Poll - would you venture out in an f10/f11 wind?

[Gludy]

From the other thread on the highest winds you have been in there are some who think its ok to venture out past the Needles in a 21 foot power boat in an f10. others think its ok for such a 21 foot boat in an f10/f11 - that is 70mph winds.

The reason given for this is that the sea state can still be fairly OK in such a high wind - dependent on fetch, current direction etc and so in those sea states it is OK to venture out in 70 mph winds in a 21 foot power boat.

I take the view that regardless of seat state in a little local area it is irresponsible to venture out into a 70 mph wind in a 21 foot power boat ... no exceptions. The situation can quickly change and there can be say engine problems that could easily create a life threatening situation for both those on board an any rescue attempts. I without doubt have less practical experience of such seas than those who argue against my view but i still cannot see how it can be other than foolhardy to venture out into 70mph winds in a 21 foot power boat in any sea state.

So I seek a vote on this issue just to see how most feel about it.

 

[John_Lana]

It is one thing to get caught out in a storm, but you would need your head feeling to deliberately go out in storm force winds, especially in such a small boat. In open water a force 10 is scary, and to be avoided as far as possible....
John

 

[BarryH]

I was thinking the same thing. It begs the question, Why? Rather than poll's on size of boat v's windspeed/seastate I think it should be "who's got common sense?

 

[omega2]

someone is pulling your p-----r

 

[hobiecat]

Rename poll " how many morons on this forum" and vote accordingly

 

[Wiggo]

We took our first boat, a 12.5 footer, out in a F6, but we never got out of the harbour as the boat got swamped to the extent we beached her to stop her sinking. But it had no reserve buoyancy, one weedy little bilge pump, and around a foot of freeboard.

 

[mikewilkes]

Having been on big stuff in that, Paul, all I can say is you have got to be bl**dy joking!!!!

I think its Julie that has the " little white coat men" and thats what you should send around to anybody who says yes.

Nutters I would say.

 

[kindredspirit]

I've never asked, but I imagine that our marina would refuse to open the lock gates and let anyone out into a Force 8, let alone a F 10 or 11.

Mind you, on the west coast here, we have a 3,000 mile fetch in a south westerly. And when I say the seas here can be awesome, I mean, AWESOME!

The seas off Slyne Head in just a F 4 or 5 make you gulp when you look at them. They can move you from 6 knots to 22 knots and back to 6 knots again with every passing swell. You certainly wouldn't find me up around there in a F8, and as for a F10 or 11.......ha....ha.....ha.....ha.....ha........

 

[oldgit]

C,mon Brendan we are all waiting. NB

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[BrendanS]

Re: C,mon Brendan we are all waiting. NB

I've had my say in the other thread /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[deborahann]

anyone but a complete, absolutley complete, idiot would not attempt this, we came back a couple of days ago in a force 6 to 7 in a well officially 35' boat, (its actually longer but they count boat lengths differently now) and that was bad enough.

Didn't have much choice as our heating had packed up, otherwise we would not have attempted this. The sea state can vary so much, its just not worth going out in a bad weather forcast, unless you are sure the wind is coming from a direction that won't harm you, or your boat. Not to mention irresponsible.

 

[Its_Only_Money]

Umm, how does busted heating force you out to sea /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Gludy]

Well 10% at present of voters did vote that it was not foolhardy for someone to go out in a f10 in a 21 foot boat - in my view that makes 10% of forumites should be soon expecting wait for the white coated chaps to knock on their door.

 

[hlb]

The heating did not force us out into the sea, but the weather forcast dictated the best time to go. It was north east giving us eventual protection from the land but a 20/25 mile fetch to Falmouth. There fore if things went wrong, engines stoped etc, we would have been blowen off shore and not onto any rocks. Bit uncomfortable but safe.. Instead of going directly to Plymouth, I chose to head into the sea and towards land, this made life a bit uncomfortable for a time, but got us into calmer waters much sooner. Rather than slogging through crap for 40 miles. M Farter is not unused to crappy sea. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[arto]

No.

Saw an F11 on the Irish Sea once. I was "safely" on the land, though the police were controlling access to the town (Aberystwyth) because tiles &c were blowing off the buildings.

The sea was white. There was spray everywhere - even a mile inland. You would have had to be mad even to attempt heading out and I doubt anyone would have got very far.

 

[Robin]

There are F11s and there are winds gusting to F11, not the same! Genuine ones are thankfully rare in a UK summer, even in winter.

Many years ago I was stuck one September in Cherbourg with a GENUINE F10/F11 that lasted 3 to 4 days. QE2 was anchored in the lee of the IOW engines running in gear to hold station, couldn't get on her berth. No ferries ran across channel for 4 days, in Cherbourg they used tugs on the first feries to arrive/depart AFTER the wind dropped. The wind was offshore in Cherbourg (usual SW/W/NW progression as the very intense low went through) and it was in the days before the 'new' visitor marina. We were stern to the wind in a 30ft yacht and had waves breaking over the stern into the cockpit, we had to winch the boat back in the berth as the spring lines were stretching enough to allow the bow to ride on the pontoon - with doubled lines. We went to telephone home in pairs, the 2nd person was needed to hold the phone box door closed and for security walking on the pontoons. The main pontoons were not on piles in those days but chains, and there was a huge 'S' bend in them as they moved in the gusts. The noise was unbelievable and non-stop. Adfin's Rival (sailboat) was caught in the Western approaches and sank with one life lost from the liferaft that broke apart I believe.

I have been out in winds of 50kts in a 33ft yacht (husband and wife) running downwind along the French coast for 14 hours in huge seas left over from 4 days of gales that were supposedly over, but turned up a secondary low. Safe but very unpleasant and certainly not from choice. In my more adventurous yoof (read stupid middle age) we used to think anything up to F8 was OK in the same 33 footer for a quick weekend gin run to Cherbourg, even upwind if it was possible on just one tack. Nowadays with a 41 footer we are a bit older and wiser, though we have returned across the Channel in a F8 - downwind, but windy enough for us to radio ahead for help in getting back in our berth.

Would I go out to the Needles in a F11 in a 21 foot mobo? I certainly wouldn't do it now and I don't think I was dumb enough in the old days either but who knows! If I had got as far as the harbour entrance I might just have gone a bit farther 'just to see' but us yotties are VERY aware of how quickly things can change if the tide turns or the wind shifts so it isn't off the shore....

 

[ShirleyKnot]

Re: Possibly

John and I once crossed Biscay on a LiLo, with nothing more than a packet of milk chocolate Hob Nobs and a thermos of coffee. But it was very sunny. Does that count, or are girls not allowed to take part?

 

[Robin]

Re: Possibly

Only if it was a proper Lilo. If it was one of those beach toy things I think you should have been arrested and locked up for your own safety. Was it a motorised Lilo or a proper saily one? How did you pass the time?

 

[Its_Only_Money]

Re: Possibly

Um obvious question but was the Lilo Displacement, SD or Planing? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[ShirleyKnot]

Re: Possibly

Never you mind how we passed the time, you cheeky monkey! Anyway, witrh John on board, it was definitely displacement ;-)

Shirley
xxx