What did I do wrong?

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Princess52

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So....on Monday I'm in St Peters Port with a booking for Beaucette Marina. High tide is at 09.30 so I decide to leave at 9.00. Wind is S-SW spring tide of 9.5m. So the ducks line up. No particular wind. The tide and wind in the same direction. Viability good in St Peter's Port but light drizzle had started. Anyway it's only a couple of miles up the little Russel. So all set.. Charts and radar on and we head out. As we are going north in the little Russel suddenly we cannot see because the rain increases and fog decends. We then hit the roughest patch of sea I have ever been in. It's like the perfect storm. I'm in a v52 and the boat is all over the place. With a split chart/radar screen I was finding it difficult to assess my precise location and I could not see more than 10 foot in front of me. My wife was terrified and I was not too far behind. There was no way I was going to attempt Beaucette in the fog and that sea state. So I turned around and fled back to SPP. So my question is how to avoid getting caught again because at the moment my wife want to buy a motor home. Personally I think I will use the auto pilot more because at least that is one thing covered but the sea state is another matter. Any tips?
 
Err, Nothing.
You made a judgement call, the weather was pants so you turned back. Nothing wrong with that.
Lived to tell the tale. Boating is supposed to be a fun pastime ��
I've been caught out a few times now, admitably only in a small RIB but am always amazed how quickly things can turn sour, especially the weather.
 
Princess52 said:
So....on Monday I'm in St Peters Port with a booking for Beaucette Marina. High tide is at 09.30 so I decide to leave at 9.00. Wind is S-SW spring tide of 9.5m. So the ducks line up. No particular wind. The tide and wind in the same direction. Viability good in St Peter's Port but light drizzle had started. Anyway it's only a couple of miles up the little Russel. So all set.. Charts and radar on and we head out. As we are going north in the little Russel suddenly we cannot see because the rain increases and fog decends. We then hit the roughest patch of sea I have ever been in. It's like the perfect storm. I'm in a v52 and the boat is all over the place. With a split chart/radar screen I was finding it difficult to assess my precise location and I could not see more than 10 foot in front of me. My wife was terrified and I was not too far behind. There was no way I was going to attempt Beaucette in the fog and that sea state. So I turned around and fled back to SPP. So my question is how to avoid getting caught again because at the moment my wife want to buy a motor home. Personally I think I will use the auto pilot more because at least that is one thing covered but the sea state is another matter. Any tips?
Click to expand...

Yes the weather can close in fast in that area, you did the right thing by returning to port. I've been in that situation a few times and my wife always tells me to sell the boat afterwards, but she does get over it. I think many guys go boating with the blessing of our partners so it's best to avoid situations like that when our partners are with us.
I must say that I haven't found an auto pilot that can handle really rough sea so you have to take the wheel and watch every wave!
 
It sounds like you got hit by a localised area of high wind / heavy rain.

Turning around is the right thing to do if what is behind you is better than what's in front of you, but I'm not sure the autopilot would have been much help. Being as your account didn't include smashed crockery and glassware, I will assume that you stowed them well before setting off :) So, nothing broken, no people requiring first aid, boat only contains the normal amount of water ... sounds like an ok result, but it will take a few trips out in calm conditions to supress the "motorhome" conversations.

About the only thing you could have done differently was to stay put a bit longer in SPP until there was clearer weather.
 
I wonder if you ran into a patch of wind against tide? Anyway, for nervous wives the candle test applies. ;-)
 
Given the strength of the tides around the Channel Islands it is very easy to get caught in wind over tide situations that generally create the roughest water. Also undersea ridges around headlands etc can also cause v. rough seas (St Albans head and the "bridge" at the needles being two good examples).

I have been in situations where the really rough patch was only 100 metres before it went calm again. Unfortunately with fog you cannot assess the extent of the rough sea, so there isn't a lot you can do other than know what local conditions lead to rough seas. Might be worth you remembering what the wind direction strength was, what tide direction and strength it was and where exactly you hit the rough water, so that you can start the learning process of what creates these kind of conditions.

