weather check

[happyfish]

I am planning on motoring my 17ft silhouette on Saturday/Sunday from Littlehampton to Shoreham. The high tide is about 12.30m pm so I was planning on leaving L hampton about 6am so as to have the tide with me.
I was hopeing someone could tell me.

1: is there enough depth at low tide to get out or should i go a hour or so before low tide.

2oes anyone know what the weather is doing this weekend (will the wind and waves be to much for such asmall boat).

Thanks eddy.

<hr width=100% size=1>Sunset smells of Dinner I Must end my tales see you the next quiet place
I furl my sails

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

I don't want to come across as one of those 'if you have to ask you shoudn't be doing it types' but.....

There are a squillion and one weather sources, more than ever before all up for the taking, and online tide tables and curves.

If someone says oh yes you should be fine and things turn out shitty, how should they feel if your boat and crew do not make it. I feel this sort of question is one you should be asking yourself as the skipper, no-one else can help you or should help you with it.

Please don't take this as a slur on you, but the responsibility of a passge plan lies entirely upon your shoulders, if you have doubts about yours, or your boats ability maybe you should wait until the weather becomes more settled before making passages.

For what its worth I have heard that it is due to be windy, but as we are not sailing as still oodles of work to do, I did not give the weather too much notice.

Please do not be offended by this response.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Top Cat Homepage</A>

 

[Casey]

If you need to ask these questions postpone your trip and take a RYA cours!

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[kesey]

There's a bundle of weather and tide resources on the site below. You can adapt them for your own location. Happy reading. The Theyr.net site and the wetterzentrale synoptics are particularly good.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://homepage.eircom.net/~ajpower>http://homepage.eircom.net/~ajpower</A>

 

[happyfish]

If I'd owned a 17ft boat or even been to sea before in my own vessel or had a idea of what a small vessel like a silhouette acts like in a choppy sea .
Or If I fully understood exactly how my boat would be against a north easterly force 5 or whatever. then I wouldn't ask stupid questions.

I don't want someone to tell me to go to sea. I don't need someone sit at there computer and judge my ability to use my common sense.

What I want, are a few pointers or tips about the subject.

not everyone in these forums have years of experience.

<hr width=100% size=1>Sunset smells of Dinner I Must end my tales see you the next quiet place
I furl my sails

 

[happyfish]

read the question not the subject title.

I am motoring not sailing

I wouldn't want to take a rya course, just to motor a boat that ive just brought
10 miles.

And if I did my boat would of been sold by the time i'd done it.

I plan to do a course in 3 months. not all of have money on tap.



<hr width=100% size=1>Sunset smells of Dinner I Must end my tales see you the next quiet place
I furl my sails

 

[jimi]

Couple of points
1) Wind might be quite strong
2) engine might fail

If I were you I'd ensure that a competent experienced sailor was with me .. and I'd take his advice.

<hr width=100% size=1>.. whit way roon should it be again ..

 

[ruff_n_tumble]

Don't know about the tides. Forecast for Saturday is:

Wind: east 4 or 5 gradually becoming northeast 5 or 6.
Weather: mainly fair.
Visibility: mainly good.
Sea State: moderate to rough.

I used to sail a 18' Sailfish out of Shoreham. Even with an offshore(-ish) wind I definitely wouldn't attempt that voyage when a number bigger than 4 appears in the forecast. It might just about be do-able but it's likely not to be nice and I wouldn't risk it.


<hr width=100% size=1>Steve Marsh
Hunter 27 OOD "Ruff-n-Tumble"
Gosport

 

[ruff_n_tumble]

Don't know about the tides. Forecast for Saturday is:

Wind: east 4 or 5 gradually becoming northeast 5 or 6.
Weather: mainly fair.
Visibility: mainly good.
Sea State: moderate to rough.

I used to sail a 18' Sailfish out of Shoreham. Even with an offshore(-ish) wind I definitely wouldn't attempt that voyage when a number bigger than 4 appears in the forecast. It might just about be do-able but it's likely not to be nice and I wouldn't risk it.


<hr width=100% size=1>Steve Marsh
Hunter 27 OOD "Ruff-n-Tumble"
Gosport

 

[oldharry]

First off, its a longish time since I sailed from Littlehampton, but when I was working out of there, there was barely enough water to float a dinghy on the harbour entrance at LW, it may have been dredged now but I dont think so. From long ago memory you wont get out that early. As the tides will be spring (big), you wil need a reasonably powerful engine to get you out through the narrow entrance. A 40 foot launch with 120hp engine used to struggle, so the average outboard is going to be struggling against a 4-5kt tide!

