St Albans Ledge

[steveeasy]

Hi,
Been round this a few times now. Thought id cracked it yesterday. I was id think 3 miles off shore with a rising tide around 3pm in almost flat conditions. I was outside the ledge markers and the waters were dead calm. Then what seamed on the horizon where rolling waves. I made my way to the mast and put a reef in then made my way back to the cockpit, I pointed the bow in to the waves and good job too, boy they were steep. Now while it was not too much of an issue for myself, id prefer not to subject my partner to this when we pass next time.

I had assumed the issue was on a falling tide and staying out wide would avoid undercurrents. So these waves that seam to come from further out, Why ? Ive seen the same at similar locations, Start point for one. was I still too far in ? and if so how far out does one need to be to avoid the short steep waves.

Steveeasy

 

[LadyInBed]

Poole to St Albans Head : Monty Mariner

 

[Yealm]

Hi,
Been round this a few times now. Thought id cracked it yesterday. I was id think 3 miles off shore with a rising tide around 3pm in almost flat conditions. I was outside the ledge markers and the waters were dead calm. Then what seamed on the horizon where rolling waves. I made my way to the mast and put a reef in then made my way back to the cockpit, I pointed the bow in to the waves and good job too, boy they were steep. Now while it was not too much of an issue for myself, id prefer not to subject my partner to this when we pass next time.

I had assumed the issue was on a falling tide and staying out wide would avoid undercurrents. So these waves that seam to come from further out, Why ? Ive seen the same at similar locations, Start point for one. was I still too far in ? and if so how far out does one need to be to avoid the short steep waves.

Steveeasy

I encountered this in a mini. Chickened out a few metres away, turned around and took a wide berth !

 

[Stemar]

The last time I went round, it was in the top of F7 from the south - I really shouldn't have believed that 4-6 forecast! I went 8 miles off, which was perhaps a little over the top, but in those conditions, better too far than not far enough.

I saw another boat taking the inside passage, which I thought was a bit brave in those conditions - lee shore and plenty bumpy enough to stir up any crud in the tank. Still, I didn't hear a mayday, nor did I read about him in the papers, so I presume he got away with it.

 

[Boathook]

Need to be at least 5 miles off to miss the overalls or do the inshore which means within about a 100 yards off the cliffs. I have done the same as you before (flat calm) and I'm glad that I manage to shut hatches windows, etc as water went right up over the deck and into the cockpit.

 

[Robin]

inshore, like spitting distance of rocks always best if bound for Poole/Swanage, otherwise go many miles offshore

 

[johnalison]

Although I have been past a number of times, I only once met a wall of waves. I can’t remember the conditions exactly but we we sailing at the time. I seem to remember that I turned away from the waves and let the tide carry the 34ft boat through the waves fairly slowly, rather than trying to force my way through.

 

[Channel Sailor]

A Month ago on a Spring ebb I used the “inshore” passage In very light winds. Even very close in it was lumpy and uncomfortable, obviously worse in the race proper. It was doable, only because light winds and an engine/boat that could keep a course in the waves. I would would agree with the notes above, an inshore passage of flattish water does not really exist on a Spring ebb.

I have passed this way inshore and offshore a fair number of times. If calm I really enjoy going close inshore to the cliffs and quarries along this coast. At the right time of year it is very good for bird watching.

The last time I went east around the outside it was light winds and I was motor sailing, so my track I notice was approx 2.5 miles off the headland. It was calm but I could see white water inshore of me. I would say, at Springs, the waters around St Albans to Peveril Ledge need respect. If windy as well then the lumpy seas mean staying further off shore is sensible, or be prepared for a rough ride in places. From memory I think my local tidal atlas (left on the boat) says there can be over 4kts of tide in places, more than in the diagram posted above. But hey, it depends on your vessel this applies to a lot places one could sail around the uk/world. It’s still a lovely part of the coast to sail.

 

[ryanroberts]

I keep thinking "this is fun" with a nice f3 close reach going through them a mile or so off as I suspect the boat enjoys it. Then I end up becalmed and bouncing around like an idiot watching people smugly go up the inside. 3 times now, I am not a learning animal.

 

[Daedelus]

Moored up in Poole was next to a boat which had mattresses, duvets and all sorts of bedding draped over the boom.
The story was a sad one: he had gone west bound and thought the stories of the race were exaggerated - a pussycat, ever so smooth - he said.
On the way back he took the same route in reverse and said - a hole opened in front of us, the sea came green up to the cockpit but we got through. But my wife had been having a snooze in the forepeak cabin and had the hatch ajar. A wall of water landed in her ear soaking her, the bedding and everything. The worst of it is - he wailed, - she thinks I did it deliberately and it's cost me a fortune in meals out and perfume and she expects flowers when we get home.
It's hard to show sympathy when you want to laugh out loud.

 

[Robin]

Moored up in Poole was next to a boat which had mattresses, duvets and all sorts of bedding draped over the boom.
The story was a sad one: he had gone west bound and thought the stories of the race were exaggerated - a pussycat, ever so smooth - he said.
On the way back he took the same route in reverse and said - a hole opened in front of us, the sea came green up to the cockpit but we got through. But my wife had been having a snooze in the forepeak cabin and had the hatch ajar. A wall of water landed in her ear soaking her, the bedding and everything. The worst of it is - he wailed, - she thinks I did it deliberately and it's cost me a fortune in meals out and perfume and she expects flowers when we get home.
It's hard to show sympathy when you want to laugh out loud.

