The Solent Chop!

[Zagato]

It seems to be steep waves 5-10' high every 20 feet or so...

What creates this nasty sea state and whats the best course to take through it? I used to go head on through it, like ploughing through the wake of a big boat but coming back from Gosport recently with the waves on the beam it was VERY rolly side to side but less crashing and the waves don't smash you back to an almost stop! Maybe try and get the waves on the quarter or get a bigger boat

 

[l'escargot]

Wind against tide is the main cause although underwater terrain and water getting compressed in the narrower parts can contribute too. Taking them at about 45 degrees to the bow or stern can help, more comfortable (just) than taking them head on and you will at least feel like you are making more progress, even if you aren't heading directly to where you want to go.

 

[Twister_Ken]

It seems to be steep waves 5-10' high every 20 feet or so...

I've sailed there for over 40 years and don't recognise your description at all. There are a few places where - occasionally - you get uncomfortable waves trains, but few and far between unless the weather is not much cop.

 

[lustyd]

The best solution in the Solent is to wait for 4 hours and the conditions will change dramatically. If they don't, it's a storm and you need to find a pub PDQ.

 

[dylanwinter]

east coat chop

beating in to an east coast chop in an 18 footer can be an energy sapping experience

 

[flaming]

I've sailed there for over 40 years and don't recognise your description at all. There are a few places where - occasionally - you get uncomfortable waves trains, but few and far between unless the weather is not much cop.

I dunno, I've seen some evil, evil waves in the Solent, they're just so steep! Cowes week 2011 for example, beating West from the Squadron into 30kts of breeze with a spring ebb. I was in a 40 footer, and the waves were crashing over the bow and rolling the length of the deck in a way that I've seldom seen before. When I got one wrong we'd have the whole boat in the air except the rudder, the landings were not pretty. We frequently saw most of the keel out of the water on boats alongside us. I have never, ever been as glad to get to the windward mark!

It was however definitely worst in a fairly concentrated patch between Egypt point and East Leepe. As we went west it seemed to flatten out.

Haven't ever seen anything like that in the Eastern Solent though.

 

[Zagato]

I've sailed there for over 40 years and don't recognise your description at all. There are a few places where - occasionally - you get uncomfortable waves trains, but few and far between unless the weather is not much cop.

"Weather not much cop" is probably the answer, or going out the day after rough weather.

I've had it 3 times now this season, once coming out of Cowes on the Poole rally - bowsprit through the waves stuff outside of the entrance (probably wind over tide). Once from Chi all the way to Gosport - just rocking all the way over, more crashing into the waves head on near Bembridge and the forts, and lastly last weekend going the opposite way, Gosport to Chi. Worse outside Gosport entrance (against tide) and The Winner to West Pole (with tide) - great surf in through Chi entrance though . Forecasts were F5-6 on each occasion with Chi/Gosport passages with the tide as a whole and the wind not against it.

 

[Seajet]

It can get quite nasty in the Solent between the forts, I got the cockpit filled by a wave over the side there, mind it was blowing a fair bit and this was in the days before Chimet and good forecasts - or good judjement on my part !

The Solent is lovely but make no mistake, places like between the forts, Hurst or Chichester entrance will kill people.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Its mainly mobo wash.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I dunno, I've seen some evil, evil waves in the Solent, they're just so steep! Cowes week 2011 for example, beating West from the Squadron into 30kts of breeze with a spring ebb. I was in a 40 footer, and the waves were crashing over the bow and rolling the length of the deck in a way that I've seldom seen before. When I got one wrong we'd have the whole boat in the air except the rudder, the landings were not pretty. We frequently saw most of the keel out of the water on boats alongside us. I have never, ever been as glad to get to the windward mark!

It was however definitely worst in a fairly concentrated patch between Egypt point and East Leepe. As we went west it seemed to flatten out.

Haven't ever seen anything like that in the Eastern Solent though.

