The Big Wind

[Sybarite]

This is the anniversary of "The Big Wind" which hit Ireland on the night of January 6, 1839.

It was considered the hurricane of the millenium with about 220 people killed. Salt covered the land in the middle of the country and an estimated 3,000,000 trees were blown down along with thousands of dwellings.

Among the anecdotes, herring were found in fields 6 miles from the sea and a pig was blown into a tree 400 yards from its pen. Some people were actually blown through the air to be killed hitting a wall.

Most of those killed though were at sea. For the hours leading up to the storm it was unseasonably and uncomfortably warm and then there was a significant withdrawal of tides......

John

 

[powerskipper]

That must have been some wind, always sad to hear of lose of life.


It seems to be that the old saying "the lull before the storm" has a lot of truth to it.
Or " this is too good to be true"

Makes you wonder if it looks really good out there on the water, something is going to happen!!!

Not going to think about this as it could start to make one paranoid about just about anything.

Right think of a slimming breakfast,

PS Was the welsh bean eating contest on about then ?

 

[jimi]

Caused by a deep depression estimated at 918 Millibars

 

[Bejasus]

makes this forecast I just received look a bit minor /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Hi,
SATURDAY low moving from Scotland to Skagerrak. It is expected to become a severe stormlow. The intensity and the direction of the low is still a little uncertain. But it is going to be windy.
2005-01-08 Around 9 utc gust in 10m hight is expected to becoming >65 kt.
The wind is expected to reach max around noon, with mean winds around 54 kt.
In deck hight max mean wind 64 kt gust 86 kt.
Significant Wavehight reach 8 m, with max wave hight 14.5m

Best regrads
Jesper Rasmussen

 

[longjohnsadler]

Very windy in Ireland last night.
Wonder how they 'estimated' 918 mb?

 

[Robin]

If that storm was to happen now it would be blamed on global warming. I wonder what the excuse was then?

 

[snowleopard]

thought i might get the laser out this afternoon. just seen this:

TYNE DOGGER FISHER GERMAN BIGHT HUMBER THAMES DOVER WIGHT PORTLAND
PLYMOUTH
SOUTHWEST 7 TO SEVERE GALE 9, PERHAPS STORM 10 LATER. RAIN AT TIMES.
MODERATE OR GOOD, OCCASIONALLY POOR LATER

 

[cameronke]

Looking at WeeJimis info, they blamed the fairies and Freemasons!
Regards
Cameron

 

[pragmatist]

Hope your sail is in better nick than that belonging to HWMBO !

 

[Sgeir]

Sandbag alert

Hmm. Winds are not too bad here now, but as I write the River Forth is slightly higher than the road outside our house, with water seeping over the banking. Should be about high water here so hopefully it may start to recede slightly. Pleased that the strong winds are not coming from the east.

Personally, I discount the fairies and the masons, but I think this may be some sort of retribution for all the ranting that's been going on.

 

[Sgeir]

Re: Sandbag alert

Wrong again. It's past high water, the river's now starting to creep across the road, and the cooncil says we've to pick up our own sandbags at the depot! Bit tough if you have to use a bus.

Where are those wellies? And did I bring back the dinghy pump?

 

[kds]

Re: Sandbag alert

Do you want me to start an appeal for funds on your behalf ?
Ken

 

[Rowana]

You should be so lucky - See what we're in for -

FORTIES CROMARTY FORTH TYNE DOGGER FISHER SOUTHWEST 6 TO GALE 8, BACKING SOUTH 5 OR 6, THEN INCREASING GALE 8 TO STORM 10, PERHAPS VIOLENT STORM 11, VEERING WEST LATER. RAIN OR SHOWERS. MODERATE OR GOOD

I think I'll stay in tonight! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Viking]

We had 40+ knott winds in our marina this afternoon!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Becky]

Wow, what a man! Sailing a laser in storm force 9. Even better that the windsurfers. I am impressed.

It takes a Cornishman to do things as brave as this.

 

[jimi]

Never done a 9 in a laser but have done F8, amazing sailing until it goes pear shaped on the run when a pitchpole/windward capsize projects you about 15 feet!

 

[fireball]

Last time I saw a Laser in a F8 it zoomed past us (in a Fireball) with the mast bending forward almost to breaking point ... problem was the next mark was a gybe mark and he decided to wear it ... and stopped infront of us - so we had to gybe- with no kite.

 

[TheBoatman]

Becky
It only goes to prove that ALL din gee sailors are nutters, nothing more, nothing less, just nutters pure and simple. It's a requirement to own and sail one<s>