Coming back up thames to southend from harwich way, which tide for f4-5sw?

[steve yates]

If I have to make my way back from harwich/ walton/ brightlingsea way after this we to southend when f4/5 sw’lys might have settled in, what is the better strategy in an 18footer?
I usually try and sail with the tide, but wondering if i might be better trying to sail it on the ebb, for a better sea state than use the flood which will kick up against the wind?
Im also wondering if rather than lots of tacks, it might be better to do a long board across to kent coast if feasible, then back across to southend?
Of course forecast willprob be very different by then, but just in case it doesnt, what does local knowledge say?
She has brand new sails which reallyhelp with on the wind now, but has roller reefing which doesnt leave the best sail shape.

 

[PaulRainbow]

An 18 footer against an ebb tide on that stretch of coast and you'll probably end up in Southwold Steve

 

[steve yates]

Guess i need to take the bashing then

 

[ex-Gladys]

It's an unpleasant bashing in a 35' Colvic, I wouldn't do it...

 

[Cobra]

Coming down the Swin and rounding Blacktail Spit can be quite lively even on an ebb with a brisk South Westerly...it would almost certainly be VERY uncomfortable in an 18 footer with a 4-5 out the South West on a flood tide, unless you can short tack along the edge of the Maplins?
Whatever, it will not be much fun!

 

[Black Diamond]

If you can delay while Tuesday next week, it looks to be coming round to the north. Otherwise, I think I'd opt for tacking up the A12 to Howe Green, then a broad reach down the A130.

 

[MattS]

Last trip home from Harwich to Medway was with SW F4-5. In my Moody 28 it was a day of fairly uncomfortable bashing, especially across the estuary. We headed across to the Swale entrance to the east of Sheppey, rather than take the wind against flood tide nose on to get into the Medway. I'd have to be really convinced I had no other options to do it in an 18 footer to be honest, I wouldn't quickly choose to do it again in 28ft!

 

[steve yates]

Thinking i might spend monday in the pub and do it on the tue instead

 

[xyachtdave]

Wait for NE Steve!

 

[Pye_End]

Havengore?

 

[escapism]

Don't do it! Wind (B5) over tide down the Swin nearly caused my wife to give up sailing. On that occasion, we were so slowed by bashing into waves that we had used most of the S-going tide by the time we were nearing Blacktail Spit, and decided to head off to Harty Ferry. We had no pressure to return to Benfleet on a set day.

 

[Plum]

If I have to make my way back from harwich/ walton/ brightlingsea way after this we to southend when f4/5 sw’lys might have settled in, what is the better strategy in an 18footer?
I usually try and sail with the tide, but wondering if i might be better trying to sail it on the ebb, for a better sea state than use the flood which will kick up against the wind?
Im also wondering if rather than lots of tacks, it might be better to do a long board across to kent coast if feasible, then back across to southend?
Of course forecast willprob be very different by then, but just in case it doesnt, what does local knowledge say?
She has brand new sails which reallyhelp with on the wind now, but has roller reefing which doesnt leave the best sail shape.

The advice to delay your sail home is very good but on a few occasions I have sailed down (heading south) the wallet in a SW F4/5 against the current in order to avoid the wind against tide and it has paid off. Still very slow but more comfortable with less spray. A Swift with good sails should be quite close winded in flatter water but the big chop of wind against tide will kill your speed.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[steve yates]

Aye thats actually exactly what my thinking was, the boat is too small to make good progress against a sharp chop, will keep getting stopped,
Academic now as i found the fuel pipe attachment snapped off and a hiss of gas when i moved the gas canister, so they need sorting out first.

 

[johnalison]

As far as I remember, when we had a 22’ boat, even though it was a Cirrus and quite solid and sailed well, anything much over F3 was as much as we could enjoy. Even with a fairly modern 34 a F5 can be challenging in some conditions, and the forecast itself may be suspect. We put off going up the Swin once with. a 26’ Mystere because of a forecast 4-5. That was the beginning of the Morning Cloud gale and if we’d gone we’d have been out in the middle of the estuary in at least F8 with two small children. Basically, you either need a favourable wind or at least a really good slant.

 

[DanTribe]

My first boat with a lid was a traditional 18 ft ,2.5 tonner.A good performer in flat water, but wind over tide in the Wallet would stop her.
On one occasion SW 4/5,we took 3 tides from Harwich to Burnham. 1st flood got us to Clacton, we made little progess against the ebb, just tacked back to near the same spot then next flood got us home.
Of course, the next day the conditions would have been perfect!

 

[Keith 66]

First trip out in my dads new boat (Elizabethan 23) was Queenbro to Brighlingsea against a brisk NE wind, got up to f5-6.
It took us 14 hours & was bloody horrible.
With your Bradwell 18 i would wait for the wind to change!