Robin]

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BTW - If you had a problem in F5 NW in Braye , then.... well we must have different boats....


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If your boat doesn't roll in Braye laying side on to a swell then Holman & Pye must have designed a one hulled catamaran... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Bergman]

Don't know the area so can't make any sensible suggestions on where to head.

But

Having read the thread there is clearly no obvious "right" answer. No single plan seems to stand out as clearly better than another.

My thoughts in that position must be not to go anywhere.

Make the boat as safe as possible in the harbour - plant as many anchors as possible - tie up to anything solid with thickest rope I have tie on every fender I own, including the dinghy - whatever it takes.

Then go ashore and find a bed for the night.

WIthout a convincing plan taking a relatively small boat with a tired crew out into F9 in an area with strong tidal flows and lots of rocks unless absolutely life threateningly necessary is pointless folly.

The worst that can happen is that the boat is lost - but thats why we pay for insurance - you can always buy another. - You only get one life.

 

[Mirelle]

Agree with JJ.

Make sure the crew off watch are strapped in to their bunks and getting some rest.

 

[Sans Bateau]

In Braye last year the young lady, berthing master, (daughter of commodore of YC apparently) took us to her own buoy (not boy). Her boat was out of the water so she let us use it. The Buoy had a heavy rope bridal that hooked over both bow cleats, well away from any chafe of the bow roller.

It was on that visit in July 2006 when the forecast changed and a strong NE was due. We quickly scuttled off to Dielette in plenty of time. We then got stuck there for three days. The Alderney regatta was canceled but not the Tour de Ports de la Manche which finished in Deilette in a 40 knts NE gale.