Rough weather what to do?

[hlb]

I dont realy think it's posible to advise very much on rough weather. In all the years I've been sailing about, I've never seen the same sea twice. I've been on big seas higher than the fly bridge. But still cruised over it at over 20 knots. On the other hand I've seen little bumpy seas that have slowed me down just cos I cant stand the hammering. Must bad bits only last a mile or twn the other hand they might not. Power on, power off. Yes I've done all that, but rarely seen seas that it worked on. Ok if all the waves are similar hights and far enough apart. Best I can suggest is, head for deap water and way off anything you can hit!!

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Haydn

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re: Get a flybridge boat?

Mmm. My old Targa 48 was quite good at shipping water over the windscreen onto the helmsman and all over the cockpit seating. I'd still rather be on a flybridge

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[Lozzer]

Not going back was the right idea first of all.

Entering southwold in rough conditions is not a good idea. I once went there and got storm bound for 4 days. Well at least we were moored up outside the pub.

Any sort of swell in the harbour entrance is dodgy.

In a 35 sports boat I would imagine that you are capable of 25-30 knots. If I recall the distance is about 30 miles ish.

The tide does go along the coastline at a fair rate say 2.5 knots so even if the tide was against you could have still completed the journey in under two hours.

Top tips

Judge the weather conditions and what they might do with respect to the tide. ie wind over tide will always be rougher than wind with tide. Therefore to hell withthe tide bat against it.

In windy conditions head for deeper water as this will mean that you dont have the short choppy seas that the east coast is renowned for.

Dont go inshore when there is any sort of onshore direction in the wind. If you get a pot around the prop or engines fail (emptyish tanks fuel jumping around, air in fuel line) you will be fast up the beach. Orford Ness not the place to go ashore even on a calm day.

And most of all be safe.



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[mrplastic]

It's true, Southwold entrance is a pig in a rough sea, and apart from some shallow water to port there are some bloody big walls to plough into if you get it wrong.

The 30 odd miles you mentioned took far more than the 2 hours you suggested. We were averaging around 8/10 knots on the log, using your own figures for the tidal flow our speed over ground would have been around 6/8 knots. Take off the force 6 wind blowing on the front canopy and we were going pretty slow. SOG would have been 6/7 knots. Add in the increased distance with all the zig zagging and it all adds up to a bloody long time...

It was fairly windy when we left, the navtex did'nt register any particularly dodgy weather warnings and we were expecting slack water. Seemed OK to go, what can I say?

I'm converted, offshore is where you'll find me in rough weather.

And you're right about the pots, loads of the damn things at one stage I had one on the nose at 20', one big swerve was the result of that! Fortunately they were all pretty well marked just hidden by the waves.

CLP

<hr width=100% size=1>EVERYTHING begins with an E

 

[hlb]

On the times I've been in total crap. I stick an X on the screen way out in open water, press auto and stick the auto pilot on. Cant do it on every boat I know. But it saves all the hastle and watching compass wirle about and getting totally disorientated. Like I sid. Mine will do it in any weather. Others might not.

<hr width=100% size=1> Flags Solly MFBR</font color=red>
Haydn

 

[adarcy]

Re: Can\'t agree at all

Haydn

You say << Power on, power off. Yes I've done all that, but rarely seen seas that it worked on>> and <<stick the auto pilot on>>

well I'm sorry I just don't agree that that is the right thing to do. I've been out in seas as bad as mrplastic's and in both a 27ft sterndive and a 45ft shaftdrive, throttling on and off does make a big difference. Now if you don't listen or learn and do it wrong then it won't help but.............

My main point of disagreement is the idea of switching on the autopilot. That is just like putting a brainless idiot behind the helm. Sure, it saves you doing any work at the wheel and tries to keep your heading but your track is something else. But what is most important is sacrificing being able to go across the waves diagonally. I accept this will only be right 80-90% of time if the seas are confused as well but that is the point of having a mind behind the helm. They can decide when to switch heading according to the seas but still keep approximately the right track by GPS but an autopilot will just bash through regardless. If one drives at 45 degrees to each wave pattern, let alone throttling on and off, then the distance between waves is much greater and they are effectively much gentler.

