How do you decide when to 'go'?

[Sgeir]

Re: How do you decide when to \'go\'?

Our MAB doesn't really get out of bed for less than 10 knots, so normal range is roughly 12-22 knots. Winds possibly tend to be a bit stronger on the West of Scotland than further south, so while F5 is fine, it's not unusual to be in a F6 with gusts around the upper 20s to 30 knots or more.

Personally, being a lifelong coward, I wouldn't normally want to go out in a F6 as I know that can turn to F7 or more with some scary gusts.

IMHO, I think sea state is more important than wind strength, and the profusion of islands and lochs in the West can mean some reasonable passages in strong winds. Bit different off Donegal though. As I found out at Malin Head last September. Big seas.

 

[snowleopard]

Re: How do you decide when to \'go\'?

I have a simple rule. Anything over F4 ahead or F6 astern and we don't go. If it's important to get there I'll stretch it to F5-7.

It's surprisingly difficult to judge the conditions from looking over a harbour wall. I've sometimes thought I don't really want to go then found it quite mild outside. Other times it looked OK and I've turned round and come back in.

 

[Slow_boat]

Re: How do you decide when to \'go\'?

Most people are a bit tied for time, ie even if I had every weekend off, which I don't, I've got other things to do which mean I couldn't sail every weekend. As things stand, I'll be lucky to get on the water every third weekend, so when I've decided I'm sailing, I'm sailing!

It may be I'm going up the river as opposed to out to sea but beggars can't be choosers.

I agree that sea state and even temperature has a lot to do with things. A NE f6 off Harwich, wind over tide, in May last year had us turning back whereas a NE f6 in Turkey with a calm sea and nice warm spray welcome on board to cool us a bit felt fine.

 

[Slow_boat]

Re: How do you decide when to \'go\'?

BTW, is a force 6 still called a 'yachtsmans gale'?

 

[st599]

Re: How do you decide when to \'go\'?

I made the mistake of disbelieving a report saying 5 gusting 7+ at a Sunsail beach resort once (looked ok from the beach). Taking on 6 foot waves in an 8 foot dinghy was a bit knackering.