NE wind against Western solent flood

[FairweatherDave]

Been trying to find any info about entering the Solent into a force 4-5 NE with the flood....ie wind over tide. All the warnings in the almanacs are for the normal prevailing south westerlies. Forecast for the end of the week look much the same as now, or slightly breezier. Contemplating an overnight at Freshwater Bay and want to be able to get back.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Been trying to find any info about entering the Solent into a force 4-5 NE with the flood....ie wind over tide. All the warnings in the almanacs are for the normal prevailing south westerlies. Forecast for the end of the week look much the same as now, or slightly breezier. Contemplating an overnight at Freshwater Bay and want to be able to get back.

Oddly, the western Solent is slightly worse on the ebb in NE winds. You can certainly expect a bit of chop though. We raced an open deck keelboat from Yarmouth to Cowes and on Saturday, got a bit wet, and that mostly up around Egypt point, though a bit off Hamstead ledge. That was on the flood tide. It wasn’t F5 of course. We have done the F5-6 many times in Chiara, she tends to skim over the top. It can be bumpy with 20kn plus, but we have rarely got wet on a 30ft boat. It’ll be a bit tiring hanging on, dependent on your wl length. And welcome to Freshwater Bay, give us a wave, we live there.

 

[FairweatherDave]

Thanks CS. Reassuring. I figured that since I have been struggling to find any mention anywhere of NE wind causing any problems that I'm simply over-thinking. Almost exactly a year ago we left Beaulieu entrance in a force 5-6 ENE and there was some sizeable rolling swell that you said was giving you 2m waves at Yarmouth. But then we had two reefs in. Really enjoyed it but don't want to be beating directly into that off the Needles. I'll make sure I'm happy with the forecast. And we're planning to come round from Chichester on the south side of the island, (first time) so that's adding a bit of novelty and excitement to the planning. (Boat is a W Konsort so more than capable.....hopefully give you a wave Thursday night!
Just had another look at the end of the week....might be a bit too "interesting".....see how it develops

 

[Chiara’s slave]

The Yarmouth side is best avoided, but you can tell for yourself how it is. Look at the XODs on the moorings, they’ll tell you whether to short tack up the Lymington side. It’s usually a bit smoother over there, depending how much north there is in the wind. Hamstead will be unpleasant if there’s 20kn

 

[Pete7]

We came in Friday evening in a, wasn't a problem. Little bit of chop and waves breaking on the outer parts of the banks plus some small whirl pools off Hurst.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

If you can tell me a wind speed and direction, and a state of the tide when there aren’t any whirlpools off Hurst, I’d bd very grateful!

 

[Pete7]

If you can tell me a wind speed and direction, and a state of the tide when there aren’t any whirlpools off Hurst, I’d bd very grateful!

Ha, not in my living memory, but as I am sure you know, they just aren't a problem

 

[Stemar]

I reckon I'm pretty close to holding the Snapdragon 24 speed record with 11kts on the GPS coming through Hurst once

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I reckon I'm pretty close to holding the Snapdragon 24 speed record with 11kts on the GPS coming through Hurst once

We had 11kn last Friday. Against the tide The water was dead flat, though swirly, the boat squirming around in the eddies

 

[Stemar]

Yes, but that's a normal speed for you. Jissel's normal speed was more like 4 knots