Cruising Ireland, wind and weather

[skipmac]

Hello.

Planning to cross to Europe this spring. US to Bermuda to Azores and from there somewhat undecided. Top preference depending on weather forecast when we leave the Azores is to make landfall south coast of Ireland, maybe Cork or Bantry Bay early to mid July.

I have been to Ireland and even southern Ireland before on business trips so know generally what to expect. However, crew was checking marine weather and found a forecast from the Shannon sea buoy, about 90 miles SW of Bantry. Buoy weather for next week shows waves 12-17 ft with winds of 6-9 kts. What's with that? How come such large waves with such moderate winds? My only guess is the waves are coming from weather systems a couple hundred miles away.

Any other comments or suggestions on cruising the area?

 

[rotrax]

You will find 90 miles out it is the North Atlantic, a serious ocean. The fetch is 3,000 miles. I have learned to wait a couple of days after a windy spell to let the swell decline.

It does not always do so..........................

 

[skipmac]

You will find 90 miles out it is the North Atlantic, a serious ocean. The fetch is 3,000 miles. I have learned to wait a couple of days after a windy spell to let the swell decline.

It does not always do so..........................

Well since I'll be coming in from the Azores I will indeed be out in the serious ocean to get to Ireland.

Seems reasonable to assume, based on the weather maps at the time, that the big swells are coming from a storm many miles away. Thanks to that big, long fetch. Just wonder if this is common

 

[savageseadog]

Time after time, skippers and crews of boats taking part in around Ireland races find that the West coast of Ireland is no picnic.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Why worry about it you won't be there for another 21/2 months plus with your planned journey if you are concerned about 12 to 15 foot swell perhaps you shouldn't be setting off in the first place.

 

[rotrax]

I'm not sure he is concerned, just wondering why the forecast wave height is so.

I would expect it to be pretty much like that all the time. The North Atlantic can go glass smooth, seen it. But a very unusual condition. 3-4 Metre swells are the norm in my limited experience.

 

[Finbar]

Very nice sailing in West Cork in July. Traditional first landfall was Crookhaven or Baltimore, then a leisurely cruise back to the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven taking in the various watering holes. An Atlantic swell can persist from distant weather, but not a huge problem if it is regular. Come and enjoy,!

 

[skipmac]

Why worry about it you won't be there for another 21/2 months plus with your planned journey if you are concerned about 12 to 15 foot swell perhaps you shouldn't be setting off in the first place.

Well I don't consider researching weather and other potential issues for a trip worry. I might call it prudence. However in this case it was more curiosity than concern as it's unusual to see such large swells during such benign conditions.

I might add that I have been in 12-15' swells and more a couple of trips in the past and also consider it prudence to avoid this kind of weather if possible.

 

[skipmac]

Very nice sailing in West Cork in July. Traditional first landfall was Crookhaven or Baltimore, then a leisurely cruise back to the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven taking in the various watering holes. An Atlantic swell can persist from distant weather, but not a huge problem if it is regular. Come and enjoy,!

Thanks. Visited Cork a couple of times on business and loved it. The locals were very friendly and welcoming but then that was my experience throughout Ireland. Dublin airport was one of the few I've ever passed through where the customs and immigration staff made me feel welcome instead of looking at me like I was a potential terrorist.

Cork will certainly be on the itinerary if we make to the area.

 

[Irish Rover]

Hello.

Planning to cross to Europe this spring. US to Bermuda to Azores and from there somewhat undecided. Top preference depending on weather forecast when we leave the Azores is to make landfall south coast of Ireland, maybe Cork or Bantry Bay early to mid July.

I have been to Ireland and even southern Ireland before on business trips so know generally what to expect. However, crew was checking marine weather and found a forecast from the Shannon sea buoy, about 90 miles SW of Bantry. Buoy weather for next week shows waves 12-17 ft with winds of 6-9 kts. What's with that? How come such large waves with such moderate winds? My only guess is the waves are coming from weather systems a couple hundred miles away.

Any other comments or suggestions on cruising the area?

Dim waves izh cummen from Americaa, sir. I shuppose ye know every ting in Amerikaa izh biggar. Jaysus man you could be out there off Dingle or Shneem and yed see dem kummen at ye with dare shleeves rolled up.

 

[skipmac]

Dim waves izh cummen from Americaa, sir. I shuppose ye know every ting in Amerikaa izh biggar. Jaysus man you could be out there off Dingle or Shneem and yed see dem kummen at ye with dare shleeves rolled up.

Well things are certainly bigger in Texas. Just ask a Texan.

Meanwhile I'll have to speak to the American weather control manager about keeping those big waves on this side of the pond.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Thanks. Visited Cork a couple of times on business and loved it. The locals were very friendly and welcoming but then that was my experience throughout Ireland. Dublin airport was one of the few I've ever passed through where the customs and immigration staff made me feel welcome instead of looking at me like I was a potential terrorist.

Cork will certainly be on the itinerary if we make to the area.

