Surfing

[jimi]

Peeople talk a lot about their boat surfing but actually a lot of the time I assume they are'nt really .. they're just getting pushed along by a spilling wave.Waves come in two types: 'plunging' breakers turn over at their tip, whereas the crest of a 'spilling' wave runs down its face. Plunging waves by their nature are a serious threat to any boat whereas guys on surfboards love 'em., take the drop and carve into the green room and then wipe out;-(.
'Proper' surfing is when one stays on "the hill" at an angle and gravity provides the motive force. I'd always thought that "proper" surfing on a yacht really only happened on the massive waves of the Southern Ocean. In general whenever I've surfed on a yacht it really has just been an occasional push up the chuff from a friendly (or otherwise) lump of water.

Interested in thoughts!


<hr width=100% size=1>O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!

 

[Twister_Ken]

One of the really good things about handicap racing displacement boats in a good breeze was to hitch a ride the stern wave of a boat going faster than you. Nothing he could do about it, and if you were lucky you could stay on it for several minutes. Dunno if it still happens in these days of planing race boats.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[Talbot]

I have definetly surfed in the solent on two occasions. It was very surprising, everything sudddenly got quieter except for vibration from one of the skegs, and the boat seemed to be running on rails (and the speed was bang on the needle at 15+ knts.)
The second time was the best. I was running at 9kt on a beam reach from cowes down to lymington, allowing a Whitbread start to overtake. I had the engine running, but not in gear in case I needed it in a hurry, and then the mobos started to overtake. From calm to sea state moderate/rough in nothing flat. One displacement mobo came slowly past at abt 15 ft from me and I could clearly see his hand was absolutely white gripping the throttle to try to gain a bit more than the approx 11 kts he was doing. When he was directly abeam, I was caught up by a monster wave of waves from astern and as he was looking at me I could not resist the temptation to wang on full throttle. I believe that I was doing in the region of 20kts for a short time and then settled back to abt 15. I think it must have destroyed mobo owner cause his chin hit the floor and almost immediately he throttled back and gave up the chase. About 10 min later another mobo hit one of these combination waves and almost lifted out of the water, he came back down at an angle of abt 45degrees on his side and there was an almighty crash of broken crockery. It even made my dog lift his head up to take a look!!!! After I slowed back down to 9kts I realised that throughout this I had had one of those tupperware beakers (those abt 5" tall and 1.5" diameter base) with about 2" water in it, sitting on the saloon table on a non slip mat. Throughout this it remained happily in place!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[qsiv]

Current boat does do stern waves, great big ones that end up a foot or so higher than the deck....

These light weight things dont - the new boat (contract signing is inching closer), just gets up and goes - flat wake, just <A target="_blank" HREF=http://212.9.7.184/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album06&id=schock1>look</A>!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[robp]

I'll get shot down as to the technicalities but I guess there's; Being assisted by a spilling wave, planing and surfing. Surely if one is really surfing as often claimed, the log will not show a massively high figure, as the paddle will be relative only to the wave carrying you?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[claymore]

Claymore tends not to surf although she does a fair impersonation by lifting her bustle a little then sitting down gently as the moment passes - rather as I imagine my late Father's Aunt Betsy Reid would have passed wind.
I still enjoy kayaking and thats great fun in surf or on standing waves in rivers

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Danthegorrila]

Quite right, as a surfer and windsurfer and a yachtie,

Surfing and planing are quite different on boards to boats, we get pushed along by waves in the boat, but surfing to a surfer is when gravity is playing a major part.

Boards plan when 80% of the hull is out of the water caused by the lift from the fin and boat speed.

I don't know whether that helps! but picture a gorrila surfing !!

<hr width=100% size=1>PB