Heckler
Well-Known Member
Any one has been out in and what are the lessons learned? what was the boat? what did you do? were you scared or just resigned?
stu
stu
ref the other post about reckless bav, what is the worst conditions
- Thread starter Heckler
- Start date
Colin_S
Well-Known Member
errr, I puked...........
Heckler
Well-Known Member
come on col, spirit of the thing etc!!
bobgoode
Well-Known Member
My worst conditions...Salterns marina when told it was 32 quid for a night plus VAT. Boy was I sick.
Colin_S
Well-Known Member
"come on col, spirit of the thing etc!! "
OK then
Any one has been out in - F8
what was the boat? 34' yacht
what did you do? Puked
were you scared or just resigned? Resigned
and what are the lessons learned? I'm gonna puke in a F8
OK then
Any one has been out in - F8
what was the boat? 34' yacht
what did you do? Puked
were you scared or just resigned? Resigned
and what are the lessons learned? I'm gonna puke in a F8
G
Guest
Guest
Trouble is, what one person thinks is a F9, another thinks is a F7, some take maximum recorded gust, others average windspeed. And it doesn't matter anyway, because everything depends on seastate not wind, whether you're battling your way of a lee shore on the one hand with wind against tide or toddling downwind with your feet up on the other, whether you're on your own and it's a February night or with a strong crew in warm climes.
F9 on a summer day in the Solent is probably more pleasant than F6 in the night off Helgoland etc. etc.
F9 on a summer day in the Solent is probably more pleasant than F6 in the night off Helgoland etc. etc.
G
Guest
Guest
SimonCr is right, just cross any Ocean and listen to all the HF nets. You would never believe they were in the same Ocean as you.
As for our worst: The wind speed hit the end stop of a B&G. >50Knots. The lightning was hitting the sea all around, under 2 second flash-bang gaps on either side. The wind was against us but with no sails, full engine and full rudder the bow would not point into the wind. A hail storm. It lasted about 3 hours and then 3 days of 25knots sailing to windward.
Lessons learned:
1. Do not trust the weather reports.
2. If your eyes can not work out what you are looking at, it is correct to drop all your sails and secure them.
3. It only takes 5 minutes from nice sailing until the highest winds.
4. If you are in shorts and it hails: it hurts!
5. Hove to in large seas with a long keel is impressive. The waves just collapse.
Boat: 35' yacht
Scared: Absolutely. Once the 1/2 tonne autopilot could cope alone, we sat holding each other and the grab bag.
As for sailing in stormy conditions it is not the wind that matters. It is the freak waves hitting the sails and putting huge forces on the rig that is the problem. Also hitting debris, like logs or oil drums, when falling off waves is far more destructive. Chancing it with thin single skinned modern yachts is certainly something that would keep my blood pressure up.
As for our worst: The wind speed hit the end stop of a B&G. >50Knots. The lightning was hitting the sea all around, under 2 second flash-bang gaps on either side. The wind was against us but with no sails, full engine and full rudder the bow would not point into the wind. A hail storm. It lasted about 3 hours and then 3 days of 25knots sailing to windward.
Lessons learned:
1. Do not trust the weather reports.
2. If your eyes can not work out what you are looking at, it is correct to drop all your sails and secure them.
3. It only takes 5 minutes from nice sailing until the highest winds.
4. If you are in shorts and it hails: it hurts!
5. Hove to in large seas with a long keel is impressive. The waves just collapse.
Boat: 35' yacht
Scared: Absolutely. Once the 1/2 tonne autopilot could cope alone, we sat holding each other and the grab bag.
As for sailing in stormy conditions it is not the wind that matters. It is the freak waves hitting the sails and putting huge forces on the rig that is the problem. Also hitting debris, like logs or oil drums, when falling off waves is far more destructive. Chancing it with thin single skinned modern yachts is certainly something that would keep my blood pressure up.
landyhubbard
Well-Known Member
Absolutely about sea state, temperature and direction. Sailing down wind in a F8 in the middle of the Atlantic in August was fine, with a 31' long-keeled boat and an Aires. Trying to beat out of the Sheldt in a F6 in May in the same boat was horrible.
