Crossing to the other side

C

ChrisKaye

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I have to bring my boat back to the mainland from the Isle of Wight first thing tomorrow morning as its booked in to be lifted out.
I have been looking at the Bramblemet weather data regularly and it has been reading anywhere between F4/5/6 today, better than yesterday and day before.
Am I, as a relative newbie (had about 10 or so days out)going to be safe crossing the solent or would the panel advise against venturing out
 
Depends which way the winds blowing.

37ft boat should be ok though, A bit nasty if on the nose though, but then again it will improve as you get nearer. I would not wory about anything less than f6 in open sea. The Solent should be good for F8 or so. But depends on direction of course.
 
I would have thought the tomahawk 37 is more than seaworthy to cope with a F4/F5. If you are going up southampton water then I would have thought you would be fine. Wind speed is not the only factor though, you are best of trying to ensure that the wind is not against the tide as this causes the worst seas for a planing Mobo. Either go at slack water (when the tide turns) or when the wind is blowing in the same direction a the tide is flowing.

From the title of your post I thought for one horrible minute you were going ove to the dark side and going all rag and stick!
 
Strong westerly winds against the ebb can make the area west of the Bramble Bank interesting, I've been in that and pleased to be out of it again, and that was in a 50 footer.

On the other hand, I've only seen it once and would think you'd be fine in anything less than a gale.
 
Most of the weather sites seem to be predicting 4 or 5 from the South for tomorrow. As others have said, this won't trouble a Tomahawk at all and, with the wind behind you (if the predictions are correct) I should think you will be fine, but be careful not to broach.

Have been keeping an eye out myself as my boat's due to be lifted tomorrow, and I have to take her a couple of miles along the raging white waters of the Beaulieu River. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Good luck; I reckon you should be OK.
 
Thanks H,J and M and J
Just needed some re-assurance that I wasnt going to end up on Solent TV tomorrow !
Yep up southampton water and over to Itchen Marine haul out for 9.30 ish. Longest distance so far has been Newtown creek and I suppose this is around the same distance
 
As others have said shouldn't be a problem. Unless it's strong easterly or westerly, mid solent very rarely gets more than the famous solent chop.
 
Just a minute.

I have no problems with asking for help especially as a new boater or is it just new to a 37ft power boat ??

But to ask if you should be ok in certain weather and then accepting this advice as gospel, oh yes you should be ok, but what if you are not. Obviously you are lacking experience and although this trip is akin to crossing a lake you maybe should pull the handbrake a tad.

What if things go wrong and you and boat end up washed on the rocks, how will the forumites feel then, they said it was ok and you ended up dead or losing the boat.

One of the main things, the number one, the ultimate things a skipper has to do is decide for himself whether or not to venture to sea. With 5 minutes or 10 years odd experience this decision will still be yours and yours alone. You may be ok, may not, but it is hardly reassuring that you have to ask on here.

Sorry for this, but I suggest you take someone with experience with you and consider further training, especially weather forecasting and build up some confidence. Even the Solent can be unforgiving.

I hope you take this in the spirit it is intended, unfortunately as a skipper you can not be wishy washy, I have no problems saying I will not go to sea if I don't like the feel of it, it is not a bravery thing, but it is definitely something you have to do for yourself.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Just needed some re-assurance that I wasnt going to end up on Solent TV tomorrow

[/ QUOTE ]

That is the least of your worries. Having any mishap disected on this forum is more of a worry.
 
Hi Shipswoofy
Thanks for your reply
Yep I do understand what u mean and I dont wish to prejudice safety in any way
I have been boating for a couple of yeas now and I have only had this 37foot boat for about a year.
The around 10 days out (in this boat) have been 6days of qualified instructor for some own boat training and 4days on my own. Have done Powerboat level 1 &2 twice (not that I failed the first time but as a refresher
I understand what you mean that if you dont feel comfortable with it dont do it and I will take the decision tomorrow morning.
Just looking at the Soton weather cam it doesnt look too bad although when its described as F5/6/7 this does sound a little scary
 
Well I'm off to Southampton from Chichelster tomorrow and yes its going to be wet and windy, but from the South. At least it will be warm.
The last trip in the Bayliner before I get the new boat next week and I cannot wait!
 
I know everyone has to start somewhere, but this frightening query makes me wonder whether licencing and compulsory training would be such a bad thing after all.
It's not only the boat and it's owner that are put at risk it is all those who have to go to the rescue.
 
I tried very hard not to come over as an old fart condemning a new boater, I am hardly old anyhow.

My point, however veiled was to the responsibility of the skipper. Asking if anyone knows the weather or if in unknown waters asking what kind of conditions to expect, for example I would have no qualms asking about races at Portland for example.

I would never ask if I should go or not, that is nobody's but my decision. It may have been bad wording by Chris (is it), but there is collecting evidence and asking for answer. In this sport there is no nanny to hold your hand when you push too hard....

Hope that makes sense.
 
I do agree with you despite having offered advice, and I did consider if I should or not too. The Coastguard will not tell you if it's safe to go to sea, these things HAVE to be the decision of the skipper, walk to the end of the mole, have a look, sniff the air, scratch the arse, and make ones own decision. Correct.
 
well done woofy to both posts, the mind boggles.
the only way to get experence is to use it & in suitable conditions then build upon that experence / cock-ups ect. just because someone has a "ticket" dont mean they are able or experenced to handle a 37 foor power boat
 
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