Solent wind 14/5/16

[Lucky Duck]

As a Solent novice/numpty as somewhat baffled about what was happening today before the SWly kicked in later in the afternoon.

Seemed like on one of those times that the gradient breeze and a sea breeze cancel each other out but that couldn't be right?

 

[GrahamD]

It could absolutely be right. I wasn't on the Solent on the day in question, but there have been plenty of occasions when there has been a very obvious battle between the gradient breeze of the sea breeze. It is not uncommon to see boats sailing from the Cowes area in the gradient breeze towards Yarmouth with spinnakers flying, while boats near Yarmouth will be flying spinnakers in the sea breeze on a reciprocal course. In the middle is often a dead zone, which can be as little as 200m but it can cover the whole area if neither wind is strong enough to dominate.

 

[DJE]

And when you get to the dead area look up - you will see the gliders from Daedalus airfield circling in the rising air!

 

[bobgarrett]

I was there. It was. Northerly counteracted by then overcome by sea breeze. Made the race interesting or frustrating depending on your patience level!

 

[Racecruiser]

Hmmm - I was there too and we were on our way to the mainland shore thinking that should pay in the conditions, then we aborted and took the island shore to Yarmouth as we thought there was more breeze on the water. On balance probably not the right call as the mainland paid in the end. The island does complicate a sea breeze!

 

[flaming]

then we aborted and took the island shore to Yarmouth as we thought there was more breeze on the water. On balance probably not the right call as the mainland paid in the end. !

No it effing didn't!

 

[sarabande]

similar events off Plymouth on Sunday for the start of the Jesters Challenge. F2 forecast, but an on board discussion on a camera boat was of the opinion that thermal influences would play a part.

So it was, by 1500 a merry F3/4 and a lovely sail back to th eRamar.



You might like to read the redoubtable Alan Watts on the subject of thermal vs gradient in the Solent in his Supplement #2 to his very readable book, Wind Pilot, Nautical Publishing, 1975, where he discussesp 320 et seq, the precise effects the OP and others describe.

 

[Racecruiser]

No it effing didn't!

Interesting - some sages were saying after the finish when the wind is in the north always go north, most of our class went south so maybe we did the right thing.

 

[flaming]

Interesting - some sages were saying after the finish when the wind is in the north always go north, most of our class went south so maybe we did the right thing.

That is the standard advice... In our class the winners came from the middle. Not even the North guys could explain why with any certainty! They were plugging about 2 knots more tide than us, so they must have had quite a bit more breeze.