Max wind force poll....again

Did that cause you to check your own flares?

  • yes

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • no

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
This has been something of a discussion point between Popeye + myself since our return from Turkey. I was of the opinion that a force 6 on the nose, poss force 8 later, with sesick novices on board, was perhaps not the best option. Which puts me in the wimp category. He raced for many years in the North sea, so has a very different view.
 
Also, is it average wind strength or maximum eg when a front comes through, whether it is going to be steady or decreasing; how long the passage is; how warm it is; how expensive is the current berth; did I tell the wife that I would definately be back tomorrow for our anniversary.....

I answered as if I did need to get somewhere, and that it was not going to be too draining, but if I was cruising in the middle of a 3 week holiday my answer would have been lower.
 
They sometimes cancel channel ferry crossings!

Depends on the harbour, depends on the boat. FWIW I can get off my berth in F5 but not on it in F6 without a terrible struggle, so I tend to stay tied up above F4.
 
Of course it's never straightforward. I've left harbour in an F9 but in special circumstances. On other occasions I've decided F5 would be too uncomfortable.

(Who voted for F3? woos or p-taker???)
 
It might be interesting to see what the voters have, eg AWB, MAB, or MoBo.

I have yet to meet a MAB owner who goes out in more than I do in my AWB. (I DO accept that they would be the more comfortable, but none of them seem actually to do it!)
 
I have less faith in the met office forecasts than before.
I believe that there is a certain element of caution in the forecast and therefore an over estimation of windstrength.

Is this belief widespread? or a delusion?
 
As you know,a weathergoing tide will produce worse wind and wave conditions to deal with for any given foredast . A 'downhill' blast in sunny warm seas is so different to the same experience in the Channel in poor vis on a wet and cold night.
And atmospheric pressure and humidity affect the density of the wind that one is experiencing at any given time.
I am amazed at the way some yachts rigs 'howl' in a blow whilst the same conditions experienced on a stayless rig (Freedom or junk) are noticeably quieter.
Having said all that obvious stuff,I am a happy member of the Force Four Club !
 
All depends really - wind isn't everything.

Usually I will set sail in anything up to F6. Wind direction also plays a major part - if it's an F6 on the nose - only if I HAVE to. If it's reaching or running will set sail up to F8. Seastate's another factor. Sailed in "flat" F8's, but also in very lumpy F6's (back end of a F10).

If I get caught in anything nasty - reef & pray + several pints or brandies to recover & tell tall tales.
 
Stick a lighted candle out of the hatch, if it blows out it's too windy to go sailing

If it doesn't, there's not enough wind to go sailing. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Can't, answer this, silly question for any competent sailor.
Is it rising or falling, what is it going to be when I get there, is wind with or against tide. I have not sailed in a 3 because ETA at destination would have been 7, and I have sailed in a 6 falling when ETA destination was 3.
 
MAB? AWB? MOBO....ok This must be modern jargon so excuse this old duffer for asking, but, WTF is a MAB and and AWB? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
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