Pooped in The Wash - Whats your "Hmmm something is wrong here" moment" ??

[CPD]

Pooped in The Wash - Whats your "Hmmm something is wrong here" moment" ??

So, Lindsey and I set off on Monday morning from Bradwell on the start of a 300nm qualifier for next year. Heading north of East Anglia, we were receiving gradually worsening weather forecasts, culminating in an "imiminent" F8 south of the Humber. We were already seeing constant and rising high 20's/ low 30's with more frequent gusts of over 35+ with a third reef in the main, and after a quick chat, realised that neither of us was particularly enjoying it, and as such, would head for home.

Swapping over (we had established a sort of 2hr on/ 2hr off routine) and I was going below, backwards and had just touched the cabin sole when we were hit on the port quarter, slewn, rolled to maybe 40dgrees, cockpit full of water, Lindsey thrown well forward but managed to hang on and was OK, and me hanging onto the climbing rails for dear life with water gushing down the ompanionway way over me and into the bilges. Not particularly scary, but a salutary reminder of who is in charge

My point is, that at that very very moment, the instinct clicked into "something is wrong here" mode, and I have in my photographic memory, a picture of that very split second when it happened. Clearly something was. It wasn't a major issue, we were just unlucky, and especially so to have been wopped with the hatch open. The port side locker was half emptied, aerials and life rings on the pushpit were re-arranged and down below was a bomb site.

Who else has a "someting is wrong here" momemt to share, or perhaps, and even better "something is right here" moment ...........

 

[Sixpence]

Who else has a "someting is wrong here" momemt to share, or perhaps, and even better "something is right here" moment ...........

Oh yes, with the prospect of sailing South this side of the new year quickly vanishing, I would much rather hear about the 'something right here' moments

Biggest mistake made by yours truly was failing to realise the difference that weather helm was going to make when heading into a narrow channel with the tide behind me, and into a very strong head wind
Lost all rudder control and had to spend the next few hours squatting on the aft deck to control the outboard, watching the bow vanish below waves one minute, then point to the sky the next. Where I was the water was coming right up to my backside one minute, then the outboard was out of the water the next. From the cockpit it was a very enjoyable trip, a bit like a rollercoaster, so I was told but on the aft deck, hanging on to anything I could, it was more than a little worrying at the time
Made a few mistakes that day but with no chance of changing course because of the channel, and not able to overcome the weather helm with extra power from the outboard, with the added worry of the tender being towed behind and an incoming weather front I wanted to get clear of, choices were a little bit short that day

 

[sailorman]

So, Lindsey and I set off on Monday morning from Bradwell on the start of a 300nm qualifier for next year. Heading north of East Anglia, we were receiving gradually worsening weather forecasts, culminating in an "imiminent" F8 south of the Humber. We were already seeing constant and rising high 20's/ low 30's with more frequent gusts of over 35+ with a third reef in the main, and after a quick chat, realised that neither of us was particularly enjoying it, and as such, would head for home.

Swapping over (we had established a sort of 2hr on/ 2hr off routine) and I was going below, backwards and had just touched the cabin sole when we were hit on the port quarter, slewn, rolled to maybe 40dgrees, cockpit full of water, Lindsey thrown well forward but managed to hang on and was OK, and me hanging onto the climbing rails for dear life with water gushing down the ompanionway way over me and into the bilges. Not particularly scary, but a salutary reminder of who is in charge

My point is, that at that very very moment, the instinct clicked into "something is wrong here" mode, and I have in my photographic memory, a picture of that very split second when it happened. Clearly something was. It wasn't a major issue, we were just unlucky, and especially so to have been wopped with the hatch open. The port side locker was half emptied, aerials and life rings on the pushpit were re-arranged and down below was a bomb site.

Who else has a "someting is wrong here" momemt to share, or perhaps, and even better "something is right here" moment ...........

That wasnt nice.

ours comming back from Oostende this July swmbo n me forecasts were strong winds for the nxt 4 days. Guapacast, forecast wind to drop to 15 ssw from mid-day ish, found big seas running from S/W we had 35kts sw with really big seas, we were all battened down swmbo done very well apart from going to the loo probs (well she didnt go for 10 hrs ). seas into the cockpit ( why are drains never big enough ) beam ends into a few troughs, we were lucky nothing broke. i thought many many times "We Shouldnt be Here ".
a fast trip, hull spd averaged all the way.
nxt time i will stay in Hbr rather than get home to work

 

[johnalison]

I can't compete with these heroic efforts because SWMBO won't let me go out in F8s (as if I'd want to) but there was a lot of wind around in July this year in the West Country. We came round from Fowey to Salcombe at the end of one of these blows and were a bit late on the tide, so caught the ebb on the way in (well, you don't want to get up too early in the morning when you're supposed to be on holiday). The swell near the bar was scarcely visible from offshore and I had to put on my intrepid face as we surfed in, with a catamaran nearby showing half the hull out of the water on the crests. I was too occupied at the time to take a photo, but the image is still in my mind.

 

[CPD]

No heroics intended, what put the trip to an end was the fact that it seems that effort and discomfort rose in direct proportion to wind speed, and the sleep deprivation didnt help much. It was more the"Houston we have a problem" moment that is stuck in my head. Your story sounds scarily similar to exfinnsailor's sideways surf into Southwold. As long as we all survive to tell these merry tales - thats the important bit.

