Solent sea state

[russ]

Had a trip out to Folly Inn today and experienced our choppiest sea to date. Nothing too dramatic but before we have had mainly flat calm days when boating.
We all got a bit of a soaking including the mother in-law on her maiden voyage with us
First problem getting off our berth. Bit of a wind pushed me hard up against a perimeter pontoon and I couldn't get off without a tow from a jet ski instructor. Thank you to them for that.
Then passing the dredger in Southampton water there seemed to be a really bad swell. Could this be attributed to the dredger as it wasn't as bad after passing it.
Getting into Cowes I decided to follow in the wake of a larger motor boat but still quite a swell going on.

What would you call the sea state today just so I know how to judge on whether or not to go out next time? My boat is a Bayliner so not really suited to certain types of weather.

Overall a good day and a nice lunch, although £17 to moor up and taxi over the 4 of us did seemed steep.

 

[paultallett]

Sounds like you had a good day...... Soaking the mil I'd say is a result!!

We was in Cowes today too. It was a mixture of a SE F4, spring tide, wind over tide at the times we was traveling and to top it all off, squarely on the beam. Didn't knock us of the plane but was certainly a little rolly with all spray being blown back onboard.

If it's any consolation every boat that entered Cowes Yacht Haven as we enjoyed lunch was covered in salt...... Big and small they all got a soaking

Great day out there, feels like we had a bit of challenge without taking a battering.

 

[gjgm]

It is worth just checking the tides, springs and neaps, and check your timing across Calshot, if you are concerned. Might have been the dredger or a ferry, but might just have been the flow of water. Perhaps try to avoid full flood.
I thought Solent was like a lake today !

 

[[2068]]

Yes, today was about an F4, so now you know what that feels like.
In general, you really remember when it's "too much" and vow never to do that again.

In my case, that was Gosport to Lymington in the upper end of an F7, down to 7kts and green water going over the top of the radar arch.
Never again!

 

[RogerRat]

We all got a bit of a soaking including the mother in-law on her maiden voyage with us
First problem getting off our berth. Bit of a wind pushed me hard up against a perimeter pontoon and I couldn't get off without a tow from a jet ski instructor. Thank you to them for that.

Getting into Cowes I decided to follow in the wake of a larger motor boat but still quite a swell going on.

What would you call the sea state today just so I know how to judge on whether or not to go out next time? My boat is a Bayliner so not really suited to certain types of weather.

Overall a good day and a nice lunch, although £17 to moor up and taxi over the 4 of us did seemed steep.

Hi Russ,

Must have been a bit worrying been pushed onto the lee pontoon. If you don't have a bow thruster or it's not working or man enough, it would def. be worth practicing 'springing off' dead easy with practice and an informed crew.

If the wind is anywhere south of east or west as light breeze when you leave and the weather is warm like yesterday it will increase wind strength to about F4 as the a sea breeze will assist by lunchtime.

You'll notice it is nearly always choppy of Cowes and Calshot. The very heavy traffic, wake and any wind over tide creates a very messy short sea which is hard to predict when a wet one is gonna strike. Your Bayliner will be fairly flat bottomed compared to boats like Fairline Targas' and Windys' but will cope easily if you back off the speed a little. Also entering Cowes, you can get caught out quite easily as tidal flow can be quite rippy near the starboard entry marker especially on Springs.

The mooring fees, you'll just have to live with at it's summertime now, winter rates finished and the supply struggles to meet demand on nice days. Glad you and the outlaws enjoyed the day though.

RR

 

[targa31]

"If the wind is anywhere south of east or west as light breeze when you leave and the weather is warm like yesterday it will increase wind strength to about F4 as the a sea breeze will assist by lunchtime."

Sea breeze worse when the water is cold(ie now) as the cooler air heads for the warm land.

Do you have trim tabs? Defo helps in rough weather adding a bit of trim tab to increase the water line length. Stops the banging and crashing.