Phoenix of Hamble
Well-Known Member
Yep.... been out in 8's in She 36 3 or 4 times.... no issues... in fact, fun..... been out in 6's with big sea, and been scared...... don't know why people get fixated with just wind speed.... sea state is IMHO equally as much of an issue....
ChrisE
Well-Known Member
FWIW, for me it is a combination of sea state (big short seas = crap), weather (cold, wet overcast = crap) and exposure (miles from nowhere with a long period to windward in prospect = crap).
Otherwise it's all plain sailing /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Otherwise it's all plain sailing /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
NPMR
Well-Known Member
16 hours of 60+kts wind in Med from Corsica to Antibes.
48' maiden voyage Jeannaeu . Started calm, thought we'd turn back and wait for wind as didn't want to motor!
Then small wind.
Then BIG WIND. Then, sea got up, big time. Waves about two thirds mast height and foaming. Dark. Lightning. Skipper/ Crew sick except for me (too terrified?).
Watching waves as best you can but every now and again, a wave would break on to the boat and other times just fold over under us, leaving the boat to free-fall back into solid water. HUGE bang.
Now I watch the weather forecasts and don't go unless it looks OK by <u>MY</u> standards.
Makes me nervous all over again just to think about it.
48' maiden voyage Jeannaeu . Started calm, thought we'd turn back and wait for wind as didn't want to motor!
Then small wind.
Then BIG WIND. Then, sea got up, big time. Waves about two thirds mast height and foaming. Dark. Lightning. Skipper/ Crew sick except for me (too terrified?).
Watching waves as best you can but every now and again, a wave would break on to the boat and other times just fold over under us, leaving the boat to free-fall back into solid water. HUGE bang.
Now I watch the weather forecasts and don't go unless it looks OK by <u>MY</u> standards.
Makes me nervous all over again just to think about it.
Victorious
Well-Known Member
Bridge area of the needles.
Wind over tide.
Very broard reach
bare poles
engine on to keep her moving in the troughs.
Warps trailed astern to slow her surfing down the waves.
Twice the boat succeeded in surfing on the keel sideways down the waves mast first!... she would then stop dead in the trough... and pop upright just in time for the wave to break over us beam on..
Yarmouth Lifeboat on standby. (but not required)
Swmbo hysterical.
Me scared?... Stupid question.
Comfort 30 (significant damage to interior woodwork and one broken window... caused by unsecured items flying about)
Solent coastgaurd advised me when i was safe in yarmouth.. Wind was F7.. gusting 9 .. Also advised the sea state was much worse than would be expected.
Wind over tide.
Very broard reach
bare poles
engine on to keep her moving in the troughs.
Warps trailed astern to slow her surfing down the waves.
Twice the boat succeeded in surfing on the keel sideways down the waves mast first!... she would then stop dead in the trough... and pop upright just in time for the wave to break over us beam on..
Yarmouth Lifeboat on standby. (but not required)
Swmbo hysterical.
Me scared?... Stupid question.
Comfort 30 (significant damage to interior woodwork and one broken window... caused by unsecured items flying about)
Solent coastgaurd advised me when i was safe in yarmouth.. Wind was F7.. gusting 9 .. Also advised the sea state was much worse than would be expected.
Phoenix of Hamble
Well-Known Member
Oooh.... now that does sound scary!
Does SWMBO still sail with you... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Does SWMBO still sail with you... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
snowleopard
Well-Known Member
Re: ref the other post about reckless bav, what is the worst condition
[ QUOTE ]
F9 on a summer day in the Solent is probably more pleasant than F6 in the night off Helgoland etc. etc.
[/ QUOTE ]
Most definitely. I've been out in F9 a (very) few times but have only left harbour in those conditions once - in The Solent. We beat up from Langstone to Cowes with ave 45 knots on the wind meter and gusts to 55 knots. The waves were 3-4 ft and very short and we got very wet but from spray, not green water over the boat. South of the island would have been a very different story.
[ QUOTE ]
F9 on a summer day in the Solent is probably more pleasant than F6 in the night off Helgoland etc. etc.
