Joe_Cole
New member
I am intrigued with the "Learning from experience" article in the October PBO (Page 18). The writer tells of a difficult trip from Salcombe to Dartmouth.
I should start by saying that I have only sailed into Salcombe on a couple of occasions and I very definitely put myself into the "beginner" category, but I just don't understand much of the article. I would be interested in comments from others.
1. He talks about mooring up in Byfleet Creek in Salcombe. Where is that?
2. Next morning he checks the weather forecast. "NW 5-6 decreasing, NW 3-4; Gales 8 imminent Portland" Then he says "with the gale over 100miles away we moved down to the bar and waited for low water"
Surely whether he meant Sea-area Portland or Portland Bill the imminent gale was a lot closer than 100miles?
Why wait at the bar for low water? It would only mean less water under the keel. Even if there was a tidal benefit in going East after low water what's the point of waiting? Am I missing something?
3. "Clearing Bolt Head, we found ourselves in ten to 15ft seas with the wind around Force 6- so much for the weather forecast" Surely that's exactly what the weather forecast promised?
4. He then talks of F7 winds as he approaches Start Point, but he still elects to round the point on the inshore route rather than the normally recommended 2 or 3 miles offshore to avoid the race in difficult conditions. He does this, he says, to avoid being "swept over the Skerries", but is that a real problem? The tidal set is not that strong, and on a rising tide with wind from a Northerly or Westerly aspect Skerry bank will surely be relatively benign. In the event he tells us that he had 25ft seas around Start Point. Not much fun.
Finally he tells us that, amongst other things, his good seamanship gets him through. In the circumstances is he right to congratulate himself for his own seamanship?
I must admit that I am confused by this article. I hope I am not being "nit-picky" and I would like to learn from it. Can anyone throw any light on it?
Regards
Joe Cole
I should start by saying that I have only sailed into Salcombe on a couple of occasions and I very definitely put myself into the "beginner" category, but I just don't understand much of the article. I would be interested in comments from others.
1. He talks about mooring up in Byfleet Creek in Salcombe. Where is that?
2. Next morning he checks the weather forecast. "NW 5-6 decreasing, NW 3-4; Gales 8 imminent Portland" Then he says "with the gale over 100miles away we moved down to the bar and waited for low water"
Surely whether he meant Sea-area Portland or Portland Bill the imminent gale was a lot closer than 100miles?
Why wait at the bar for low water? It would only mean less water under the keel. Even if there was a tidal benefit in going East after low water what's the point of waiting? Am I missing something?
3. "Clearing Bolt Head, we found ourselves in ten to 15ft seas with the wind around Force 6- so much for the weather forecast" Surely that's exactly what the weather forecast promised?
4. He then talks of F7 winds as he approaches Start Point, but he still elects to round the point on the inshore route rather than the normally recommended 2 or 3 miles offshore to avoid the race in difficult conditions. He does this, he says, to avoid being "swept over the Skerries", but is that a real problem? The tidal set is not that strong, and on a rising tide with wind from a Northerly or Westerly aspect Skerry bank will surely be relatively benign. In the event he tells us that he had 25ft seas around Start Point. Not much fun.
Finally he tells us that, amongst other things, his good seamanship gets him through. In the circumstances is he right to congratulate himself for his own seamanship?
I must admit that I am confused by this article. I hope I am not being "nit-picky" and I would like to learn from it. Can anyone throw any light on it?
Regards
Joe Cole
