Sea Breezes

[Neraida]

A Beginners question about the solent.

Right then, provided forecasts don't change, we fancy trotting down to Yarmouth on Friday afternoon. (I finish work at 12 on Fridays, so we'll probably let go 1400ish).

Its forcasted 25 deg C and clear skies with naff all wind. We will have tide against us, so I get the feeling that we're going to have to rely on magic or some such to keep the engine off.

Am I right in thinking that we should head over to the "island side" of the Western Solent in the hope of some sort of an onshore breeze abaft the beam?

Ta

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[Moose]

Want a tow? I'm sure we could Neraida up to 20kts.

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[Neraida]

Oh please! I'm trying to ask a question! Get back to your grazing you big antlered.... errrr..... MOOSE!

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[Moose]

Finished grazing. In answer to your question; I think you are right,,,maybe. However you may get a land breeze from the IOW if you are too late (land cools faster than water) But if you leave at 1400 you should get a sea breeze from the IOW and from the Mainland so you would be better off in the middle somewhere.......I think.

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[Moose]

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.franksingleton.clara.net/sea_breezes.html>this may be helpful</A>

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[bedouin]

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The signs for a good sea breeze in the western Solent are a clear blue sky in the morning, with little or no gradient wind or a light north-westerly offshore wind. As the day gets older, cumulus clouds develop over the mainland, and by late morning or early afternoon a light sea breeze should develop from the south-west. On a hot summer's day, the sea breeze will often try to fill even when the underlying gradient wind doesn't favour it. One useful indicator is the horizon looking towards Hurst Narrows and the Isle of Wight. If this goes clear the chances are that something will happen in the next hour. The sea breeze tends to move in a line down the Solent from Hurst Narrows towards Cowes, and it's common to be sitting becalmed with spinnakers running towards you from the west. It will usually blow harder on the mainland shore first. It also cranks pretty hard, over 20 knots by the time it's got going in mid afternoon. When there's four knots of ebb tide running out against it, you'll know all about a days racing in a Solent sea breeze.

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[MainlySteam]

I cannot speak for the Solent but a generally applying clue as to whether there is a breeze generated onshore to an island, as Moose suggests, is if there are any puffy clouds over it. These form from air rising from convection and cooling (as Moose being a plane type will know already so not trying to teach him to suck eggs /forums/images/icons/smile.gif). Because the air is rising a breeze, but maybe very light, will be onshore to the island and its near by sea area.

We have a big island out from us here and at this moment (daytime here) there is not a breath of wind on the mainland shore, but looking out the window to the island it has small cumulus over it and I would expect that is generating light breezes in the sea area close to the island.

Obviously, like I assume for Isle of Wight with other land nearby, this convection will be upset by that of the nearby land as well or by stronger air flows generated by major pressure gradients across isobars - but, of course, if that is happening then that will be creating the breeze you want anyway.

John

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[l'escargot]

Anyone who tries to predict a localised wind forecast for the Solent 3 days hence in unsettled conditions is ambitious to say the least. The weather on the day is unlikely to bear any relation to todays forecast apart from the wind being within 180 degrees of the prediction.

High tide is 1609 so you will be with the tide, chances are any wind will be mainly west whichever side of the Solent you choose. It is not wide enough and the land is not high enough to make any considerable difference and with cloud forecast and no settled warm period there is not much chance of a sea breeze developing.

In light winds, slightly better tide on the island side an hour or so before high water from Newtown to Yarmouth. If the wind picks up you will get an annoying chop with wind over tide whichever side you choose.

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[jamesjermain]

Bedouin has the right of it. Solent sea breezes can be interesting to say the least. Yesterday we were sitting in Lymington at lunchtime in a flat calm. There was 10 knots from the south west at the entrance to the river and 16 knots by the time we got to the mid-Solent by about 1430.
The wind is usually stronger on the mainland side because there is more land although on this occasion it was distinctly stronger in mid-Solent. It is almost certain there were calm conditions off Beaulieu, at that time, and probably an easterly in the eastern Solent. By 1800 the whole Solent would be swept by a south westerly which would probably have died to nothing by 2000

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[jimi]

2000 seems the magic time in summer, I often race the Laser on Wed evenings and your almost gauranteed the breeze until 7:30 /45 ish but its always gone by 20:00

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[MainlySteam]

I assume (wouldn't know as I have never been there) that the predominant wind is SW as the highest wave energies are on the open SW facing coastlines of Isle of Wight and eastern Christchurch Bay (and the end of Selsey Bill).

For some reason eastward of Selsey Bill the wave energies are only moderate even though they are not sheltered - but they are South facing, not SW facing and maybe that is enough to reduce the wave energy on that coast if the predominant wind is SW.

Can anyone confirm or elaborate to help my curiosity?

Regards

John

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