What force wind to venture out in

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clutters

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I want to take a trip aroud the island this weekend with a regular non newbie crew but the weather is certainly causing me concern. When I sailed with the RAF we were regularly sailing in 8 and had tested our Trysail and storm jib frequently in 9's. We took this seriously and with respect but weren't phased by it. This was some time ago now and i wasn't skipper back then or a particularly knowledgable sailor at all.

I've skippered in 7's before coming across the Gibraltar straights with not much concern though deep reefed and undercontrol. Is it foolhardy/dangerous to take a crew out when wind is predicted to be gusting high 8's? My head says yes, as if things develop there are no safe havens on the south side so stick to the solent if the forecast stays the same. That said if it is predicted that we'll be sailing downwind with tide then that should ease apparent conditions and sea state will be healthier.

Naturally i will be studying the weather closely in the hours leading up to departure.

Views and advice welcome.
 
Only you can answer this. It's a cliche, but I would say that "if you have to ask" then the answer is probably no.

Do you have confidence in the boat, it's gear, your own abilities, and those of the crew? To the extent that you are actually expecting to enjoy the experience?
 
Generally in a round the island, you are going to get wind over tide somewhere....
Let's put it this way, I'm not begging to come with you....

It's early season, Solent should not be too busy, a blast around and an early beer seems a far better idea.
 
Needles channel in a SW gale, doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

Also St Cathrines point with its over falls. Again not so where I'd like to mess around in.

I suppose it depends on your boat , but there are warnings in the almanac for a reason.
 
The F8's and F9's from your RAF days - gusts or sustained wind speed?

A lot of crews retrospectively count wind speed in gusts i.e highest windspeed recorded = the Beaufort force (sounds better over a few scoops in the pub) but if as probable the F9's were F6's with windy bits then you know what to expect as this is the forecast weather this weekend.
 
Given the state of the current weather forecast, you'd have to be stark staring bonkers to go round the South side of the Isle of Wight this weekend.

Keith
 
The highest wind speed I've recorded while on the move was 54kn, but this was just a gust off a Swedish Island and we barely noticed it. With a family crew, I would not be likely to set out with more than a six in the offing, and only if it were from asternish. I can imagine a younger and fitter crew setting off in a seven, but a full gale seems reckless in open water except in a fully crewed and substantial yacht.
 
For this weekend - stay in the solent. Quick sail up and down and find somewhere with a nice pub.

In general terms. Only you know but personally 6 would be the usual limit. Been out in more and it's rubbish. Exception might be down wind or short trip in flat water. If you do it for fun why be uncomfortable
 
clutters said:
I want to take a trip aroud the island this weekend with a regular non newbie crew but the weather is certainly causing me concern. When I sailed with the RAF we were regularly sailing in 8 and had tested our Trysail and storm jib frequently in 9's. We took this seriously and with respect but weren't phased by it. This was some time ago now and i wasn't skipper back then or a particularly knowledgable sailor at all.

I've skippered in 7's before coming across the Gibraltar straights with not much concern though deep reefed and undercontrol. Is it foolhardy/dangerous to take a crew out when wind is predicted to be gusting high 8's? My head says yes, as if things develop there are no safe havens on the south side so stick to the solent if the forecast stays the same. That said if it is predicted that we'll be sailing downwind with tide then that should ease apparent conditions and sea state will be healthier.

Naturally i will be studying the weather closely in the hours leading up to departure.

Views and advice welcome.
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It probably depends on which Island you intend to go around.
 
Always better to be in harbour wishing you were out there than out there wishing you were in harbour snug and safe. If you want to do it for training or confidence then crack on - but generally there is no need to go looking for weather as it will find you eventually. Personally I would not as it promises to be uncomfortable and probably bruising. Depends on what is driving your weekend. Whatever good luck!
 
Assume you are talking about IoW. A few years back I got caught off St Catherine's Pt with wind against tide heading east towards Bembridge Ledge. Wind was SW 37-44kts IIRC. Speed through the water was circa 7kts, SOG only about 3kts. I have some pics somewhere; not really wild but big standing waves that were like sailing through the proverbial washing machine. I had no main for fear of gybing.

Would it it be doable; of course. Would I want to try it early season with a possibly inexperienced crew and possibly new to the boat? No way! ... if anything goes wrong there is a heightened risk of gear damage and the sea is still very cold. That said HW Portsmouth is 18:10 tomorrow and it's near nears, so you should be OK going anticlockwise if you're through the Needles by shortly after 10.
 
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There's a million more variables than simply the wind force. How easy will it be to get in/out of your berth? What is the boat? Is it your boat? Do you trust the boat? Do you trust the crew and vice versa? It's all well and good to say you will be going downwind so things will be easier, but you're going in a circle, and also once you've turned around the Needles ( assuming you go round that way) your kinda committed...

