North Sea seas

[ChrisE]

We're just back from getting Rival Spirit up to Norway via a direct crossing from Ramsgate to Mahdal in S. Norway. We had one day of calms followed by 3 days of a solid NW6 which when trying to lay a roughly Northerly course was hard work. To my eyes the seas were way over the size that I would have expected even from an English Channel 6. The wind had been blowing at F7+ for week beforehand and I was wondering whether the high sea state was just left over seas or the fact that most of the North Sea we crossed was 30-40m.

Anyone have views on this?

 

[Dyflin]

In my experience the swells in the Northern North Sea will hang around for much longer than in the Souther end. They'll also take that bit longer to pick up when it blows hard. I always put it down to the difference in average depth for both ends. But either way seems to be quite common.

 

[landaftaf]

I suggest its cos the tides in the channel (being stronger) helps to pick up the seas more quickly (i.e. wind against tide), and conversly kills the seas more quickly. the tides also, imho, prevents the really large swells building.
this is not to say there arnt large seas and swells in the channel, almost sank in a merchant ship there .... butt hats another story. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[homa]

Hello Chris,
I cross the N.Sea every working day (Harwich to Hoek van Holland) and when we get a northerly element in the wind the seas are going to build quickly and get quite large if blowing for more than a day or so, a significant swell will develope too.
We can get strong gale force winds from the south for days and never get the big seas you describe, plus little or no swell to speak of.
Also agree with other post that when winds have dropped it only takes a few tides to knock the seas down.
If I were planning a crossing (in a yacht) and knew the wind had been blowing steadily from the north, would consider putting off until wind abated or changed direction.

 

[Cotillion]

Dont know why other than there is nothing between us and the arctic but I'm always wary of Northerlies especially on the ebb. Forecast SW6 and I'm off anywhere but NE4/5 and I'm already considering the rivers or creek crawling.

kim

 

[Koeketiene]

Canadian friend of mine says the North Sea is the most akward to sail.
It's got everything: strong tides, sand banks, rapid wind shifts, freak drops in barometric pressure,...

In short: if you can sail the North Sea comfortably, you can sail anywhere.

 

[ChrisE]

Well, I certainly won't be wanting to repeat the experience in the near future. Although it was quite fun seeing all of the oil rigs in the middle of nowhere, even had to avoid an oil rig under tow!

 

[Seawolf]

I work on a production platform on the Norwegian sector east of the British Brent field. Thats the northern part of the NS. Its amasing to watch the rapid weather changes in this area.
We can have all four seasons in 24 hours /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The northerly will often be wind against current and sets up wery steep waves wich, as a rule, will exeed the forcast.

The worst winter scenaro is an High over Scandinavia and a Low west of the Fearoe Isles.
That will funnel a wery strong SE wind all the way up from the German Bight and wave and swell will usually be much higher than when wind is from the N.

Shallow water, strong currents, quick wind shifts, it all makes the North sea an challenging pond.

Even so.... quite a number of yachts do the crossing each summer, both ways, but be ready for a dance with Neptune

Arild

 

[Oldhand]

Was messing around on a survey ship in a bygone time on a day a nearby N.Sea oil rig recorded a 60' wave. Don't get those in the English Channel as far as I know. There wasn't any wind speed measuring equipment on board but we were having to use near full power to maintain steerage head to sea. When we eventually went into port they had to get cracks where the superstrucure joined the foredeck welded up. The crew were of course repaired in the local hostelries, Aberdeen I think it was.

 

[landaftaf]

since the positioning of the platforms in the north sea - designed to cope with the 100 yr wave of 100 ft, they found out these waves actually occurred every year !!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

so those sailors of old were telling true tales of massive waves after all, /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Well done to you both for getting Rival Spirit up to Norway, especially in the seas you describe.

BTW, about your picture in YM - must have been taken a few years ago, eh?? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Having said that, Mrs E looked just as youthful last year in Weymouth! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Bejasus]

being aboard ship every day(for 6 months out of the year at least), and at sea lots, sailing out of Denmark, I have to agree with homa and Yanita and Seawolf. The predominant winds up here, are North westerly, and although it can take some time to build, the seas can stay up for a long time. Do not let anyone tell you hurricane force storms do happen in the North Sea. Been through 2 Force 12+ in the last 5 years, with up to 14 mtr seas. October/November is not very kindly at times, so well done on your direct crossing. I think I would have rather cut across sooner from the East, or later from the North than gone direct. Well done on a safe passage.

 

[ChrisE]

Cheeky [no thanks], the reporter took a load of snaps of Rival Spirit and then decided to print the one you saw. If you look carefully you can see the hull behind us.

After the crossing MrsE is not so sure about the more ambitious parts of the trip!