Have you set out only to turn back?

[fireball]

Running on from the rescue services incident this morning - with a sail boat out in distress in a F11 within the English Channel ...

Have you ever set out on a trip, only to turn back or into a safe haven ... I don't mean a "planned" change of course - more a use of bolt holes for un-expected weather ...

I've turned back once - we were supposed to do a "round the cans" type sail in a timed event - with guests aboard ... whilst it was sailable, we decided that the conditions were not suitable for the crew onboard - so we went back to the mooring for lunch instead ...

I planned a bolthole and considered using it - F7 Southerly and was going to enter Chi Harbour - if my trip there had been slow then it would've meant entering on an Ebb tide - which I wasn't prepared to do ... as it happened we got there in plenty of time - only to record 40kts across the deck ..... I had to put a bit of Genoa away !!

 

[awol]

Yes. Usually when more wind/weather than forecast or something has gone wrong. Hasn't everyone?

 

[SimbaDog]

Numerous times, rather be in the pub than getting rescued!

 

[Kukri]

Yes, several times. Dover does rather leap to mind in that connection as the Place I Have Been Most Likely to Set Out From Only To Come Back To, when bound down Channel, but Harwich is also on the list.

On one memorable occasion I did not put back when I should have done, and we got throughly pasted on the Broad Fourteens with me having kittens about the low, shoal, Dutch coast to leeward of us.

 

[Poignard]

Yes - I have turned back when it seemed the best thing to do.

I have also not turned back when I ought to have done - and regretted it.

 

[Bav34]

Yes - I have turned back when it seemed the best thing to do.

I have also not turned back when I ought to have done - and regretted it.

+1

 

[photodog]

Yes - I have turned back when it seemed the best thing to do.

I have also not turned back when I ought to have done - and regretted it.

+2

But generally we sail pretty conservativley... so If I am in the least uncomfortable about the conditions... we tend to delay...

I dont want to make it unpleasent for swmbo..

Whats the hurry?

But I think that makes me a bit of a wimp in reality...

 

[TeamSpirit]

Yes - I have turned back when it seemed the best thing to do.

I have also not turned back when I ought to have done - and regretted it.

Try to make the right decision most of the time but have got it wrong more than once, its called experience.

 

[maby]

Did last Sunday! Nipped out into the river intending to run down to Queenborough and back. The crosswind over the lock exit was a bit frisky so I got onto the coastguard for a quick re-run of the forecast and they told me that they were expecting the wind to pick up another couple of notches, so we decided to call it a day and pop back in while we still had enough water over the cill... Haven't scratched Vixen yet and in no hurry to do so.

 

[prv]

Couple of times, once due to fog with ships in it, once due to headwind and slamming seas that, combined with a bit of tide, were preventing my tubby little boat making any headway at all. I was just bashing up and down in the same spot, so I turned round and went back.

Pete

 

[ChattingLil]

+2

But generally we sail pretty conservativley... so If I am in the least uncomfortable about the conditions... we tend to delay...

I dont want to make it unpleasent for swmbo..

Whats the hurry?

But I think that makes me a bit of a wimp in reality...

ooh no no no.
when I made my big mistake and was rescued by the rnli, the lifeboatman said that me being female and 'not too macho to ask for help when needed' probably saved us.

So, not a wimp!

 

[emsworthy]

Last time for fog that didn't clear as expected, rather than wind, when heading for Bembridge from Chichester. Didn't fancy my chances with the big boys coming into the Solent so had a thoroughly pleasant weekend without even leaving the harbour instead.

 

[fireball]

ooh no no no.
when I made my big mistake and was rescued by the rnli

I've put out a pan pan for another vessel in distress - they're normally considered "macho" boys in their International 14's ... iirc this one had a bust rudder and needed some assistance in getting back into the harbour.

I did turn back one one trip last year - although not really turn back - as destination was where we ended up - it was a quick trip around the Nab - but the wind picked up more than expected and to carry on meant putting a reef in - so decided to call it a day ..

Fortunately, the only assistance I've ever needed has been in a racing dinghy - when we have support boats out anyway ...

 

[Poignard]

Once I turned back shortly after leaving Portsmouth, bound for France, when The Old Guvnor said "we ought to put our lifejackets on" followed by "where are they?" followed by "I think they were under the dining room table at home".

A decision had to be made - spend £35 on diesel, plus 4 hours loss of holiday, driving home to recover two 14-year old life jackets or nip along to Arthur's Chandlery and buy two new ones.

So we now have four lifejackets. (and a pre-sea checklist)

 

[fireball]

There are quite a few boats that will "go out" in almost anything - however, I would consider the front that came through this morning as "exceptional" (recording gusts 60kts+ at Chimet till midday) ...

Obviously - for those on long trips you cannot always avoid these - and some even set out in the knowledge that they will encounter such weather - ie those racing around the world ...

We all know that the best way to prepare for strong winds is to practice sailing in them - but would you have set out knowing that a big front is about to pass over?

 

[jordanbasset]

+2

But generally we sail pretty conservativley... so If I am in the least uncomfortable about the conditions... we tend to delay...

I dont want to make it unpleasent for swmbo..

Whats the hurry?

But I think that makes me a bit of a wimp in reality...

Yes that is what we do, prefer to be in harbour wishing etc etc
Only time we did turn back was a couple of hours into a channel crossing, a very sea sick extra crew member made turning back the only humane decision.

 

[pyrojames]

Many times.

From Tassie only to encounter fog when we got to the shoally bits.
From Sydney into a southerly which was abit too much for the crew.
From Harwich, as above.
From Portimao when the alternator failed.
From Sardinia into an 8.

Nothing wrong with turning around, it shows judgement and sense IMHO. Also abandoned passage plans before setting off for simialr reasons. Conversely I've pressed on in poor weather to avoid getting hit by even worse stuff.

 

[maby]

Yes that is what we do, prefer to be in harbour wishing etc etc
Only time we did turn back was a couple of hours into a channel crossing, a very sea sick extra crew member made turning back the only humane decision.

Exactly - sailing is meant to be fun, though there do seem to be more than our fair share of masochists in the community!

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Never. Often promised we would go out and have a look to see what it was like, but somehow never felt like turning back. When racing, there is no question of doing so unless everyone else has done so anyway.

 

[Resolution]

Yes - during the 2011 RTIR. Approaching Yarmouth with 25+ knots over the deck, lots of tacking and a bumpy sea, I asked the crew (average age into the free bus zone) who was enjoying themselves. No replies. So I asked who would prefer lunch at On the Rocks to St Cats and suddenly there were smiles all round. First time we have failed to complete the course, but no doubt that it was the right decision.

Hoping for sunshine this year!