That comes into the weather-not-much-cop category. I once just about lost my voice through breathing in so much salt spray on a Cowes - behind Hurst leg when the 45 kts apparent bits were the lulls. That time we set the #3 as a spinnaker and even got some surfs out of the old dog.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Wind against tide with shallow and uneven sea bed profile can create a hell of a chop and steep waves. Its fun going against the waves especially if you want to get very wet. Taking the waves on the beam its ok but watch out for the odd big wave which will try to tip you over. Taking the waves between the beam and bow will encourage plenty of water landing inside the cockpit. You cant win; just enjoy the chop.

 

[Giblets]

beating in to an east coast chop in an 18 footer can be an energy sapping experience

No disrespect intended, Dylan, but the conditions in the vid would be classed as "calm" when compared with the Solent Chop on a bad day!

 

[benjenbav]

Its mainly mobo wash.

I agree. A few years back on a dog-rough day in late October we fell about a metre down a vertical-faced wave near the forts. Caused by one of those 100,000 tonne mobos about half a mile ahead.

 

[flaming]

That comes into the weather-not-much-cop category. I once just about lost my voice through breathing in so much salt spray on a Cowes - behind Hurst leg when the 45 kts apparent bits were the lulls. That time we set the #3 as a spinnaker and even got some surfs out of the old dog.

Careful TK, or you'll ending up sounding like a Jamie!

The thing with Solent chop is that it's much more unpleasant than the same wind strength outside of the solent, mainly because everything is so steep!

 

[Twister_Ken]

Careful TK, or you'll ending up sounding like a Jamie!

The thing with Solent chop is that it's much more unpleasant than the same wind strength outside of the solent, mainly because everything is so steep!

Yes, it's a relief to sail up the west Solent on a bad day, then get through the Needles and out onto the Channel where the waves may be just as high, but longer and a more friendly shape. But, to re-iterate, days like those are the exception. Normally Lake Solent doesn't throw too many curve balls.

Interesting remark about wake. Once went out to watch the start of a Volvo RTW race - must have been 10000 spectator boats. It was the most confused sea I've ever seen.

See about 10 mins into this clip...

 

[Sans Bateau]

I agree. A few years back on a dog-rough day in late October we fell about a metre down a vertical-faced wave near the forts. Caused by one of those 100,000 tonne mobos about half a mile ahead.

Never seen a Squadron or Princess that big before!

 

[PhillM]

OP, I know what you mean but in my experience it doesn't have to be that windy to get it.

Cowes to Hamble on 20th July East F4/5 mid morning start of the ebb

To keep well away from a couple of ships / tankers, I ended up sailing down towards Gurnard.

Took me three hours of hard beating to get back NE enough to be able to turn past Calshot and reach for home.

For long periods of time I was almost sailing on the spot or even backwards. The combination of wind on the nose and ebbing tide meant that just as I got any speed up a choppy wave could almost stop me dead. On at least two occasions I failed to tack because a wave pushed the bow back.

I was fully canvassed but should have reefed. However, I felt that if I stopped sailing and reefed I would give up all the ground I had made and on a falling tide did not want to get pushed toward the shallow water between stanstore point and calshot activity centre.

Great sail and really enjoyed it. All I am saying is that novice sailors like me in a small boat can find these sharp waves "interesting".

 

[dylanwinter]

No disrespect intended, Dylan, but the conditions in the vid would be classed as "calm" when compared with the Solent Chop on a bad day!

it is tough up north you know

 

[lw395]

It seems to be steep waves 5-10' high every 20 feet or so...

What creates this nasty sea state and whats the best course to take through it? I used to go head on through it, like ploughing through the wake of a big boat but coming back from Gosport recently with the waves on the beam it was VERY rolly side to side but less crashing and the waves don't smash you back to an almost stop! Maybe try and get the waves on the quarter or get a bigger boat

Do I read between the lines that you were motoring?
That always seems to be worse than setting the right amount of sail and picking your way between the worst waves.
If the tide is taking you where you want to go, steer a little free and look to keep boatspeed up a bit to give you most ability to steer around the biggest lumps.
If the tide is turning, remember it turns earlier on one shore so you may have chance to find flatter water.
Sometimes you can plan to avoid the WoT that has been building up through 6 hrs of the ebb or whatever, catch the first of the tide before it builds.