hlb
RIP
I reacon 8 knots are ok. Problems become, when yer going back wards!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
On reflection, I must have been mad
- Thread starter Dave_Snelson
- Start date
[2068]
...
Yes, but you have a bl%$dy great P35, where you can disappear inside to drive and close the patio doors. In a windy 8800, or Sealine S28, not so good in ultimately poor conditions...
dv.
dv.
Solitaire
Well-Known Member
Keep it up - you are talking a lot of sense! Experience, like respect is earned.
[2068]
...
Okay, too much to drink, I'm talking rubbish as usual.
Let's put this very simply: Dave, knowing what you now know, having had the adrenaline rush and survived the surf, would you do the trip again, or stay in port and wait for a better weather window ?
dv.
Let's put this very simply: Dave, knowing what you now know, having had the adrenaline rush and survived the surf, would you do the trip again, or stay in port and wait for a better weather window ?
dv.
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
It's a fine boundary between worry about what happens if? (engine fails, steering goes, catch a potline) and..... that was a bit more adventerous than anything I've done before.
If you have a reliable boat, where engine doesn't fail continually (common problem with many I know) then you are a little bit more sure about taking on rougher weather. Having faced rougher weather, you know the boat and yourself can handle it, and are more certain next time around.
It's a continual learning process of what the boat can take, and how you handle it in different conditions.
Personally, I don't like being out in rough weather with crew. It's an uncertain factor as you don't know how they will take rough conditions, even so called experienced types, and they then need managing, when you are trying to concentrate on handling the boat, and also keeping them calm and happy.
On the few times I've been out in roughish weather with crew due to circumstances beyond control, relatively novice crew have commented they felt safe because I was obviously enjoying myself and in control, and had time to explain what was going on and how it would take a bit longer to arrive than forecast as it we'd had to slow down due to conditions.
A few years earlier and I'd have been changing pants every few minutes in those conditions, but these were well inside what I considered normal operating conditions, so felt comfortable, and crew could tell.
You only build up that experience by operating in rougher conditions on a regular basis.
If I'm going out in rough stuff, I still like to go solo. One less thing to worry about.
If you have a reliable boat, where engine doesn't fail continually (common problem with many I know) then you are a little bit more sure about taking on rougher weather. Having faced rougher weather, you know the boat and yourself can handle it, and are more certain next time around.
It's a continual learning process of what the boat can take, and how you handle it in different conditions.
Personally, I don't like being out in rough weather with crew. It's an uncertain factor as you don't know how they will take rough conditions, even so called experienced types, and they then need managing, when you are trying to concentrate on handling the boat, and also keeping them calm and happy.
On the few times I've been out in roughish weather with crew due to circumstances beyond control, relatively novice crew have commented they felt safe because I was obviously enjoying myself and in control, and had time to explain what was going on and how it would take a bit longer to arrive than forecast as it we'd had to slow down due to conditions.
A few years earlier and I'd have been changing pants every few minutes in those conditions, but these were well inside what I considered normal operating conditions, so felt comfortable, and crew could tell.
You only build up that experience by operating in rougher conditions on a regular basis.
If I'm going out in rough stuff, I still like to go solo. One less thing to worry about.
Dave_Snelson
Well-Known Member
Aha - Brendan - I knew you wouldn't be too far away. We even had a small conversation about you liking being out in rough weather! Yes honestly!. Don't worry about my Dad , he's an ex-mountain rescue man. Hence, he didn't panic.
Dave_Snelson
Well-Known Member
Knowing what I know now, I would have turned back. But I still value the experience.
Dave_Snelson
Well-Known Member
Indeed. This isn't the first bad weather crossing we have made, but it is definately the worst!! Sitting here at home I wonder what I would have made of the beam seas that we encountered. The swells that hit us 4 times would have deluged us with 200+ gallons of sea water and made the passage very uncomfortable. The Windy put up a good show, that's for sure.
Dave_Snelson
Well-Known Member
I have to laugh!! We got the bus back to Porthmadog from Pwllheli and every pub we passed, we said, "I'd love a pint", especially those that had a real fire (no jokes please).
But I had a 75 mile drive home /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
But I had a 75 mile drive home /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
Would love to have been fly on wall to that conversation, and as ex-mountain rescue, he'd have understood why I have no problems with rough seas, as I'm constantly planning escape route/risk in my head, and he'd do that too. Which team was he with? - I used to go out with RAF St Athan Mountain rescue team, though not a member, as not in RAF.
Dave_Snelson
Well-Known Member
Name: Frank Snelson. Founder member of the Ogwen Cottage Mountain Rescue Team out of Bangor University 1948. His photo is still on the wall of the alumni for that year.
Current capabilities: Swimming a full length under water of an Olympic pool. Walking up & down Mt Snowdon in 5 hours.
Other than the odd F-word, he wasn;t too bothered about our trip. He's 77 in January. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Current capabilities: Swimming a full length under water of an Olympic pool. Walking up & down Mt Snowdon in 5 hours.
Other than the odd F-word, he wasn;t too bothered about our trip. He's 77 in January. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
My kinda man.
