Wallet Options

[alec]

Scenario 1 :-

You are stuck in Brightlingsea and want to go north. You would also like your wife/partner/friend to go sailing with you in the future. The wind is NE 4 to 5 and has been there for a couple of days. You have to go. Skint etc

To avoid the minimum of bumpiness what is your strategy to get to Harwich. Hug the coast, go offshore a bit or whatever etc etc.


Scenario 2 :-

Same as the above but you are in in Shotley and would like to go Blackwater/Crouch way. The wind is SW6 and it's spring tides. You have to go.

You are not on an Swan 64 by the way.

Shall we say a Beneteau 30 footer with a fin keel.

 

[MoodySabre]

Last weekend in a Moody 31

Bradwell to Shotley - SWf4-5 occ 6 and tide with us. Very lumpy once past the Colne - wife not enjoying quartering sea (accused me of underplaying things etc). Engine on as far as Walton which smoothed it off for her and she was pleased.

Sunday SWf3-4 - sailed due south from Harwich way passed Medusa - tacked and got mid Walton/Clacton. Rather than prolong the trip for her we motor sailed down to the Colne and by which time it was flat and the wind had gone light and flukey SW. Sailed for a bit then motored for home.

End result - I made it not unenjoyable for her and she trusts me not to scare her.

Not quite your scenario but the answer is much the same - use the engine (with some sail to stop the slamming) and don't scare them. Live to sail another day.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

My experience is that the wallet is quite OK upto a solid 6, going on 7.... with two exceptions...

Firstly wind over tide can make it rather lumpy... and secondly anythign with North in it, and especially if its been there for a few days can make the sea state less than pleasant...

So in your two scenarios... I'd stay a little offshore going North, and put up with the rough (ish) seas.... i'd avoid inshore in a Northerly wind direction... the coast is relatively low lying along there in some places, so not a huge land wind shadow... and i'd thereore avoid the seas getting steeper and less comfortable in the shallower water... however, in reality, in a F4/5, the sea state wouldn't be anything to worry about... and would probably be equally fine inshore

The second scenario... that i'd be very comfortable with.... again i'd stay offshore to avoid the lee shore... and i'd time my run to have wind with tide for the easiest sea state....

In reality, ignoring the impact of sea conditions upon wife/partner/friends peace of mind, a 30' Beneteau fin keeler would have no problems at all in those conditions, and with careful choice of course, eg avoiding a following sea by 'tacking' down wind for example, you'd actually end up having a really nice sail..

Actually... if I was leaving just to avoid fees, and didn't have to rush, i'd probably dive from Brightlingsea somewhere into the Colne or Blackwater and find a nice anchorage for a day or two.... and from Harwich into the Backwaters/Hamford Water and ditto...

 

[pyrojames]

You have made the mistake of having wife/partner/friend on board when you think you have to go. It all depends on how much you value the friendship and how tolerant they are. I'd poke outside and see how it went, and if there are grumblings head somewhere sheltered and nice, take them to lunch, and see the bank manager in the week.

 

[eastcoastbernie]

I'd attempt both those trips in my 26 ft fin keeler. I'd take loads of reefs in early - possibly do this while still in the marina and rig the working jib. I'd explain to the crew before setting out that it might not be very nice out there and give them option of bottling out. If they decide they want to go (and they always do), make it clear we can turn back if the conditions worsen.

By the way, I object to the implication that female crew are wimps. I sail with loads of females and we are tougher than you give us credit for! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[FullCircle]

Your actions will have far reaching implications on the allotted budget in the future, and just how lonely you might become if you get it wrong (too often).

If she thinks its too rough, then it probably is.


Not a consideration for Bernie, as she controls the budget. And I for one will not argue with the Amazons on the east coast. Tee Hee.

 

[eastcoastbernie]

[ QUOTE ]



Not a consideration for Bernie, as she controls the budget.


Controls the budget? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
You just pay the man. Fact of boat owning life.

(quote)

And I for one will not argue with the Amazons on the east coast.

[/ QUOTE ]

Very wise. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[alec]

Many thanks for the responses.

Many years ago Charles Stock ( the greatest living East Coast sailor ? ) - Shoal Waters - no engine fame, told me that the trick is to leave when a couple of hours of flood is still running and gives you a head start albeit against the tide. This ensured that the water was flatter as the wind had been running with the tide for quite a while. Also, which has been mentioned when applicable, the water is lower and subject to less wind. I have tried this with some success. It seems to work on one tack but not the other somehow.

I feel the key is Clacton Pier. Going south with a SW6 it comes right on the moosh about then. Then you start to come nearer the Eagle and Colne Bars along with some water particles saying cheerio to it's neighbours and going down the Colne and Ray and Blackwater. As we know, it makes the area a horrible place, particularly on spring tides.

Being a bit of a sailing nut I tend to want to sail most of the time ( don't we all) but I think motorsailing is the key, at least for halves of each of the journeys. Going north in a NE from Brighto, I cut the corner and go as shallow as I can up to the Pier. There is plenty of water and you miss the worst of the two bars and the tide is running less fast.Then I think it is worth sailing with both sails on a broader and more comfortable course with probably the engine still on.

Going south in a SW6 ST, I leave early again and motorsail as quick as I can to Clacton Pier. As we know you then get it bad on the nose. Have no answers for this. Tried it out and in with no measurable advantage. Still bad at the bars and divergence areas as the tide is probably still running quite hard then. A suitable time to consider giving up sailing perhaps but this happens to most of us about every sixth trip I think.

Regards