Passage Planning Hell

[Guest]

I finally understand why the South Coast is so popular ...

I keep my boat in Cardiff, 140 nm from Longships (Lands End), which in turn is 40 nm from Falmouth. My objective on June 1st is to sail down the Bristol Channel and around the corner to Falmouth, or just Penzance if needs must.

Now, although it will be neap tides and so none of the 14m tides the Bristol Channel is famous for, as my boat has a 1.5m draft I will have no port of call once I am 62 miles into the first leg ... and that's only to anchor behind Lundy Island. The only other alternative is Padstow, but it's very limited to access, and is very dodgy in bad weather.

The alternative will be to put into Milford Haven on the North Western corner of the Channel, yet that is in itself 100nm to Lands End.

So, planning a passage, it seems I could be half way down and rapidly run out of choices: go North or turn back around if the forecast indicates strong winds.

Not having "done" Lands End before it really makes for a nervous skipper ... given the reputation for a strong Atlantic swell, a nine hour adverse tide (when going North to South), etc., I suppose I shouldn't go if F6 is forecast, but wait for an F5 or less.

What would you do, in a 33' heavy displacement cruiser / skipper + 2 crew?

Humperdinck

Email: HJ@Seacracker.org
Website: www.seacracker.org

 

[NigeCh]

Bristol fashion

Hi H,

I've sailed those waters on a schooner delivering coal 45 years ago. There's no problem. All you've got to do is to sail the outward passage as a whole passage. Don't mess around trying to turn it into a set of day sails. Your only really critical bit is going N/S around Land's End, but with neaps that gives you a 5 hour fair tide. If the weathers really bad then anchor off St Ives or Hayle ... but I'd only do that if it was SW F7+

Do it as a single passage from Penarth to the start. Don't wimp out. If you are nervous then why are you doing the Triangle Race? You can do it. Stop worrying. GO for it. Do it. Be a JJ man ... and everything else ... If anything's going to fail it will be crew tiredness rather than Sgt Pepper. But whatever happens the outward passage is going to be good training for the next three legs.

Nige

 

[Guest]

Well we did it last year from IOM with just the two of us and went straight to Plymouth. It was our trial run for the ARC, to see how we would cope standing watch on watch, I'm pleased to say that we managed to sail all the way, no engine running at all.

 

[NigeCh]

ARC

Norma,

Did you enjoy the ARC? Which way did you go - reaching the rhum line or going initially well south towards the Cape Verdi Islands to use the currents and the trade winds?

Nige (ARC 2000)

 

[Guest]

Dont wimp out on us now H.

It's a seaworthy boat ( or else you would not be Triangling ?) so keep an eye on the forecasts then Go for it. If it gets too bad, stand out and let the Sgnt look after you. Just make sure the crew is enough, maybe add another 1 or 2 to make sure you have plenty of hands.

I'm looking forward to seeing you and sharing a few beers in torquay ( and all the other places )

Brgds

 

[Jeremy_W]

"Sgt Pepper" is a very seaworthy yacht, well-equiped and a delight to sail to windward. She'll be well able to take the rough stuff!

 

[mtb]

SEa room , thats what you should keep in mind so even if it blows you'l be fine .

I read a book called The all weather yachtsman.
Re boat diliveries he goes into detail about the leg your talking / fretting over and had some real weather to cope with . The book is not only a good read but has plenty of pilotage tips also .

Mick

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/boats
I want a big steel ex trawler / tug v / cheap or swap for tug

 

[Guest]

Re: ARC

We are doing the ARC this year and haven't yet decided on the exact route. I have watched the progress of several ARCs on net and it seems very much luck really. Which route did you choose? I seem to recall that you were with some friends from the Cruising World forum and were on a really nice boat. We will only be two up, so we expect to be tired!

 

[billmacfarlane]

I'm planning to do the reverse this summer , going from Falmouth/Penzance to Ireland , weather gods permitting. You can pick your weather window using all the available data , thus minimising the risk but after that , there is always a small chance of being caught out , but that's sailing. Judging what I've heard about your boat , you and she should be able to cope with most things. Somebody else has mentioned that the sea is probably the safest place to be and you've got plenty of sea room , but you've also got some excellent all round weather ports to run to if you need to e.g Cork and Milford Haven.
I've only been round Lands End once , funnily enough on the YM triangle , in a 28' Beneteau. The wind was NE 7 and yes , the sea was big , but it was an even and regular swell and wasn't a problem except I couldn't stand over the cooker to make the sausage , bacon and eggs for breakfast. Now THAT is a real problem. Have a good trip.