If you have to ask an unknown bunch of armchair sailors I'd say by default it's probably a "no". We've all been there, "oh if a few people reckon it's ok I'll give it a go" but that won't hold up if the **** hits the fan.

I was supposed to be off sailing this weekend too but canned it last night, forecast just too bad, and where's the fun of sailing in a howling wind with the rain lashing down wondering if I'm about to damage the boat for the rest of the season!
 
obmij said:
A lot of crews retrospectively count wind speed in gusts i.e highest windspeed recorded = the Beaufort force (sounds better over a few scoops in the pub)......
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This ^^

I've done a few of the club cruises and on one trip 50 knot Bob was going on about the 8,9 and 10's he'd experienced.

The inshore waters forecast was SW 5-7. Close in with wind off the land I'd expect this see 25 knots steady breeze at some point with possibility of gust to 30 if you were unlucky. Most of the time late teens early 20's. With the wind on the beam or rear quarter I'd carry a full main and 100% jib and bang a couple of reefs in before attempting upwind work.

50 knot Bob and his dodgy Raymarine set up experienced hurricane strength winds and is now ready for the Southern Ocean. His furled genoa will take him round the world...

Personally with family I'd be wary of F6 and above unless local in the flat water of the estuary and with a couple of my experienced mates who know the boat an 8 in the inshore waters forecast means no go.

Things go wrong quickly and break in my (limited) proper gale experience and once it becomes a real challenge to make a cup of tea or use the heads, you have to ask where the fun is?
 
clutters said:
I want to take a trip aroud the island this weekend with a regular non newbie crew but the weather is certainly causing me concern. When I sailed with the RAF we were regularly sailing in 8 and had tested our Trysail and storm jib frequently in 9's. We took this seriously and with respect but weren't phased by it. This was some time ago now and i wasn't skipper back then or a particularly knowledgable sailor at all.

I've skippered in 7's before coming across the Gibraltar straights with not much concern though deep reefed and undercontrol. Is it foolhardy/dangerous to take a crew out when wind is predicted to be gusting high 8's? My head says yes, as if things develop there are no safe havens on the south side so stick to the solent if the forecast stays the same. That said if it is predicted that we'll be sailing downwind with tide then that should ease apparent conditions and sea state will be healthier.

Naturally i will be studying the weather closely in the hours leading up to departure.

Views and advice welcome.
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Its worth reading the attached PDF before setting off through the needles in bad weather. Case two in this report is very sobering. Where did you sail that had regular force nines?. Force nines and above are pretty rare on the south of England and are very hazardess when they do occur dues to the tidal streams, headland and overfulls.

www.maib.gov.uk/cms_resources/lcsd.pdf
 
Kelpie said:
Only you can answer this. It's a cliche, but I would say that "if you have to ask" then the answer is probably no.

Do you have confidence in the boat, it's gear, your own abilities, and those of the crew? To the extent that you are actually expecting to enjoy the experience?
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+1
 
L
clutters said:
I want to take a trip aroud the island this weekend with a regular non newbie crew but the weather is certainly causing me concern. When I sailed with the RAF we were regularly sailing in 8 and had tested our Trysail and storm jib frequently in 9's. We took this seriously and with respect but weren't phased by it. This was some time ago now and i wasn't skipper back then or a particularly knowledgable sailor at all.

I've skippered in 7's before coming across the Gibraltar straights with not much concern though deep reefed and undercontrol. Is it foolhardy/dangerous to take a crew out when wind is predicted to be gusting high 8's? My head says yes, as if things develop there are no safe havens on the south side so stick to the solent if the forecast stays the same. That said if it is predicted that we'll be sailing downwind with tide then that should ease apparent conditions and sea state will be healthier.

Naturally i will be studying the weather closely in the hours leading up to departure.

Views and advice welcome.
Click to expand...

BBC Weather, gives SW 42 mph wind off Hurst for most of morning/early pm.
Not a good forecast to risk Needles Channel, unless in something carrying RNLI logo, IMO of course!

However, you could ignore, but I wouldn't set out in that.

Forecast 49 mph Sunday!
 
There are so many variables it's not possible to give a definitive answer. Boat, sea state, length of trip, wind angle, strength of crew etc.

When my 3 year old daughter is on board we try not to go out in more than 20 knots apparent.

Testing boats I'll go out in conditions when most won't and it's wholly up to the skipper. Last year I tested a boat in sustained wind speeds of 30-40 knots true. But we saw over 50 knots true - it didn't tell me a lot about the boat, except with too much sail area up there was a line between me controlling the boat and wind controlling it, but with the right sail area she was great. Luckily I had two days to test her :)
 
snooks said:
When my 3 year old daughter is on board we try not to go out in more than 20 knots apparent.
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My young crew - not quite as young as yours - complains if we aren't bouncing around and tipping over.

In general, though, I'll go into F4 and down F5 for fun, into F5 and down F6 if I have to.
 
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