They save those searching stares for the people with Irish passports.
The big Atlantic swells to be found off the west and south coasts usually originate from storms in tropical mid-ocean or off Newfoundland, and will generally be comfortable enough as they usually have quite a long length and period. However, more local bad weather can cause problems. For weather planning/routing, most skippers (captains) contemplating transatlantic voyages consider installing satellite comms or SSB radio. The latter is a more serious committment entailing complex installation, as well as training and licenceing, whereas a satellite units can be rented for the duration of your passage, allowing you to download grib files and to send text messages fairly economically.
The advice above, to make landfall at Bantry is good, but to take in the full grandeur of of such an excellent cruising ground, I would recommend starting at Dingle, and working gradually eastwards taking in the whole South Coast and ending up at Kilmore Quay. Here you can decide to continue eastwards, to the British ( somewhat oversubscribed) south coast, or turn left, up the Irish Sea, making your way towards Scotland's very interesting West Coast and islands. If you do sail up the Irish Sea, you will find that if you stay well inshore, inside the sandbanks, that you will have a fairly flat sea, even if the wind is blowing at Gale Force from the west. The West and North coasst are not for the faint-hearted!
You seem to have discovered the website of Irelands Meteorological service, Met Eireann, (met.ie) where you would have found your buoy report, but for coastal sailing I find Windguru (https://www.windguru.cz/366071) quite accurate. It shows predictions from the most popular models on the one page, so you can find a consesus.
The British Met office (Surface Pressure Charts), and the German site Wetterzentrale (Home page wetterzentrale.de) carry excellent synoptic charts. It's a good idea to monitor the synoptic charts for a couple of weeks before your departure, to see what nature is likely to throw at you. Bon Voyage!

 

[skipmac]

They save those searching stares for the people with Irish passports.
The big Atlantic swells to be found off the west and south coasts usually originate from storms in tropical mid-ocean or off Newfoundland, and will generally be comfortable enough as they usually have quite a long length and period. However, more local bad weather can cause problems. For weather planning/routing, most skippers (captains) contemplating transatlantic voyages consider installing satellite comms or SSB radio. The latter is a more serious committment entailing complex installation, as well as training and licenceing, whereas a satellite units can be rented for the duration of your passage, allowing you to download grib files and to send text messages fairly economically.
The advice above, to make landfall at Bantry is good, but to take in the full grandeur of of such an excellent cruising ground, I would recommend starting at Dingle, and working gradually eastwards taking in the whole South Coast and ending up at Kilmore Quay. Here you can decide to continue eastwards, to the British ( somewhat oversubscribed) south coast, or turn left, up the Irish Sea, making your way towards Scotland's very interesting West Coast and islands. If you do sail up the Irish Sea, you will find that if you stay well inshore, inside the sandbanks, that you will have a fairly flat sea, even if the wind is blowing at Gale Force from the west. The West and North coasst are not for the faint-hearted!
You seem to have discovered the website of Irelands Meteorological service, Met Eireann, (met.ie) where you would have found your buoy report, but for coastal sailing I find Windguru (https://www.windguru.cz/366071) quite accurate. It shows predictions from the most popular models on the one page, so you can find a consesus.
The British Met office (Surface Pressure Charts), and the German site Wetterzentrale (Home page wetterzentrale.de) carry excellent synoptic charts. It's a good idea to monitor the synoptic charts for a couple of weeks before your departure, to see what nature is likely to throw at you. Bon Voyage!

Thank you very much for the excellent information. I like the idea of starting at Dingle and working my way east.

For weather I have a Garmin Inreach and a SSB receiver. Planning to use a family member who is a life long boater to watch weather online and send me texts on the Inreach for routing.

From Ireland haven't yet decided. Will have to leave the boat for a few weeks to fly back to the states to see the grandkids. Certainly Scotland would be a grand idea.

This does beg the question, best place to leave the boat for a month or two? Lawrence Cove Marina on the north side of Bere Island looks like a very well protected spot. But leaving the boat in Cobh or Monkstown would be more convenient to Cork airport and connections back to the US.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Thank you very much for the excellent information. I like the idea of starting at Dingle and working my way east.

For weather I have a Garmin Inreach and a SSB receiver. Planning to use a family member who is a life long boater to watch weather online and send me texts on the Inreach for routing.

From Ireland haven't yet decided. Will have to leave the boat for a few weeks to fly back to the states to see the grandkids. Certainly Scotland would be a grand idea.

This does beg the question, best place to leave the boat for a month or two? Lawrence Cove Marina on the north side of Bere Island looks like a very well protected spot. But leaving the boat in Cobh or Monkstown would be more convenient to Cork airport and connections back to the US.

Kinsale is as good as anywhere with a good bus service to Cork and the airport, I have left a boat there twice on a buoy curtesy of the harbour master who picked us up and ferried us on and off the boat.

 

[Dino]

Check out www.eoceanic.com, great free online resource

 

[Slowtack]

Buoys - Met Éireann - The Irish Meteorological Service

 

[skipmac]

Kinsale is as good as anywhere with a good bus service to Cork and the airport, I have left a boat there twice on a buoy curtesy of the harbour master who picked us up and ferried us on and off the boat.

Thanks. Heard Kinsale is a nice stop. Understand there's some good restaurants. So many places and so little time.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Kinsale is as good as anywhere with a good bus service to Cork and the airport, I have left a boat there twice on a buoy curtesy of the harbour master who picked us up and ferried us on and off the boat.

The sailing club in Kinsale is also quite helpful. I left my boat with them for a month once. Salve Marina in Crosshaven has good rates, is very sheltered, and is a short bus or taxi ride from Cork City centre.