I once had nookie points removed after going through Portland Race not quite far enough off under spinnaker and asking SWMBO to assist in the takedown in the lumpy bit, Not helped by my subsequent request to rehoist it once through!

 

[Stemar]

My trip, described above also cost me all the sailing brownie points I'd ever earned and put Milady on the road to that led to her deciding that she no longer wants to sail, so I feel the poor man's pain.

asking SWMBO to assist in the takedown in the lumpy bit, Not helped by my subsequent request to rehoist it once through!

I think Milady would have taken a taxi home from the next port if I'd pulled that stunt!

 

[Laminar Flow]

Any of the races and capes will happily offer the same fare. We've been through Selsey (inside) with wind over tide, the Swinge at Alderney with very little wind over tide and still rather impressive ( rearranged most of the ship's contents down below), Les Heaux de Brehat, in Brittany (lots of times), Cap de la Hague, Chenal du Four, Pont du Raz ( gave that one as wide a berth we were almost in America), the Zee Gatts in NL can be absolutely terrifying and, ahem, surprisingly shallow.

My wife is either fabulously brave or (happily) has a special learning disability coupled with a very short memory for adverse nautical events only. We do have near two metres high and extremely buoyant bows on a 31 footer though and have never, yet, managed to put her nose through the bottom of a wave, close as it was, at times.

 

[TernVI]

St Aldhelms is more than your ordinary headland.
The Ledge is very shallow, with deep water either side.
There is a significant current over it.
In a flat calm, it can be like the water is boiling, as you go from mirror-like sea to turbulence.
You can sometimes hear boulders moving around on the seabed.

 

[Laminar Flow]

St Aldhelms is more than your ordinary headland.
The Ledge is very shallow, with deep water either side.
There is a significant current over it.
In a flat calm, it can be like the water is boiling, as you go from mirror-like sea to turbulence.
You can sometimes hear boulders moving around on the seabed.

So it is like the Heaux de Brehat. I understand the significance, though the South Coast does not have a monopoly on nasty bits. Forewarned, I shall give St, Albans a wide berth when we head North, post Covid.

 

[rotrax]

Tom Cunliffe wrote that he inadvertantly caught the edge of the Portland Race once, little drama ensued.

He then sailed right through St Aldrans which made up for it.................................

Coming back from Cherbourg in a 27 foot Hunter once a huge waterspout fell into the cockpit and onto the well filled mainsailsail.

The pressure pulled the mainsheet fixing out of its slot in the boom, the wave threw the Skipper across the cockpit where he broke a couple of ribs on the coachroof winch. We were clipped on, the washboards were in and I was hanging onto the tiller

We were in the Needles Channel on a Spring ebb with wind over tide.

We were in the wrong place at the wrong time

 

[Barnacle Bill]

St Aldhelms is more than your ordinary headland.
The Ledge is very shallow, with deep water either side.
There is a significant current over it.
In a flat calm, it can be like the water is boiling, as you go from mirror-like sea to turbulence.
You can sometimes hear boulders moving around on the seabed.

It's quite an interesting dive on the west side: steep vertical drop off and rocky slope to around 50m, pretty dark at the bottom.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

We buried our bows in the Needles South Channel collecting our new boat. Ebb tide but gusting F6 on the nose and threateng F7. Front hatch lifted off, sprayhood destroyed and I am up to my armpits in the cockpit. Cabin full of water, duvet and Navigator soaked and we discovered the bilge pumps didnt work and there was no bucket. We had only gone to South Channel as North Channel seemed too much of a detour.

We learn by experience. For instance next two boats had all restorative works done before our first voyage, including duplication or triplication of bilge pumps, and we are more alert to wind over tide in constrained waters.

I tend to favour cutting inside races by headland where possible but that depends on my confidence in chart and chart plotter and our ability to spot crab pots in the slack zone as at Portland

 

[prv]

a hole opened in front of us, the sea came green up to the cockpit but we got through. But my wife had been having a snooze in the forepeak cabin and had the hatch ajar. A wall of water landed in her ear soaking her, the bedding and everything.

I bounced a sleeping friend off the saloon bulkhead in similar fashion - his head left a mark nearer the top than the bottom - going through the Swinge on a calm day near slack water when I incorrectly assumed there couldn't be enough energy in the system to kick up anything unpleasant. Fortunately I had asked for the saloon hatch to be closed as we rounded the western corner of Alderney, just in case.

The forehatch I don't allow to be left open under way regardless of the apparent conditions

Pete

 

[steveeasy]

Well it catches me out every time I return from the west. thought I was out far enough this time. good job I did not get them on the beam, still all part and parcel I suspect.

Although I have been past a number of times, I only once met a wall of waves. I can’t remember the conditions exactly but we we sailing at the time. I seem to remember that I turned away from the waves and let the tide carry the 34ft boat through the waves fairly slowly, rather than trying to force my way through.

now i like that would have been a better option.well maybe.
Steveeasy