[/ QUOTE ]
Most definitely. I've been out in F9 a (very) few times but have only left harbour in those conditions once - in The Solent. We beat up from Langstone to Cowes with ave 45 knots on the wind meter and gusts to 55 knots. The waves were 3-4 ft and very short and we got very wet but from spray, not green water over the boat. South of the island would have been a very different story.
jimi
Well-Known Member
Blinking 'eck that sounds trouser filling, out of interest did you consider the North Channel entrance .. me I'm a wimp, I go for the North Channel if there's any chance of the Bridge being uncomfortable
Piddy
Well-Known Member
Re: ref the other post about reckless bav, what is the worst condition
1970: Old Gaffers Race.
Off Cowes in an 25’ Itchen Ferry 12 years older than the Cutty Sark. On board as a young crew with Dad, and two of Dad’s friends “for the race”. Started in Southerly F5 with a course to and fro along past Cowes between Gurnard and Norris making a great spectacle.
Last lap, the wind drops a bit – “great, shake out the reefs and let’s get home”!
Wind immediately returns with a blast from North. Calshot recorded F9-10. Not good in a leaky, over pressed boat made in 1857 on a (close) lee shore. No forward motion so couldn’t steer, so couldn’t tack. Bilge pump blocked, engine flooded, dropped anchor. First snatch, the Bitts broke, second snatch the anchor chain snapped having been tied round mast. Bailing frantically with bucket.
Now in trouble, decided to try and bear off to run up on (very close) sandy bit on Castle point. As luck would have it a Cruise liner passed by in the channel and created enough lee for us to tack and claw off to windward.
Wind now in West so really quick ride to Portsmouth before getting a message to Mother and Sister still in Cowes on friends boat. (no mobiles in those days) (or radio telephones, GPS, Navtex or anything else, really).
When looking at pictures afterwards, the storm cone hoisted on one the sailing club flagpoles should have given us a clue.
Some would say this was character forming! 36 years later I chose not to go sailing (and racing) yesterday as it was raining!
Cheers
1970: Old Gaffers Race.
Off Cowes in an 25’ Itchen Ferry 12 years older than the Cutty Sark. On board as a young crew with Dad, and two of Dad’s friends “for the race”. Started in Southerly F5 with a course to and fro along past Cowes between Gurnard and Norris making a great spectacle.
Last lap, the wind drops a bit – “great, shake out the reefs and let’s get home”!
Wind immediately returns with a blast from North. Calshot recorded F9-10. Not good in a leaky, over pressed boat made in 1857 on a (close) lee shore. No forward motion so couldn’t steer, so couldn’t tack. Bilge pump blocked, engine flooded, dropped anchor. First snatch, the Bitts broke, second snatch the anchor chain snapped having been tied round mast. Bailing frantically with bucket.
Now in trouble, decided to try and bear off to run up on (very close) sandy bit on Castle point. As luck would have it a Cruise liner passed by in the channel and created enough lee for us to tack and claw off to windward.
Wind now in West so really quick ride to Portsmouth before getting a message to Mother and Sister still in Cowes on friends boat. (no mobiles in those days) (or radio telephones, GPS, Navtex or anything else, really).
When looking at pictures afterwards, the storm cone hoisted on one the sailing club flagpoles should have given us a clue.
Some would say this was character forming! 36 years later I chose not to go sailing (and racing) yesterday as it was raining!
Cheers
Heckler
Well-Known Member
same as my trip to ireland last year, 28 knots wind but just off the nose, ploughing on with the motor, the autohelm wouldnt cope, hand steer for 14 hours, falling off waves, grey, watching the squalls coming to wards you, the tiny trickle of cold that gets colder, but as soon as i hit dun laoghrie (sic) the sun came out, a pint of guiness and bacon and eggs, aahh
stu
stu
phatcat1
Well-Known Member
Last January (2nd-6th) doing a delivery of Rustler 36 bound for London for accom for the boat show. Myself, SWMBO, 1 other crew + professional skip.
Left falmouth in period of onsettled weather with low tracking from SW. 4/5 when we went out, 5/6 forecast. Settled into watch routine everything ok.
