Easterly winds

[cueball]

We seem to be having more easterlies lately than I can remember for a long time, what's happened to our usual south westerlies? Easterlies give us east coasters very unpleasant conditions.

 

[tillergirl]

Absolutely right. Not pleasant.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Heavy Easterlies too.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Azores high well North, so the easterlies come from the clockwise rotation around that...

 

[johnalison]

I think the last few years have given us this. It never happened when I wanted to get back from the Baltic/Netherlands.

 

[MikeBz]

My brother-in-law is spending this week sailing from the East Coast round to the South to potter about and come back next week. Cue Westerlies or South-Westerlies this week and the return of E/NE next week!

 

[Juan Twothree]

Easterly winds keep the coast nice and cool during hot summer weather.
And they also mean inflatables and paddle boards blow back onto the beaches, rather than out to sea.
So, personally, I'm not complaining, but I appreciate they can be a nuisance if you want to sail in that direction.

 

[Aquaboy]

pretty certain its been southwesterly all day today.......?

 

[johnalison]

pretty certain its been southwesterly all day today.......?

I thought of going out when I popped down to Titchmarsh today . When the wind meter showed 26kn SW I thought better of it and did a few jobs instead.

 

[Boathook]

A lot of ports, harbours, etc are exposed to easterlies on the south coast.

 

[johnalison]

A lot of ports, harbours, etc are exposed to easterlies on the south coast.

Not to mention the entrance to the Walton Channel just outside Stone Point.

 

[MattS]

Not to mention the entrance to the Walton Channel just outside Stone Point.

And I learned this the hard way in a strong ENE breeze earlier this season! Luckily the lifeboat zoomed past me also going into Titchmarsh, so it calmed my nerves knowing it was nearby...

 

[johnalison]

Other than Eastbourne, I can't think of a South Coast harbour that is particularly hazardous in an easterly, though I haven't been to Brixham in bad weather. Dartmouth might be exposed but the entrance is wide and Falmouth is well sheltered. The only harbour that worries me is Dover Western in anything over F5 from the west, when it can be quite dangerous to small craft over a short distance.

 

[tillergirl]

Gladys would agree with me I think that the Easterlies is 'orrid. If we are outward bound for a survey, typically at the Sunk Sand, we dread the Easterlies. Not because it is dangerous but because anything with the word 'east' means that a swell will roll over the sands and the moment it is anything more than 10kts it will have steep little waves. Nothing to hinder sail or motor but trying to get accurate data is a challenge. Quite a few times we have got away with ok but several times in the last hour of the work, a sea breeze has increased to 15kts+ and we have packed up a little earlier. The worst is heading out for 3 hours just to find that the wind has picked up and it is useless.

20+ heading home with a tailwind is nice for economy but Pontius (the AP) doesn't really like it. Gladys has to work ( ) for best conditions.

Anybody sat overnight on a mooring in Alderney harbour in a NE? The memory is etched (especially with the garlic seafood pie for supper)

 

[johnalison]

but Pontius (the AP)

Aaargh.

 

[LittleSister]

Pontius (the AP)

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Well things are looking up a bit for the next few days.

And, only paid £1.76.9 for petrol today.

 

[fredrussell]

but Pontius (the AP)…

That’s great!

 

[ex-Gladys]

I understand that Brighton with an easterly is fun...

 

[Hydrozoan]

... Pontius (the AP) ...

But 'skilled with the javelin' suggests he might be more at home up t'other end. Does anyone call theirs Timothy, I wonder?