Downsizing the weather

I agree, although maybe F5-6 in the smallest boat I’ve owned, a 24 footer.

I used to love that each time I moved up a boat size then at least another force up became comfortable sailing. But it does mean weather has to be quite extreme to get the same buzz. Keeping the boat for 3 years in the Canaries was a good place to get that buzz in almost every inter island sail.
 
A marina neighbour has a 22' boat and regularly complains about the rough water on the way to Harwich, which my 34 would laugh off. I have been on his boat and although it is perfectly good in its way it does get a bit lively. On our 34 going to windward in F6 is trying but enjoyable off-wind, and made a marked change from our smaller previous boats.
 
Get a Snapdragon. F6 was quite acceptable as long as I wasn't trying to go to windward. The strongest wind I was out in was off St Alban's Head when Bramblemet was registering a steady 33 knots. It wasn't comfortable, but the boat coped fine, far better than the crew, who has, I think, just about forgiven me, 10 years later.
 
F11 in the Beagle Channel was an absolute doddle. Did it my dressing gown and slippers. 80,000 tons displacement definitely downsizes the weather!
 
F6 to windward is lively in my corribie, but she copes with it. Heaviest I’ve been out in the Solent was gusting F7 with a few knots of tide under us. It’s was pretty wet with spray, etc. Suspect open water would have been easier as the waves would be more developed and less choppy.

Above that I doubt we could make progress to windward.

F7 on or behind the beam is fine and we have made a few passages on reefed genoa only. Again can get quite wet.
 
PhillM said:
F6 to windward is lively in my corribie, but she copes with it. Heaviest I’ve been out in the Solent was gusting F7 with a few knots of tide under us. It’s was pretty wet with spray, etc. Suspect open water would have been easier as the waves would be more developed and less choppy.

Above that I doubt we could make progress to windward.

F7 on or behind the beam is fine and we have made a few passages on reefed genoa only. Again can get quite wet.
Click to expand...
A brave man!
 
Wansworth said:
With a small boat you get all the thrills and nightmares of a gale in a F4
Click to expand...
Yes, took a Drascombe lugger out single handed, nice and sheltered in the harbour but down wind across the bay I did not have enough weight to balance the rig so had to reef to beat back, shaking out the reefs as we got back towards the shelter of land.
Also works the other way. After moving up from a 29ft sloop to a 42 ft sloop with similar underwater profiles distances appeared to decrease and weather became less of a problem. Crossing from Lerwick to Bergen in a N 7/8 gusting 9 was distinctly uncomfortable, but passage time quicker than in the 29 ft boat with reasonable weather.
 
F9 in a Westerly Konsort was when I reached my personal limit. The bathtub like cockpit is normally reassuring, not so much when it’s completely full of sea water. 😑
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top