Unfortunately, that area of the English channel is littered with numerous places that have the conditions for v. rough water because the tides are amongst the largest in the world. Sometimes you are avoiding well known areas such as the Alderney race to then hit less well known problems...has certainly happened to me.
 
I had a not disimilar experience the first time I went to St Malo. All looks pretty obvious- I mean the ferries trot in and out, right. Well there are markers and rocks everywhere, and I had really only marked about 2 miles off as a waypoint. When we got the there the skies opened and I couldnt see anything; St Malo disappeared and half the markers disappeared. It wasn't long before every set of markers I found was green to port and red to starboard. In all honesty, I reversed back down my own wake to get out.
Anyway, the lesson I learned was the first time I visit a new port I put waypoints right up the to Harbour Masters front desk.
Oddly, since that time, I have never needed those waypoints again !
 
I was coming back from Carteret to St Malo at the same time last monday SW 4-5 so sloppy and on the nose until i got towards Sark for some shelter then ok.

It was a big spring tide so a lot of water going through narrows, so piling up and a squall came through at the same time.

Years ago I had a 39ft flybridge left QE2 for Alderney SW 4 calm in the Russel, six of us on the fly bridge got by Roustel beacon and burried the nose so a wave hit the top of the windscreen, got through that bit slowly the rest of the trip to Alderney and back was fine.
 
It's best not to push on too far before turning - things can be worse behind you very quickly. When flying VFR, I ensure we turn back as soon as things begin to deteriorate - too often aviators have pushed on, then turned back to find conditions behind have closed in too, leading to a collision with "Cumulus Granitus".
 
Its just one of those unexplained local weather events that happens now and then. The first question is why you didn't see the rain squall on your radar? That at least would have given you warning of an impending loss of visibility and allowed you to prepare for it. Yes, the autopilot is particularly useful in poor viz because you've got plenty of other stuff to do like watching the radar and keeping a look out with your eyes. For me the scariest thing about poor viz is encountering other small vessels which don't present a target on the radar and however good your radar, it won't pick up every obstacle out there. Often small sailing boats coming towards you or going away from you are the most likely not to be picked up by your radar so it is vital that you and whoever else you have on board do keep a look out especially in crowded areas like the Little Russel. It is also helpful to slow right down in poor viz; come off the plane and proceed at displacement speed. Everything happens slower so you are less panicked if unexpected situations arise. Lastly, always prepare the boat for the worst before you leave the safety of the marina however short the passage. That means things like stowing everything away safely, closing all windows, having charts and pilot books close at hand and of course having a detailed route in your chart plotter. There is nothing worse than trying to read a pilot book for a port entrance and plot a route into your plotter in a panic in poor viz/rough seas, because you couldn't be arsed to do it beforehand, whilst the contents of the fridge are flying around the galley and the kids are screaming

Having said this, we've all been there and got the t shirt on this one in terms of finding ourselves in unexpected situations which we didn't envisage and hadn't planned for. You did the right thing in turning back so give yourself a pat on the back for that and put it down to experience. Sit down with the SWMBO and calmly discuss the things that went wrong and resolve to be better prepared next time
 
I agree. Sensible decision-making. Everyone ok.

I think a V52 would cope with the sea better than a Winnebago. ;)

Re sudden vicious weather, I remember in my dinghy sailing days one squall which was so grim we just shot straight up the beach and hid under the boats. Ten minutes later the sun was shining and we went off to find ice cream.
 
A localised squall wouldnt, in itself, kick up a rough sea, so i suspect you were unlucky and the squall was blowing against a swell from earlier winds. You chose slack water, you checked the forecast, vis was OK when you left, so theres not much else you could have done, though i agree with Deleted User that its usually possible to see squalls on the radar, so you maybe could have seen it coming and been more ready for it.

