Severe gale force 11 Irish sea

H

Heckler

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Went to Pwllheli on Saturday, wanted to fit the Sterling, got there about 1.00 pm and the wind was howling, the trip to the piles is about 100yds and was all down wind, so got the dinghy and donk set up and off we went, got on board and she was heeling right over, got all the stuff on board and the dink lashed to the transom, by this time the wind speed was reading plus 40 knots and the heeling was getting worse. Down below the lower Bennie window in the hull was dipping below the oggin! The forecast came on and it said severe gale force 11 imminent. Put another stern line on and made sure the 2 fore lines were taking the strain equally. SWMBO was worrying about old fart up on the pointed end, scuttled back to the cockpit and 51 knots hit, holey smoley. This is supposed to be a well sheltered harbour, any way went below and thought wont be going to the club tonight. Wasnt too long though and it started to drop and by 7.30 it had dropped enough to get in the dink and go the 1/4 mile to the club for chicken and chips and a couple of scoops!.
Stu
 
Drove out to clubhouse at Beaumaris around 1700 on Saturday. A55 incredible gusts around Conwy. Driving at around 30 mph along with everyone else but all blowing all over the road. Trees down between Menai Bridga and Beaumaris. Power cables down on alternative route Benllech to Beaumaris. Wind 60 knots recorded at Bangor. By 2000 all over, not quite flat calm but quite light.
 
Amazing the change in just a few short hours, it got up again today and went westerly so we had to punch in to the wind with the dink to get to the slip, a bit wet but only 30 knots!, on another subject, I have resurrected the Llangollen Yacht Club, 47 members, cheque sent off to the RYA for affiliation, when we get that in the next few weeks will announce and we will welcome members, Gales Wine Bar on a friday night is where like minded imbibers gather.
Stu
 
From what I remember of Irish Sea sailing out of Shell Island back in the 70s/80s it sounds like a fairly normal winter gale for this time of the year? I can remember several similar experiences aboard in various winters. A storm was only counted as severe IIRC if it had sustained winds of 70 - 80kts for several hours, and the only 'memorable' gale blew 100kts for several hours around 1981.

Down here in the Solent people start panicking and posting here if the wind reaches 45kts.... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
The forecast came on and it said severe gale force 11 imminent

[/ QUOTE ]

What sort of forecast was that?
Severe gale is Force 9
Violent storm is Force 11
 
Coastguard read the words, she used severe gale force 11 (something) gale force 8 imminent, some one else pulled me on that because 11 is as you say a storm, but dont shoot the meesenger!
Stu
 
Up on the flank of Yr Eifle north of Pwllheli when that gust hit it took my 24ft long garage roof off and took it 100 yards towards the summit, /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gifonly found out about an hour later when I went in for some rivets and found the light wouldn't work, Shell and Llanbedr still thriving by the way /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Hi Bill: I had a Westerley Nomad 'Pippin' for a number of years, then swapped to a slightly odd looking semi-one off 24' motor sailer 'Teasel' - off a mooring on the Llanbedr side. Left there about 1989 following a job change.
 
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