Not another bl***dy windfarm 🤬

[Tradewinds]

There are many sailors who have never sailed out of sight of land, but doing so is part of the experience of going offshore that many of us value in itself. Wind vanes are not inelegant themselves, but even if they were all like the Venus de Milo they would still be there, and intrusive just for that reason. If there are good practical reasons for them, I am happy to accept their presence even if I regret the loss of amenity.

It would be nice to go back to the old days with only a handful of cruising yachts, but concentrating them in marinas is as practical a way of managing them as any. The occasional marina I find less intrusive if anything than creeks occupied by moorings. You can just about walk the length of the Beaulieu river these days, when once it would have been a pleasure to negotiate under sail.

The Orwell gets pretty busy in the summer nowadays. It’s changed a lot since I arrived back in the uk 26 years ago. Still, can’t turn the clock back (unfortunately).

 

[sailorman]

May need to move some waypoints. Especially the one on the N Inner Gabbard (top left corner of existing windfarm) which I like to home in on, coming into the Orwell from Scheveningen /IJmuiden / the Frisians........EDIT Actually, looking on a chart, the Five Estuaries farms don't look too obstructive, if coming in from the NW (as in above scenarios). Looks to be well S of the rhumb line. BUT the North Falls extension seems to obstruct the direct route from Long Sand Head to the Delta or Vlissingen. Glad that I have the time, these days, to sail south! Although the French are busy with offshore windfarms on their Atlantic coast too......
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PR puff Damn things have ruined southern north sea sailing

 

[sailorman]

Did the same in March 2025 ... bought an electric car in summer because we had so much excess from Apr to September we didn't know what to do with it, added a heat-pump in May and got rid of the gas system, and we're still managing to charge the batteries full by lunch time so we use tumble dryer, washing machine, dishwasher etc. in the afternoon to reduce our export to the minimum. Also have a smart meter and a dynamic tariff and when we have that finally sorted out, then we switch on an AI which uses weather forecast info combined with electricity day-ahead prices so should be able to provide another level of flexibility during early spring/late autumn. We get a feed-in rate of 7 cents, so it's better to use it ourselves, but excess wind energy can be had for negative prices in the winter. We've gone from an energy bill of €300 per month + fuel for the car, to around €90 a month, including standing charges. The car is the wild card, as it is 100% dependent on usage which is not really predictable.i have SVP on the roof , all electric house last FITpayment was £440 , in the bank

 

[stu9000]

I hate the endless lights of these wind farms. Sailing was the last opportunity to experience wilderness. I guess there is a justification for it though, as we move away from oil.

However, I do not understand why wind is always the first choice and not tidal. Endless cubic metres of dense water moving past at 2 knots generates more power than fickle wind. The UK has some of the highest tidal ranges in the world. Why do we not make use of this?

 

[dunedin]

I hate the endless lights of these wind farms. Sailing was the last opportunity to experience wilderness. I guess there is a justification for it though, as we move away from oil.

However, I do not understand why wind is always the first choice and not tidal. Endless cubic metres of dense water moving past at 2 knots generates more power than fickle wind. The UK has some of the highest tidal ranges in the world. Why do we not make use of this?

They have done lots of tests with tidal, including Strangford Lough entrance and Orkney, which have plenty of flow (!) but surprisingly so far not deemed it workable to productionise. Strangford Lough one was removed a few years ago.

PS. Around S England need to be a long way out to “experience wilderness” of full darkness, as shore lights visible a long way out. But if want to avoid wind farm lights just go a bit further offshore or further north. Hardly a good argument to prevent wind farms when could just divert elsewhere when in a boat which moves.