I think you and swmbo should look at the positives though, you got caught out but you kept your heads and made the right call to turn back, and you got back to port with no damage and no injuries.
 
Nick_H said:
A localised squall wouldnt, in itself, kick up a rough sea, so i suspect you were unlucky and the squall was blowing against a swell from earlier winds. You chose slack water, you checked the forecast, vis was OK when you left, so theres not much else you could have done, though i agree with Deleted User that its usually possible to see squalls on the radar, so you maybe could have seen it coming and been more ready for it.


I think you and swmbo should look at the positives though, you got caught out but you kept your heads and made the right call to turn back, and you got back to port with no damage and no injuries.
Click to expand...

Nick, it wasn't slack, it was virtually mid tide when it runs at it's strongest, not helped by some of the biggest tides of the year. We were in Alderney and it was a nasty day, but only a minor rehearsal for Tuesday which was even worse! But the OP,was unlucky. Hopefully it will be better next Monday when we make the same trip.
 
Princess52 said:
So....on Monday I'm in St Peters Port with a booking for Beaucette Marina. High tide is at 09.30 so I decide to leave at 9.00. Wind is S-SW spring tide of 9.5m. So the ducks line up. No particular wind. The tide and wind in the same direction. Viability good in St Peter's Port but light drizzle had started. Anyway it's only a couple of miles up the little Russel. So all set.. Charts and radar on and we head out. As we are going north in the little Russel suddenly we cannot see because the rain increases and fog decends. We then hit the roughest patch of sea I have ever been in. It's like the perfect storm. I'm in a v52 and the boat is all over the place. With a split chart/radar screen I was finding it difficult to assess my precise location and I could not see more than 10 foot in front of me. My wife was terrified and I was not too far behind. There was no way I was going to attempt Beaucette in the fog and that sea state. So I turned around and fled back to SPP. So my question is how to avoid getting caught again because at the moment my wife want to buy a motor home. Personally I think I will use the auto pilot more because at least that is one thing covered but the sea state is another matter. Any tips?
Click to expand...

HW St PP is when the north going tide up the LittleRussell is at it's strongest and will kick up significant overfalls that would for example stop a small sailboat dead as unlike your sit would not have huge HP to punch into it. You could perhaps have slowed right down and just let the tide carry you through the lumpy bit like pooh sticks. IIRC slack water there is at half tide StPP, about 3hrs before local HW. When going north up through the Race boats tend to leave when they can get over the visitor marina cill which will be around half tide plus a tad so before the tide really gets going up the Russell, but then you arrive in the Race at full chat of the tide, the only time sailyboats get to see mobo speeds ( over the ground:D)

So nothing really done wrong just a little bad timing perhaps and lack of familiarity with the area. I once went 'up' in a 30 ft sailing boat under engine into NE F6, trying to get home singlehanded whilst the family went past waving at me from the ferry as it went by. MY then little 10HP single cylinder donk was just not up to it and the boat shuddered to a dead stop as it hit every wave, but I was hoping to get up and out in the Channel proper where the winds were less and i could sai for home in Poole. Next Day needless to say I motored the whole way to Poole, in thick fog and zero wind. Dates me I know, but I had just installed my first Decca Navigator set, bought tax free in St Peter Port ( but don't tell HMRC!)
 
Nick_H said:
OP said high tide was at 9.30 and he left at 9, so surely would have been slack water?
Click to expand...

NOPE! Slack water is not at local HW or LW but at half tide up or half tide down. A tidal atlas is useful to have but it would be in the almanac also. On a spring tide it is not unusual to encounter a veritable wall of very unfriendly water half way up the Little Russel which is what I guess he encountered.
 
Robin said:
NOPE! Slack water is not at local HW or LW but at half tide up or half tide down. A tidal atlas is useful to have but it would be in the almanac also. On a spring tide it is not unusual to encounter a veritable wall of very unfriendly water half way up the Little Russel which is what I guess he encountered.
Click to expand...

Ah, right, thanks. Long time since I've been in CI's
 
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