Finally watch out for that weather, and get a forecast before you go. At present it looks like NE 5+ which means it will be on the nose and a lot of it. I would not want to try. However there is a likelihood the wind will swing North, in which case as long as its not too strong, and you keep around half a mile offshore, you should find reasonably smooth water. But bear in mind that you will get blown out to sea if anything goes wrong, and it will get ra[idly more rough - to the point wheere you will have great difficulty coping, and could find yourself in bad trouble.

Dont expect anyone in authority (HM, Coastguard, marina etc - or us, for that matter) to tell you its 'safe' or 'not safe' to go for it. That is your decision, but if they do not sound very happy about what you are planning, it means you should really think again, and wait for more settled conditions.

Although its a straightforward enough passage, there are a lot of good reasons why most of us have our boats laid up at this time of year....



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[bendyone]

Hi All depends on a number of things,
Do you know the boat
Is it seaworthy - the design is but is your equipment
How good is the engine - do you have a spare you could take
How good are you if it gets rough for a few hours - anywhere to stop on route
Wind if its on the nose what speed will you make - In good cond maybe 4 knots but against the wind ????
You must have the tide with you
Regarding Littlehampton you need a chart and tide tables to see when you can leave
Are you singlehanded or have a good crew Sorry so many questions but they all need answers befoe you go. -Hope it helps


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[Becky]

The weather is going to be windy and very cold, because I have planned to do my antifouling. If you can't transport your boat by road, wait until the warmer weather, preferably not a spring tide unless it is with you. Always try to work your tides i.e. they are going the same way as you. But also wait for the wind to do the same. Best of luck, but not this week end if I were you.

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[VicS]

Firstly, by reference to the depths and drying heights given on a large scale chart of the area, decide what height of tide you will need to cross the bar at L'hamton then from the tide tables and appropriate tidal curve determine at what time this will be reached.

I suspect you will find that it wll be at least a couple of hours before LW or a couple of hours after LW but not in between and remember that you will need a bigger safety margin the rougher it is. If you can leave as soon as 2hrs after LW you should still have time to complete the passage before the tide turns seriously against you, otherwise you will have to leave 2hrs or more before LW when it will still be dark!

The weather forecast is for NE winds but the forecast on TV seemed to suggest they would back to a more northerly direction during the weekend so that may make it little less rough on Sunday. It's going to be b....y cold, with a wind chill temperature several degrees below zero. So loads of warm and water proof clothing including a hat and gloves will be called for.

The Silhoutte is a seaworthy little boat and you will be weak link but motoring into a force 5 or 6 will be unpleasant and heavy going. You will find the going much nicer if you sail and if the wind backs towards the north it may be quite reasonable. In any event have the sails ready to hoist in case of engine trouble as you don't want to be blown half way to France before you can get them up.

I assume you have little or no sailing experience so I would strongly advise you have someone experienced with you, someone with coastal dinghy sailing experience perhaps. Also make sure you have all the relevant safety gear.

You can do the tidal calculations in advance but you will have to make decisions based on the weather at the last minute almost.

If the wind moderates and backs then it may be a reasonable proposition but not if it strengthens or veers. If it goes any thing like southeast forget it.

On balance, unless the weather improves on the current forecast, I would side with those advising against.

You should have done the competant crew and day skipper courses before you bought the boat.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>Ne te confundant illegitimi.</font color=purple>

 

[paulrossall]

I sail on the East coast so I have had to get my Macmillans Almanac out to see where you are sailing from and to.
From what I see (and do not rely upon this as I would need to study it further if I were doing the trip) Saturday is 1 or 2 days after springs so the low tide and high tide will be very low and very high. The bar, which is 1/2 mile offshore at Littlehampton, dries 0.7 to 1 metre at chart datum. If you add on the level of tide at low water springs I doubt if it would cover the bar.

