How do you cross a big wake?

jimmy_the_builder

jimmy_the_builder

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 Sep 2005
Messages
8,755
Location
Sussex
Visit site
We stayed in Gosport on Saturday night, and set off back to Brighton at lunchtime on Sunday (it was meant to be late in the morning, but it took ages to get fuel at Gosport). On the way back we found ourselves in the wake of a very large container ship heading south; we were somewhere near the horse sand fort and the big ship was well on its way to the Nab.

All fine so far, in fact I wasn't even aware that we were inside the wake - until I noticed a couple of raggies up ahead that suddenly got thrown around all over the place by the wake from this container ship. This isn't something I've had to deal with in my dayboating off Brighton; we needed to get through the wake (from the inside out, if you will) but to be frank, I just wasn't sure about the right way to do it.

So what I did was slow down, and basically motor through it at right angles to the wake. There were only about three waves to this wake, but they seemed quite big (a couple of metres?). The first one was ok, the bow went down and then right up in the air; as we went over the second one it really looked like we were going to dig the bow right in; we didn't, but for a moment I was properly concerned. (Sh*tting myself in fact).

So (eventually) here's the question: what would have been the right way to get across this?

Fire away...

Cheers
Jimmy
 
I take them broad side on, 20-25knts depending on their size.
Warn your crew to expect a little tipping as it crosses.
If a sea cat overtakes the tipping can carry on for a long while as you surf the wave broadside on, this gives a very smooth ride but some slow sidewards tip like a long tight turn but you keep in a straight line.
 
45' to the boat or 45' to wake ?

here's one at 45' to wake.

I usualy cross at 45' to boat.


[image]http://[/image]
28f2666c2abe566e893255e45564c756.jpg


web page
 
Best not listen to me.

It appears I am wrong this time but I enjoyed the photo shoot and I will continue to take the sea cat wake and container ship wake at 20+ knts in comfort.

You will note the boat does tip and crew need to be aware of what to expect.
 
Study the photos and guess which one produced the stress cracks, sore arse and 'the look' from SWMBO. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif



It was the respect for power skipper that prevented me from writing my true feelings, had I replied to any one else I may have written


" I think some guidance written by old fuddy duddies stood up , with booms swinging across may not be appropriate for fast sports boats."



try both methods and make up your own mind.


I think thats time for me to exit /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
With out the warning ,one method could cause peeps to be thrown around a bit, by going though the wash the way the hull is designed to cut though the water the boat is stabler.


but each to there own, /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif


PS I quite like a sea water shower it can be refreshing LOL
 
Wot? Take it on the beam and redistribute all the dunnage several times over? Surely better to grab your gin and turn straight into it. Maybe slam once or twice but it's over quickly even at our modest 10 knots.
 
Depends what I'm driving and on my mood! Also who the crew are. You have to know the boat handling characteristics. Stepped hulls are wonderful, air lifts the hull up and over - take Magnum's new rib. Power on and just before you hit the first wave, throttle back and then floor it! The boat flattens out and just sits on top of the waves as you go through - don't power off at all, the nose will drop and fall into the hole behind the wave.

If I'm feeling really tranquil, then I'll ride the wake side on - just let the wake roll under me keeping throttle control all the time, steer into the side of the wave and let it roll underneath.

In essence, taking wakes safely is down to throttle control, as in fact is taking any rough water. You can't just set the throttle at one setting and expect it all to happen.

Ask Geoffs and Magnum what it feels like to take a wake right! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
I m confused. We are catching up with the wake and riding through it, on this case? If driving straight through it would be 90 degrees, whats the difference between 45degrees to the boat and 45 degrees to the wake? 45 degrees is the same angle either way isnt it?
 
Don't be fooled into thinking it's 45 degrees all the time!!! In rough seas and in big waves and there is a short distance between the waves then angling at 45 degrees to the waves will lengthen the distance between them - taking a wake is actually slightly different. I tend to take them at 90 degrees (allow the bow to cut through) and power off and then on just as you hit the wake.

It also will depend on the wake state! I.E. is the boat making the wake just getting on the plane or is it running? Some of the big tugs that operate in Southampton Water which move the tankers around off Fawley create the most horrendous (read fun) wakes behind them - to most its like being in a really big sea! Taking those at 90 degrees however would most probably break the back of the boat!! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif


Be careful playing in wakes - you can get trapped and it will lead to panic particularly if you don't have sufficient power to cut clear of the wake.
 
thanks.. appreciate its not a rigid number, but I couldnt understand what the difference was between the two suggested 45 degrees.. as they must both be the same angle, but from a different approach (port/s/board)!!
One time, very still day, coming back from Bembridge there apeared to be an enourmous sandback half a mile ahead with waves breaking over it. eh? where did that appear from?As I got nearer, it was in fact a huge wake from a tanker constantly breaking- and moving of course- giving the illusion.
Easy enough to glide through it, but would have been pretty nasty if you had to motor into it from the other direction.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top