Yes I've had the "greenies" over the top of our sportcruiser and had to duck but still got drenched, yes I've had the "greenies" up beyond the screen of our flybridge but not into the flybridge, yes I've had the wife wake up in the saloon and say the waves are above the windows but, so what, it's not a macho thing, I just think that the majority of other peoples advice in this thread about how to deal with difficult seas is helpful and I think yours is not. In fact, I think it is plain wrong.



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[hlb]

Re: Can\'t agree at all

But you miss the point. Of course you can take over. Point is yer heading out to sea most of the time. Thats where idiot auto pilot helps. A good one of course

If you can see a track over the sea I agree. thats the route to follow. Some times you cant. So just need to head for deap sea. My auto pilot will take me there. Else it busses and says OFF COURSE so I will take it instead. Point is. Find whatever way to stay out of danger. STAY AS NEAR AS YOU CAN CONFORTABLE AND IN CONTROL. A good auto pilot will keep you on track, It will soon tell you if not. Slow the boat down. Take a rest, theres no hurry. If it will, let the AP take the strain. Stop bashing yerselfe or the boat about. Boat is usually quite happpy, it's just ones self. I've said. Power on/ off works in some seas. BUT 8 KNOTS WORKS FOR ME ALL the time. Sorry thingy pressed down!! it works some times beter faster. But to be fair most times better slower. Enough power to get grip, but slow enough to keep sea bourn.

Thingy is. If just crossing Solent then maybe one thing. If crossing 60/80 miles then maybe other. I never disagread wit others. Far as I know. Just said head to deao water. Think others did too.

<hr width=100% size=1> Flags Solly MFBR</font color=red>
Haydn

 

[Divemaster1]

For what it is worth .... My experience tells me that going into deeper water makes for more even and more predictable sea state.... Approx @ 10 AM Sunday we were crossing The Wash from Lowestoft, going North, and it was certaily a bumpy ride. Moving in the deeper channels made it easier, but as someone else stated here a F6 wind against tide, will always be bumpy & in all probability wet.
With experience you get to know the boat's behaviour and you and your crew's abilities and you as the skipper need to act in accordance with this (Including turning back, which obviously was difficult in this instance ... lesson learned = should you have left in the first place ??). In the case of wind against, you will be better off presenting the bow at an angle to the waves making for a longer crossing and criss-crossing your course for the destination. If it gets rougher and you cannot prevent slamming, you need to reduce speed below planning speed, but try to keep the bow up a bit.... green water on deck & windscreens on a sportscruiser is not fun as there will be a risk of swamping her .... if you take in water like that, you need to hope that the bilge pumps work properly..... and you need to work the engines to keep the bow up, but not crashing into the coming wave ... the boat may need some help by the engines to lift the bow, in addition to the natural boyancy .... but all this comes with experience and getting to know the boat... Of course not being out there would probably be the best option ... hang around in comfortable marina, wait for slack tide... towards HW, or at LW as wind over tide, in my experience, is worse towards LW than towards HW.
No singular right answers in other words .... you as the skipper needs to make the right judgement, positive desicions, have alternative plans available and be prepared to back off and accept that the desicion you made was wrong. Boat handling in rough conditions is a certain skill which you learn as you go through the rough patches.... and then of course there is the issue of handling the boat in rough conditions whilst navigating, keeping a good lookout, and ensuring that the crew is safe & OK ... all makes for a good skipper and a safer journey .. even in rough conditions... bearing in mind that unless you act irrational, the boat will take much more pounding than what you feel comfortable with. Of course, we all probably have the odd loose thing onboard (cups, pans, oars, books etc.), if you do and there is a probability that they will fall down, just place them safely down before leaving harbour (somewhere "safe" where they will not fall down), as additional crashing sounds onboard is the last thing you want to have to worry about as crew may not find moving about inside easy, or safe.

Wishing you all safe voyages....

<hr width=100% size=1>Alf

 

[whisper]

This has been a very entertaining and informative thread. A colleague and I have just bought a new boat - Botnia Targa 25 - which has so far felt exceedingly safe. We are still learning how she handles - went across the bar at Salcombe last week into 2m+ waves from the SSW. We headed across the waves at about 45 degrees and got the occasional one over the wheelhouse. Then realised we were doing 18knots - think it's a great little boat so far - good job it's got large scuppers though.
Going back to Devon mid Sept. for a month or so. Really looking forward to it /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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