Almanac states "Harbour accessible from 3 hours before High Water to 2 1/2 hours after (at 1.5 metre draft) . The ebb runs so fast at springs (4 to 6 knots) that some yachts would have difficulty entering" This would include your boat, so once you went out of the enterance you could not get back until long after the tide had turned. There is a training wall to port (left) as you go out the river which is only lit at either end so you need to look out for it in the dark. I would walk along the west pier at low water one day so you can see what the enterance looks like. Saturday would be a good day as it is about low water springs, so you should see lots of sand.
Shoreham appears to have little problem regarding access but it has commercial traffic so you have to know what you are doing.
With the weather forcast above I would definately not do the trip. I would also prefer to have a sail up (normally the foresail) as it keeps the boat more stable and you can sail if the motor fails.
The very best way to learn is to find someone who is experienced who will look at the trip with you and do a proper passage plan, and then accompany you on the trip. If I lived down you way I would have a look at it with you. I have been in your situation where I had a boat (skipper 17) but not much knowledge even though I had done a shore based Day Skipper. I was lucky enough to find some chaps who were experienced and they showed me how to skipper a yacht. I have also done a yachtmaster since but sailing with people who know what they are doing is the best way to learn. IMHO.
Good Luck. Paul


<hr width=100% size=1>" there is nothing-absolutely nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats".

 

[happyfish]

Re: thanks all

I think I have enough info on littlehampton to shoreham now

I dont think i'll be doing it this weekend.
it is sods law that i was'nt able to do it last week as it was like a mill pond but thats the way it goes i suppose.

Her are a few things that some people might like to know as they seem to think im a complete idiot with no idea on how to read charts or look at the met office web site for weather details.

I have done a competant crew coarse but unfortunatly I dont know anyone with a boat so havent sailed for a couple of years.

Planning on doing my day skipper in the next few months when funds permit.

I was offered a good deal on the boat that I could'nt turn down but the boat didnt come with moorings so have to move soon but not right now.

I have sailed about 3000 thousand mile on the atlantic Canaries-Portugal-Azores-England, But on a German tall ship and as a member of a team and I dont read german Almanacs or charts.

I have just brought a new 5hp 4stroke Johnson outboard and I have another spare 5hp

I have no experience in my local waters so when i say i am planning on doing something at a certain time. it means im planning it. NOT definately doing it.

For the people that think I shouldnt even be thinking about it if I have to ask questions about conditions. Then Up yours you stuck up yachty snobs.

I dont think im beyond asking questions and seeking other peoples advice.
That is part of the planning.

To all the people that gave me some positive tips. thank you.

eddy


<hr width=100% size=1>Sunset smells of Dinner I Must end my tales see you the next quiet place
I furl my sails

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

Couldn't be arsed, I am just a yachty snob.....

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Top Cat Homepage</A>
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Jools_of_Top_Cat on 19/02/2004 23:40 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[VicS]

Re: "Up yours "

Some of the responses to your initial post were, it is true, a little short on practical advice and others a little patronising but it did conjure up the image of a total novice with no knowledge of charts, tides, or how to obtain a weather forecast. That is no excuse, however, for signing off with such an offensive remark as "Up yours you stuck up yachty snobs". You will have only yourself to blame if you get no repies to any queries you may have in future.

I hope you find a more suitable weekend for your trip before too long. It'll be a whole different experience to being a crew member on a sailing ship.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>Ne te confundant illegitimi.</font color=purple>

 

[oldharry]

Re: \"Up yours \"

I am inclined to agree with VicS, that your post did sound a bit as though you were a total novice - thats the problem of Forums: the written word doesnt say it all, and I maybe some of the more critical responses come over much heavier than was intended!

When you get to doing this trip, I would suggest you look to leave Littlehampton around half ebb. You will only have an hour or so of weak ebb against you, and you will be in the happy position of entering Shoreham on a rising tide - saves petrol too. I dont think your outboard will get you out of Littlehampton against a spring tide anyway.

There are no stopping off points on the way, so you would be well advised if possible to have the sails bent on and ready to hoist: changing even a 5 - 6hp engine at sea is a recipe for an insurance claim!

The advice to go and look at the entrance of both harbours at LW is good - you will not then be guessing what is there.

Pick a weekend of good weather - and enjoy!

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[ianwright]

Please,,,,,,,

Find an exprienced sailing mate to go with you.
Buy or borrow a VHF.
Wear good oilies..
Tell the Coast Guard when you plan to leave and when you hope to arrive.
Don't be rude to people, it doesn't help.
,,,,,, and have a nice trip, in your new boat.

IanW

<hr width=100% size=1>Vertue 203, Patience

 

[JamesEdward]

Re: weather check nm

nm

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