Exam question

snowleopard

snowleopard

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Reminded of this by the Lessons Learned thread... The following is a question I was asked during my YM exam. How would you have answered?

You are 10 miles SW of the Needles, heading the Hamble. The wind is F6 and rising with a forecast of SW8 imminent. The westbound stream is due to start in the next hour. What would you do?
 
1. Divert Poole

2. If strong boat, strong crew, then consider North Channel.


Nicholas Hill
 
I suppose you're meant to say "scoot into Poole and drop the hook till it's gone by".

But the last time I was in that situation I wasn't in charge and it was the day after the Fastnet problem ('80ish?). We pressed on and it was the most exciting ride I've ever had. We were in a Macwester 27 - solid old tub if there was ever one.
 
ok. Assuming you are comfortable with the force 6 conditions for boat and crew.::

Reef down ready for force 8. Let yacht slow down to await favourable tide. snug down through needles channel with tide and wind behind you, knowing that as you approach Lymington/ Newport you have more sheltered water.
 
Snag is if you do arrive too early [it's not always possible to slow that much], conditions by the Ledge Buoy on the ebb tide can be horrendous [been there]

Nicholas Hill
 
Or if you are in a hurry to get home you could go through the forts - with a SW8 behind you that would be fast and fun (but keep well S of St Caths)
 
I'm not entirely sure that jilling around for 6 or 7 hours in a rising gale with wind over tide would win many brownie points with the examiner....... or the crew come to that.

Much better to head up for Poole and drop the hook in Studland. One or two hours tops to get there, then put the kettle on and see what develops........ then make a new plan as the tide turns fair.
 
Tide turns in hour (at Needles ?) Need to know own SOG, and remainder of fair tide under your keel at present, but if you could arrive through the Narrows at slack water with wind behind you, and tuck in to either North or Island (preferably) shores, you would be OK. S and SW wind will delay the turn of the tide in your favour also.

On the other hand, if there's any snag, you might be in for an uncomfortable time. Depends how risk averse you are, and familiar with Poole, too ? Knife edge!
 
Go in the North Channel given daylight and good vis. If at night unless with strong crew I'd head for Poole
 
oops yes, well, last time

we were chasing after para who had a half-hour start, coming from studland, and er, persuaded jimi to leave most of the sail up and charged thru the needles at 12knots SOG with 34 knots of true wind w -sw. Fantastic fantastic sail, altho there were over 30 emergncy call outs from other boats and sailbad also on board has not come sailing since. This might be a fail, tho. Also the F7 not forecast...
 
Imminent means 0-6hrs.

I'm tempted to continue at much reduced mainsail but whatever size genoa to maintain high speed to the Needles Channel - favouring the Island side shallow water.

Should the gale arise before Needles - divert south side of the island. If it suddenly arises after Needles get the storm jib up drop the main and brave out the battering, you'll be through soon enough.
 
I replied as follows:

a) If I had a well-found boat and was racing with a gung-ho crew and a chance of a good place I would get everyone in lifejackets and tethers, lock in the washboards and go for it through the Needles channel. (The exam was taking place on an ex-Admirals cup boat from the 1960s)

b) I would consider heaving to on Starboard to wait for a turn of tide, approx 6 hours, which would keep me away from land but would take me across the path of shipping so not a great idea.

c) Realistically I would most likely do what I did last time I was in that circumstance with a forecast of S10, i.e. go round the East of the Island and go into either Chichester if the tide was flooding by then or up to Portsmouth.

That seemed to satisfy him
 
I think I'd put a hook into Studland, get a hot meal, a few zzzzs and wait out the tide and the F8 (unless the breeze was subsequently forecast to go into the east).

If it was, jog around the Wight under easy sail and quite well offshore, then come from the West Princessa direction.
 
Well personally I think its a load of bollox to go all the way roung the IOW in a F8 going past St Cats adding at least 4 hours to exposure to weather when the North channel is perfectly good .. get into shelter .. eitherthat or Poole .. and I would'nt stay in Studland either .. if its F8 get into Poole get up to the quay and go for a pint
 
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