Say hi, and tell him last time I went up Snowdon was with Uni cross country team, after a x-country race based from Bangor Uni. Despite having no sleep that night, as all of North Wales Police force being called out (we were only having fun!) we decided to jog up Snowdon as we drove past in Student Uni minibus.
As we got a bit warm jogging up,fast - it had become a bit of a race - we balled up our tracksuits and left them half way up the railway line under a few rocks.
A little while latter we came back down to find our tracksuits strewn over hundreds of metres being chewed by sheep!
Say hi, and tell him last time I went up Snowdon was with Uni cross country team, after a x-country race based from Bangor Uni. Despite having no sleep that night, as all of North Wales Police force being called out (we were only having fun!) we decided to jog up Snowdon as we drove past in Student Uni minibus.
As we got a bit warm jogging up,fast - it had become a bit of a race - we balled up our tracksuits and left them half way up the railway line under a few rocks.
A little while latter we came back down to find our tracksuits strewn over hundreds of metres being chewed by sheep!
Dave_Snelson
Well-Known Member
Indeed. I am very happy with my 19 year old Windy. (and no, I won't repeat this trick again).
jointventureII
Well-Known Member
Yeah, i've definately been out when I really shouldnt have. Ever heard of Les Dirouilles? Its a small reef to the west of the Ecrehous. Decided that the bass would be biting in a 5-6 wind vs. spring tide over the centre of the reef, so took my dads boat out. Me and my best mate punched our way out, knowing it was slightly too rough (but not wanting to show any weakness), arrived over the reef (which was producing huge waves and no bass) and decided after about 10 mins that we were actually in danger - if for any reason the engine didnt start we really were doomed, the anchor wouldnt have held us over rocky ground in those conditions, and the forecast was for the wind to increase. Even though we knew where we were, the sounder was dropping to about 10ft at points when it should have read 25.
A lesson learned for me, my best mate and the day angler 23.
A lesson learned for me, my best mate and the day angler 23.
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Knowing what I know now, I would have turned back. But I still value the experience.
[/ QUOTE ]
I admire your fortitude, but it was only after I turned back that things went pear shaped, but only because I didn't concentrate properly on my throttle control. But there is one thing we all learn after a particularily hairy trip and that is the capabilities of the boat. However, I don't know about you, but although I have a better understanding of what my boat can take, I have decided that I am now the weaker part of the team, as I don't particularily want to experience those conditions again.
Swells are okay, but combined with a messy maelstrom of wind and tide with braking waves over a bar is something I will avoid.
Knowing what I know now, I would have turned back. But I still value the experience.
[/ QUOTE ]
I admire your fortitude, but it was only after I turned back that things went pear shaped, but only because I didn't concentrate properly on my throttle control. But there is one thing we all learn after a particularily hairy trip and that is the capabilities of the boat. However, I don't know about you, but although I have a better understanding of what my boat can take, I have decided that I am now the weaker part of the team, as I don't particularily want to experience those conditions again.
Swells are okay, but combined with a messy maelstrom of wind and tide with braking waves over a bar is something I will avoid.
whisper
Well-Known Member
"I am now the weaker part of the team" - you, like almost everyone else, always have been, but now you are experienced enough to know it /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif.
Have to admit that the ability of most boats, in rough conditions, is a very gratifying fact.
I've never been out in our boat in anything worse than 3-3.5m waves, albeit steep ones. I found it exhilarating/scary but also a great education on how much you need to concentrate at the helm. Totally knackered after 30 mins. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Have to admit that the ability of most boats, in rough conditions, is a very gratifying fact.
I've never been out in our boat in anything worse than 3-3.5m waves, albeit steep ones. I found it exhilarating/scary but also a great education on how much you need to concentrate at the helm. Totally knackered after 30 mins. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Dave_Snelson
Well-Known Member
Ah yes, that's something I didn't mention. I was definately mentally tired after 90 minutes where I have never focussed more intently before.
Dave_Snelson
Well-Known Member
The rope just snapped clean in half??? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
hlb
RIP
My ex wife used to get really upset when it was rough.
She used to screem, "You just sit there looking confidant and in control. You love it when it's rough"
She would have been much happier if I'd cowered in a corner and shut my eyes..!! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
She used to screem, "You just sit there looking confidant and in control. You love it when it's rough"
She would have been much happier if I'd cowered in a corner and shut my eyes..!! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
tcm
...
mad in portmadoc
quite right.
He also panders to the locals calling it "portmadog" whereas it's named after an englishman called Maddock (or was it maddocks?) so i reckon that calling it "portmadog" is simply craven political correctness, and under the circumstances even more so than referring to "Roma" instead of Rome or "Moskva" instead of Moscow.
Disgusted of Tunbryge Whells
quite right.
He also panders to the locals calling it "portmadog" whereas it's named after an englishman called Maddock (or was it maddocks?) so i reckon that calling it "portmadog" is simply craven political correctness, and under the circumstances even more so than referring to "Roma" instead of Rome or "Moskva" instead of Moscow.
Disgusted of Tunbryge Whells
