Beating to windward across the channel

[tomsis]

Hi All

We're just about to do our first cross-channel race (Exmouth to the channel islands). I've been thinkning through the passage planning, and it seems to me that if the wind is in the right direction then we can use normal passage planning techniques to set a course. I might use TidePlan to help (thanks Danny).

But what if the wind's on the nose? Any tips? Someone once suggested drawing sectors radiating out from the destination at 10 degree intervals, and making sure you tacked up the segment that the wind was in (or you expected it to be in). Has anyone else heard of this? Or any other suggestions?

Any others tips for managing a crew racing overnight would be useful. Watches? Roles (a 4 man crew)?

Thanks!

Tom

 

[ytd]

It's worth plotting a few scenarios out on the chart. What is the best tack at the start allowing for current and tide, where does that put you three hours later, what is the expected wind direction and tide at that time, what is the best tack then, where does that put you 3 hours later,etc. Then do it again assuming the expected change doesn't arrive or arrives earlier - laborious but seems to help when you have to make a decision at 3am. There is software to do it but expensive and needs live weather data feed.

Of course all that goes out the window when the forecast completely wrong or you find the boat slamming on one tack but not the other.

If the race takes longer then 24 hours, and only 4 crew I would make sure everyone gets as much sleep as possible. Need at least 2 on watch and the others called for sail changes, etc.

 

[Twister_Ken]

1. Always keep the tide on the lee bow.
2. Tack towards the direction of any expected windshift, so that you'll be freed when the shift happens. Usually, with a veer predicted, this means staying west of the rhumbline if you're going south.
3. Plan an uptide arrival on the finish, or the turning mark.
4. Work out how to extend your anchor rode, if the wind dies and you need to kedge in deep water.
5. On an overnight race, 4-up, beating, no off-watch but you can doze on the windward rail. Hook on with a short tether.

 

[graham]

The method you describe is sometimes called a tacking cone,as you say you tack when you reach the outside edge.

Its not quite as simple as this with one or two tide changes thrown in. Generally try to be on the tack that takes you closest to your destination.If it backs you then the other tack is improved.

The crucial thing on any tidal water is to err on the uptide side.A mile to far uptide is not a huge loss even if it means an extra tack but a mile downtide at the end will let all the stagglers sail merrilly by.

 

[ashanta]

Intersting question and answers
Something slightly off the subject; You do not mention what boat your sailing and what timescales are? There are also the considerations of the time of tides both at the exe and the otherside to consider depending on your destination. If you are a purist and you are determined to "sail "across with prevailing wind to contend with that's OK but as the passage, averaging 5 knots directly from the exe islooking at 12 hours. Therefore tacking through the wind will mean a hell of a lot longer. If I make the decision to cross with wind on the nose (usually only because I have to coming back) I motor sail and maintain my passage plan speed.
Another point I would make is that a lot of us out of the exe go to brixham or dartmouth and get ready to leave from there as 1. it's a shorter journey and 2. you can leave at any state of the tide so you can plan your landfall much better (as mentioned don't know what boat you have so this may not be an issue for you.

 

[Jonny_H]

With your watches - if you have 4 crew, try to have 2 on watch at any time - also stagger the change over times (so you don't end up with 2 going off and 2 coming on at the same time) - this means you always have someone on deck who has been there for at least an hour and is aware of any issues around them. I would suggest (personal opinion here) a two hour watch is too short, three is much better, especially if staggered so you would have an hour and half with one person, then an hour and half with another person - time would go quite quickly. This also means everyone gets some good 'off watch' time (with 2 hour watches - you get 2 hours off and this equates to prob only an hour of proper sleep). Something like:

9am: Person 1 and Person 2
10:30am: Person 1 off, Person 3 on
12 noon: Person 2 off, Person 4 on
1:30pm: Person 3 off, Person 1 on
3:00pm: Person 2 on, Person 4 off
4:30pm: Person 3 on, Person 1 off.

Etc - always 2 on deck - always one person on deck with awareness of whats been going on recently, and everyone gets 3 hours off (so at least 2 hours of sleep).

Just a suggestion - what do others think?

(We last cruised with 3 and did 4 hour watches with a 2 hour stagger - everyone got 4 hours of 'off watch' and a change of company every 2 hours to keep it fresh!)

Jonny

 

[DRANNIE]

he's racing so doubt the rules are quite that generous. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[tom52]

Also because he is racing he will not have to worry about the Col Regs., shipping lanes, giving way and all that cruising rubbish.
All the big ships are duty bound to get out of the way if a racer shouts at them. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Guest]

I'm not a racer, but I would have thought that lee-bowing as a technique, at least while the tide is strong, is critically important.

So I would think about lee-bowing all the time except during the period when the tide is weakening, ie. leebowing for 4 hours at a time in each direction. Then an hour either side of HW and LW abandon the lee-bowing and choose which tack to go on bearing in mind anticipated wind shifts, narrowing the 'cone', and aiming to arrive up-tide of destination.