Nicholas123
N/A
Fair enough by preference I'd have chosen to anchor.
My cross Channel fail!
- Thread starter colhel
- Start date
Fair enough by preference I'd have chosen to anchor.
chubby
Well-Known Member
We had last week off and would have gone cross channel but frankly not good weather for a small boat: Portsmouth to Yarmouth last Monday was fine. Yarmouth to Poole was done in low cloud and gloom with poor vis, certainly not good for cross channel and we were quite glad to get to Poole rather than Weymouth. Tues, Weds and thurs nights spent in Poole quay boat haven, expensive but hell it was a holiday and at least the pubs and restaurants are in walking distance. Weds was wet and windy and couldn't see Brownsea Island, Thursday was windy enough to see the white horses between the quay and Brownsea, again not a cross channel day. Friday back to Lymington, Sat back to Portsmouth with a following gale, under mizzen and well reefed jib at up to 7 knots and 9 knots SOG with the tide, frankly non of it enjoyable cross channel weather even in a long keel motorsailor with a wheel house. Lets hope for better in July for our family holiday and September for the next scuttlebutt trip.
Bosun Higgs
N/A
That's it reaaly, a complete cock up.
Dont beat yourself up about it. You used common sense except the bit where you even set off in a 23 footer when the forecast mentioned 7.
It's supposed to be a fun hobby. not a test of endurance nor a test of machismo nor a set of management objectives. Relax.
P.S. I have a 35 footer and have sailed for more than 20 years. I've crossed Biscay, the channel countless times and all round the southern UK coast up as far as Scotland. But I have a golden rule I stick to except when racing - I never ever start off if there is a 6 in the forecast. TBH I dont start off if there is a 4 in the forecast and the course is hard on the wind. 8 hours beating with 20kn over the deck is not fun at all.
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BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
I don't think your tiredness was the only problem. Two up mid channel in F7 is hard work on many boats bigger than yours.
It would have a much bigger cock up if you had kept going and not made landfall ever again!
It would have a much bigger cock up if you had kept going and not made landfall ever again!
longjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
Right decision made. There's always another day.
laika
Well-Known Member
If no-one gets hurt, nothing gets damaged, it costs no more than a bit of diesel and a couple of pot noodles and you learn something, how is that a Fail?
lenseman
Well-Known Member
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And when the UKBA decide to mandate the rule that they require 48 hours notice by email with departure date and port, number of crew complete with names and addresses . . . . !
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deuc02
Well-Known Member
Complete fail on your part. Lots of people on here telling you you did ok so.....
colhel
Well-Known Member
When we set off the forecast was a force 4 and moderating.
When I spoke to Portland Coastguard she said that the shipping had reported force 7, I didn't know wether to take this as gusting force 7 or constant force 7, but because it was mentioned it helped my decision to turn back. The error I made I think,is I set off tired and when I turned back I didn't allow myself enough rest before setting off again.
Seajet
...
Colhel,
you did the right thing; I think by hard won and not entirely enjoyable cross Channel experiences I'd have turned back sooner !
It's not rocks, big waves, collisions or fog that will get you; it's fatigue.
I might have prepositioned the boat at somewhere like Studland the day before for an early morning getaway to avoid the bridges faffle and long trip to the entrance allowing a daylight crossing, but mentions of a F7 would make me think ' Wareham is a lovely place at this time of year ' !
you did the right thing; I think by hard won and not entirely enjoyable cross Channel experiences I'd have turned back sooner !
It's not rocks, big waves, collisions or fog that will get you; it's fatigue.
I might have prepositioned the boat at somewhere like Studland the day before for an early morning getaway to avoid the bridges faffle and long trip to the entrance allowing a daylight crossing, but mentions of a F7 would make me think ' Wareham is a lovely place at this time of year ' !
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Mark-1
Well-Known Member
Bosun Higgs
N/A
dont misunderstand me. as far as i am concerned you had a good trip and showed sailing maturity in turningn back. well done
shaunksb
Well-Known Member
You did the right thing to turn back.
But I am concerned that you even set off.
We crossed from Cherbourg to Portsmouth on Thusday in a very big boat and a crew of 10 and it was a bugger of a trip. We were all knackered and one crew cracked a rib.
It had been blowing F6/7 SW for two days so the sea state in the channel was challenging and no place for a first time crossing on a 23' boat with two tired men.
If the coastguard says a force 7 what they mean is a force 7.
Limit yourself to a force 5 (Inc the previous 24hrs), start refreshed and you'll be fine.
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rotrax
Well-Known Member
First mate and I concur with most -you did the right thing. In years gone by I would take part in one of the three Classic long distance trials run by the oldest Motor and Motorcycle club in the world stiil running events. the Motor Cycling Club. The Lands End Trial could take 22+ hours. If I was a lorry driver it would be illegal. I soon learned that the bike needed to be ready the day before and it was essential not to go to work on the day the event started.
On your estimated passage time-I always plan on 14 hours from Portsmouth. If we get there quicker-what a bonus. If it takes longer its not SO much longer than if we said 12 hours. Our boat is a slow old fat cruiser but is a fair bit bigger than yours. Best wishes and good sailing .
On your estimated passage time-I always plan on 14 hours from Portsmouth. If we get there quicker-what a bonus. If it takes longer its not SO much longer than if we said 12 hours. Our boat is a slow old fat cruiser but is a fair bit bigger than yours. Best wishes and good sailing .
sailorman
Well-Known Member
prv
Well-Known Member
Not a first time crossing - I've seen Col in Fortuna in Cherbourg once before, and other times in other people's boats.
Definitely not a good plan to set off that knackered though, and the right thing to recognise it and turn round.
Pete
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
I will just add that is certainly not a fail.
Right decisions, in a timely manner, and a good recognition of your capabilities.
Excellent weekend's work.....
Right decisions, in a timely manner, and a good recognition of your capabilities.
Excellent weekend's work.....
grumpy_o_g
Well-Known Member
Obviously you did the right thing but I'd recommend sandwiches, fruit, Mars Bars (or whatever your preference is) as well as a couple of Thermos flasks of soup and/or hot drinks rather than trying to cook at sea - I get really nervous with hot liquids and food on a small boat and you don't need to spend time below at the stove which ain't clever if one of you is feeling a bit dodgy.
onesea
Well-Known Member
There is always one, I think he did the right thing every which way, experienced tiredness realized how hard it is to recover from.
Learned important lessons about how hard he can push himself.
Better that way and be aware for life than, get caught short when the must be back Monday Syndrome has set in. Particularly when you had a heavy night out on the Saturday the night before.
DJE
Well-Known Member
Generally speaking I am in favour of getting on the boat and sticking our noses out from behind the headland to see what things are like in marginal conditions. You miss a lot of sailing if you never do that, but it can be difficult to turn back particularly if crew have given up their weekends to come with you.