 

[Koeketiene]

ours comming back from Oostende this July swmbo n me forecasts were strong winds for the nxt 4 days. Guapacast, forecast wind to drop to 15 ssw from mid-day ish, found big seas running from S/W we had 35kts sw with really big seas

My fault, is it?
Maybe I don't really like you that much

 

[sailorman]

My fault, is it?
Maybe I don't really like you that much

I Luv you Really

 

[Sixpence]

Nothing heroic here either, more like a cockup from the start
Spring tide, weather forecast wrong (Guapacast unavailable ) and bad timing on my part. Trust me, I don't intend doing that again
Must get a Guapacast more often, F3 to F5 variable is better than the nonsense I had

 

[sailorman]

Nothing heroic here either, more like a cockup from the start
Spring tide, weather forecast wrong (Guapacast unavailable ) and bad timing on my part. Trust me, I don't intend doing that again
Must get a Guapacast more often, F3 to F5 variable is better than the nonsense I had

I cant stand Brown Nosers

 

[Sixpence]

I cant stand Brown Nosers

I'll have you know I can brown nose with the best of them
Any luck with the phone call yet ?
Can't Skype at the moment, herself has the PC again

 

[sailorman]

I'll have you know I can brown nose with the best of them
Any luck with the phone call yet ?
Can't Skype at the moment, herself has the PC again

i will do it promise

 

[Sixpence]

i will do it promise

Yes, but what about the phone call ?

Oops, time to have a look in the lounge is the bar open yet

 

[sailorman]

Yes, but what about the phone call ?

Oops, time to have a look in the lounge is the bar open yet

The Bar is getting expensive by all accounts.
it seems that i am just a lightweight these daze

Oh well cheers

 

[Sixpence]

The Bar is getting expensive by all accounts.
it seems that i am just a lightweight these daze

Oh well cheers

Doubt you'll ever be a cheap date
But have one on me

 

[D3B]

Filler cap

Need I say any more

 

[Athene V30]

The swell near the bar was scarcely visible from offshore and I had to put on my intrepid face as we surfed in, with a catamaran nearby showing half the hull out of the water on the crests. I was too occupied at the time to take a photo, but the image is still in my mind.

Can still remember a trip to Salcombe that I did in 1983, that bar can be nasty!

'We' were 6 officer cadets from BRNC Dartmouth, first term. The boat was 'my' Contessa 38. I say 'my' as I was more qualified (on paper) to take the boat away than any of the Staff Officers in the Division so had been given free reign

We sailed Sat lunchtime after divisions, wind was in the SW 4-5 and arrived at bar on the ebb. It was looking a bit uncomfortable but nothing that 6 testosterone filled 18 to 22 year olds couldn't handle. We prepared by shortening sail and shutting up the main hatch etc and in we went. Just over the worse when my chart man below who was piloting for me stuck his head out the hatch to advise the next bit of the entrance when we were pooped.

His face was a picture - the horror in his eyes as the water rolled into the cockpit and then to the main hatch. Fortunately he deflected most of the water.

The good point is we made it in before closing time

 

[Athene V30]

"something is right here" moment

After a horrible Atlantic crossing in a Rothsay class frigate the chance to go sailing to here (not my pic but still as lovely)

[/IMG]

One day I will return to Bequia.

 

[wingdiver]

We had one of those OMG experiences the first time we went out and stayed elsewhere on our first boat - a nice Mirror Offshore.
We had been round to Blakeney Pit from Wells and were returning over the bar being followed in by the in-laws.
SWMBO says "this is kicking up a bit" and shut up the companionway doors and hatch. She was just saying something like 'better remember that if we get a wave over the stern, just to sit and take it rather than jump about like loonies' when we did and it went straight down the back of her coat etc. Somehow it mostly missed me
The in-laws said we just dissapeared from view for what seemed like ages.
We 'coped' (me despite aching sides from laughing) and the boat was absolutley fine.
Glad we didn't see it coming though - we might have needed the bucket .

 

[Dizzy101]

A special place, sailed in there on Tall Ship Stavros Niarchos, tranquility at it's best!


John

 

[Mrs Sea Mist II]

Oooops

The second day we had the boat we decided to practise coming alongside on the hammerhead pontoon at Wolverstone. The tide was flowing quite fast. Mr Sea Mist II had the helm and eventually we got her alongside between two other boats. Mr Sea Mist II got off the boat and made some lines secure. We stood talking about our next move. As we talked Mr Sea Mist II noticed that the boat was moving out, bows first, quite quickly. With a boat straight ahead I had no choice but to take the helm and go out into the middle of the Orwell by myself, leaving Mr Sea Mist II on the pontoon. I had, at this point, limited experience of helming and no experience of helming Sea Mist II and there I was in the middle of the Orwell on my own, with a brand new boat! Definitely a heart stopping moment. : Anyway, a miracle happened and I managed to turn the boat round and come alongside again. I bellowed at Mr Sea Mist II to get on, which he did pretty sharply, thank goodness, and off we went. Phew what a relief.