Tough trip

[Graham_Wright]

Departed Conwy 0630 21 May, arrived Portishead 1500 23 May.
Two on board, one sick during whole trip, weather at the time, force 8-9.
Vessel Triton.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

The whole Bristol channel has been very rough the last few days. Must have been a horrendous trip.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Departed Conwy 0630 21 May, arrived Portishead 1500 23 May.
Two on board, one sick during whole trip, weather at the time, force 8-9.
Vessel Triton.

No weather forecast available?

 

[Graham_Wright]

Hard to understand why he made the passage. He reported the Irish Sea was very rough and notified Milford CG as he went up the Channel. He was escorted into Portishead by Portishead lifeboat.
I doubt the crew will be enthused.

 

[TJ1982]

We were walking the Welsh coast path yesterday morning, as a weekend on the water didn't appeal. Dodging heavy squalls at Nash Point, we were a little surpirsed to see someone making their way up the channel. Didn't look at all pleasant out there.

 

[Praxinoscope]

I think I would have deferred my trip until weather forecast was a bit more settled.

 

[PetiteFleur]

A friend had bought a boat recently and we were due to sail from Gillingham to SYH on the 21st - it was cancelled, just as well when you looked at the forecast. Boat new to us, only motored by us for a short trip earlier, so it would have been quite a learning curve to try and sail in those conditions.

 

[LadyInBed]

Vessel Triton

I guess that is significant but I don't know Vessel Triton!

 

[Graham_Wright]

I guess that is significant but I don't know Vessel Triton!

AIS Portishead.
Switched off now (or returned to Conwy!).

 

[dansaskip]

Just have to ask WHY?

 

[Graham_Wright]

Just have to ask WHY?

WHY what?
We were at Barry and heard the request for assistance on VHF. We followed the conversation with some concern as the skipper had engine problems and were relieved when he finally made his destination safely.

 

[dansaskip]

Why - I mean why set out on a trip like that with the weather forecast as it was - just crazy.

 

[Graham_Wright]

Why - I mean why set out on a trip like that with the weather forecast as it was - just crazy.

Ah! I agree.

 

[peter gibbs]

I'm not aware that passage guidance has been revised by the advent of mass electronics in yachts. Surely the basics remain;

F4 into the breeze allows good progress.
F5 against becoming marginal.
(= 6 over the deck)
Following breeze add twoF max to maintain control in open water.
Based on 40 ft boat.

50 ft boat and strong crew add one F more.

75 ft RTW steel boat - just keep slogging!

Any other takes to guide our colleague?

PWG

 

[Praxinoscope]

If you are caught out in something nasty, then make the best of it, worst I have had was 60kts wind in the Celtic Sea a few years ago and at least 70 miles from the nearest port (Kinsale), only casualty was our Autohelm where water shorted out the P.C.
We didn't see the warning until about 12 hours before it hit us but we were too far out to make for cover in time.
To go out when the forecast looks bad, does seem a bit foolhardy when only 'lightly' crewed.
I know this is 'old hat' but I was taught that F6 is a 'yachties' gale and if a 7 or 8 is forecast I tend to stay put.
I also rather like the interpretation of the Beaufort Scale that Michael Green provides in his book 'The Art of Coarse Sailing' .

 

[RupertW]

I'm not aware that passage guidance has been revised by the advent of mass electronics in yachts. Surely the basics remain;

F4 into the breeze allows good progress.
F5 against becoming marginal.
(= 6 over the deck)
Following breeze add twoF max to maintain control in open water.
Based on 40 ft boat.

50 ft boat and strong crew add one F more.

75 ft RTW steel boat - just keep slogging!

Any other takes to guide our colleague?

PWG

That sounds more like a 24 foot boat than a 40 foot one bit a reasonable guide.

 

[doug748]

If you are caught out in something nasty, then make the best of it, worst I have had was 60kts wind in the Celtic Sea a few years ago and at least 70 miles from the nearest port (Kinsale), only casualty was our Autohelm where water shorted out the P.C.
We didn't see the warning until about 12 hours before it hit us but we were too far out to make for cover in time.
To go out when the forecast looks bad, does seem a bit foolhardy when only 'lightly' crewed.
I know this is 'old hat' but I was taught that F6 is a 'yachties' gale and if a 7 or 8 is forecast I tend to stay put.
I also rather like the interpretation of the Beaufort Scale that Michael Green provides in his book 'The Art of Coarse Sailing' .

View attachment 116128

I had forgotten. Look he only died in 2018:

Times Obituary: The irepressible Michael Green | DAILY DRONE | Alastair McIntyre


Very funny, at his best he was up there with Wodehouse.

.

 

[William_H]

I enjoy this forum as it gives me a window in to sailing in UK. Coming from much warmer climes leaves me wiondering why there are any pleasure sailors in UK. ol'will

 

[john_morris_uk]

I enjoy this forum as it gives me a window in to sailing in UK. Coming from much warmer climes leaves me wiondering why there are any pleasure sailors in UK. ol'will

My theory is that there are just enough nice data to keep us coming back for more. However it is often a very close thing.

 

[Iliade]

I enjoy this forum as it gives me a window in to sailing in UK. Coming from much warmer climes leaves me wiondering why there are any pleasure sailors in UK. ol'will

And why so few of those that there are have heated wheelhouses...

This does perhaps does help to explain the phenomenon of the boat that leaves its berth once a year to get antifouled and once a year to go to sea, if that.