 

[Guest]

Re: Bristol fashion

Not worrying actually, just making sure my plans (stay well offshore if blowing hard) didn't meet with howls of derision. Put another way, I know the boat and crew can take it, but I believe in a plan to cover all perceived situations. That minimises the decision making processes whn tired or stressed.

I WILL be at Torquay for June 15th, no matter what the weather.

Humperdinck

Email: HJ@Seacracker.org
Website: www.seacracker.org

 

[alant]

I would be even more nervous if you are contemplating hugging the shore. Those green bits terrify me.
If your boat is heavy displacement, it should have no problems if 'bad weather' arrives by simply heaving to, under bare poles if necessary. With plenty of sea room & probably deep water, it may be uncomfortable, but safe. Just do what you usually do, make up a couple of thermos flasks, lots of good 'finger' food & have a look up top from time to time. I did this in a 42' heavy displacement boat with v. heavy seas, - drifted 25 miles in 12 hours hove to in the Med, but all was well. Go for it as earlier mentioned doing it all in one hit rather than day sailing.
Also instill usual safety discipline - wearing life jackets/harnesses at all times outside the companionway, fit washboards early - tied with lanyard to keep them with the boat (also makes boat feel more secure)- & shut gas off at bottle when not in use. Simple rules, but crew will appreciate them.

 

[vyv_cox]

Padstow is nowhere near as bad as the pilot appears to indicate. Big NW winds are needed over an extensive period before it becomes dangerous. I have entered, at suitable tidal height, in strong SW winds and the swells had virtually disappeared before the Doom Bar had been reached. Channel is well to the north side, as I recall keep the cans in line. We sailed Camel Week for years in catamarans, sometimes in very strong winds. I don't remember any appreciable swell ever crossing the bar. There is a good anchorage under the cliffs on the S side of the estuary but last time I was there many lobster pots in the best shelter.

St Ives is a possible anchorage, shelter in SW but probably exposed to winds from further north. I have found it extremely rolly but safe just off the harbour. You can dry alongside a wall in Newquay, also reasonably sheltered approaches.

Lands End is not too bad but there are overfalls to the north, Cape Cornwall area. Better to keep well out and round Longships a mile or two off. The inshore passage is OK in some swell but it does get quite shallow in one part, so caution probably pays off.

Overall, I would far prefer a F6 around Cornwall than the same wind in the North Sea or around IOM. Swells are preferable to chop in my book.

 

[halcyon]

As a guide, Padstow fishing and crabing fleet are in harbour to-day weatherbound.
Good guide is West country cruising YM.
May see you Falmouth.


Brian

 

[Guest]

Re: Bristol fashion

Would be interested to know how your passage plan worked out. Will be looking for posts around end of June?

Hope you have an enjoyable trip.

 

[Guest]

Re: Bristol fashion

Either fight multiple foul tides for 140 nm or take favourable tides around Lands End ...

I have decided to leave at 23:00 on May 31st, shortly after HW Cardiff. As the Bristol Channel has the strongest tides in it's upper reaches, this lets us ride the ebb down to Lundy and Ilfracombe (60 nm). Coincidentally, or not, this means we then pick up the new ebb at Lundy and so down to Padstow etc. All in all, as that weekend is neaps, we will make steady progress even in the foul tides.

Assuming 5 knots towards Longships (hope we downt have southwesterlies on the nose all the way) we will make Longships by 03:00 the following morning. As I must assume there will be some additional miles due to headwinds, this would most add several hours sailing time, so I really expect to arrive at Longships closer to 09:00.

Lands End is a tidal gate in any event, with a three hour window for going South. Regardless, there are various bays we can put into and wait for the fair tide around the corner - but I'm only planning to do this if the winds are F6 +

From there on it's easy, as IF we had headwinds down the channel, we will have a run along Cornwall to Falmouth.

If the winds are from the Easton the way down the channel, then we will have a faster run, likely averaging 6 knots, and no worries as we go around - since then Lands End will not be a weather shore.

That's the plan. Watch out for a posting from July 1st onwards and I'll tell you what the reality turn out to be.




Humperdinck

Email: HJ@Seacracker.org
Website: www.seacracker.org