nortada
Well-Known Member
Strong westerly!
I would be tucked up top end of Hamford Water or on a buoy in the Walton Creek.
Crossing the Thames in a Westerly gale?
- Thread starter Tim Good
- Start date
Strong westerly!
I would be tucked up top end of Hamford Water or on a buoy in the Walton Creek.
rudolph_hart
Well-Known Member
+1. or on the North shore opposite, in the entrance to Holbrook creek. Strong wind over tide in the Stour is uncomfortable.
Spent an 'interesting' night at Erwarton Ness earlier this year when the forecast NNE 15mph decided to go E 28mph against the spring ebb. It was also the night of 'The Big Thunderstorms' with our 17 metre aluminium mast inviting "Strike Here" :hororr: Luckily it struck pretty much everywhere else but "Here"
Boz
Well-Known Member
Apparently a boat did suffer a lightning strike in Shotley Marina, according to their Blog....
Otter
Well-Known Member
It's a horrible experience sailing through a lightening storm. We were in one on the way to Ramsgate a couple of weeks ago, if it blew out all the electronics we'd have known where we were but not be able to call for help if we'd needed it.
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
Put your HH VHF in the Oven
Otter
Well-Known Member
Did that when anchored in Dover Harbour a couple of years ago and the biggest electrical storm I've ever seen knocked out the Town's entire electricity supply, utterly terrifying. Then I read that the oven doesn't work as a Faraday cage at all. I'd still do it again though!
nortada
Well-Known Member
How about putting the Smart phone, HH VHF, HH GPS and any other small device inlarge saucepans or a Microwave with the lids/door firmly on/shut should work as a Faraday Cage?
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dolabriform
Well-Known Member
It's very unlikely that a saucepan will work as a Faraday cage, in case in order to work it has to be grounded. A simple test is to put your phone inside it and call it, if it rings it's not working!
A microwave would have a better chance of success, as long as it's grounded properly.
nortada
Well-Known Member
Unless on a pontoon, with earthing, what grounding do you propose? Keel bolts, skin fittings, possibly an anode or a dedicated copper cable over the side?
As I am sure all are aware, there are many varying views on the efficacy of grounding a vessel in an electrical storm and the possible risks involved.
Bru
Well-Known Member
There's only one viable tactic in a yacht in an electrical storm...
Anchor just the right distance, not too close, not too far, from a yacht with a MUCH taller mast
Anchor just the right distance, not too close, not too far, from a yacht with a MUCH taller mast
nortada
Well-Known Member
There's only one viable tactic in a yacht in an electrical storm...
Anchor just the right distance, not too close, not too far, from a yacht with a MUCH taller mast
What is the right distance?
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
Just a little further than the height of the taller boat's mast, in case the lightning makes fuse wire of its stays!
MountainGoat
Well-Known Member
Bit late to the party, but adding my 2p worth. Coming out of Fisherman's Gat towards Ramsgate in any kind of stiff breeze is the sort of situation where it's good to plan for most of the crew to be incapacitated by throwing up over the side, continuously.
Hate it.
Hate it.
Tim Good
Well-Known Member
Thanks all. Went round a couple of days later. It did turn wind against tide only maybe 20kts of wind towards Ramsgate and was pretty thumpy. Anyway was fine.
Ramsgate is a bloody rip off! Just saying. Thankfully the lovely guys at Dover Harbour kindly let me anchor in the outer harbour even though there were works going on. A harbour boat even came to guide us to the anchorage. Stunning service for a very busy port.
Ramsgate is a bloody rip off! Just saying. Thankfully the lovely guys at Dover Harbour kindly let me anchor in the outer harbour even though there were works going on. A harbour boat even came to guide us to the anchorage. Stunning service for a very busy port.