Barometer started to fall quickly and by the time we were appraching Start point wind was 45 knots constant, 56 gusts, with huge seas on the stern, water was gushing in through the space where the rudder and steering gear connect. Twice a wave broke into the cockpit over the stern, first time, no washboard in. I put on a seasickness patch, then after about 4 hours couldn't focus or stay awake, even on the helm in those conditions! kept waking up whan my head hit the wheel.
Finally got into Brixham, auto pilot pin sheered, boat very wet down below and me and rest of crew sick, and swearing I would never sail again. Even the professional skipper was "unsteady" but refused to go below unless absolutely necessary.
Set off following day after night in Brixham, rest of journey uneventful apart from gearbox destroyed itself in flat calm south of St Cats!
Lessons learned : follow your hunch with weather, We new a low was coming up the channel, professional skipper said it would be ok, SWMBO and myself felt unsure
Never use a sickness patch again, learn to cope with sea sickness and manage it! I had bruises on my face for a week afterwards
Dont sail from Falmouth to London in January!!
Left falmouth in period of onsettled weather with low tracking from SW. 4/5 when we went out, 5/6 forecast. Settled into watch routine everything ok.
Barometer started to fall quickly and by the time we were appraching Start point wind was 45 knots constant, 56 gusts, with huge seas on the stern, water was gushing in through the space where the rudder and steering gear connect. Twice a wave broke into the cockpit over the stern, first time, no washboard in. I put on a seasickness patch, then after about 4 hours couldn't focus or stay awake, even on the helm in those conditions! kept waking up whan my head hit the wheel.
Finally got into Brixham, auto pilot pin sheered, boat very wet down below and me and rest of crew sick, and swearing I would never sail again. Even the professional skipper was "unsteady" but refused to go below unless absolutely necessary.
Set off following day after night in Brixham, rest of journey uneventful apart from gearbox destroyed itself in flat calm south of St Cats!
Lessons learned : follow your hunch with weather, We new a low was coming up the channel, professional skipper said it would be ok, SWMBO and myself felt unsure
Never use a sickness patch again, learn to cope with sea sickness and manage it! I had bruises on my face for a week afterwards
Dont sail from Falmouth to London in January!!
Victorious
Well-Known Member
I sailed with my parents from the age of about 3yrs.
by the time i had my own boat I knew the Solent like the back of my hand.
It simply did not cross my mind that bridge could be a problem.
My father obviously avoided the area if conditions were not right... But did not explain his nav decisions to the family.
Add to this the fact that in my 20's I "knew it all" and was "indestructable"... And i ended up in the wrong place at the "blindingly obviously wrong time"
So take heed folks and tell ya kids WHY you are not going through "entrance X" today.
Tell em WHY you hove-to for 2 hours.. Tell em you have not hove-to for lunch.. You have done this to wait for the tide to turn... And we might as well have lunch while we wait!
by the time i had my own boat I knew the Solent like the back of my hand.
It simply did not cross my mind that bridge could be a problem.
My father obviously avoided the area if conditions were not right... But did not explain his nav decisions to the family.
Add to this the fact that in my 20's I "knew it all" and was "indestructable"... And i ended up in the wrong place at the "blindingly obviously wrong time"
So take heed folks and tell ya kids WHY you are not going through "entrance X" today.
Tell em WHY you hove-to for 2 hours.. Tell em you have not hove-to for lunch.. You have done this to wait for the tide to turn... And we might as well have lunch while we wait!
st599
Well-Known Member
Re: ref the other post about reckless bav, what is the worst condition
Force 6 gusting 8 in a Pico Dinghy in Turkey.
Leaning so afr out my head was under water for 80% of the time. Had to continually capsize to work out where I was and re-orientate the boat. Got worse when I lost the centre board. Best pint of Efes ever when I crawled up the beach.
What did I learn - that it may not be windy onshore when blowing 200 yards offshore. Waves look bigger from the seaward side.
Force 6 gusting 8 in a Pico Dinghy in Turkey.
Leaning so afr out my head was under water for 80% of the time. Had to continually capsize to work out where I was and re-orientate the boat. Got worse when I lost the centre board. Best pint of Efes ever when I crawled up the beach.
What did I learn - that it may not be windy onshore when blowing 200 yards offshore. Waves look bigger from the seaward side.
