What I learnt this weekend.

[wiggy]

1. Sailing upwind (even in the Solent) against 30kts gusting 38kts is bloody hard work.
2. Motorsailing upwind (in the same wind) is bloody hard work and to make 4kts nearly full throttle for 2 hours eventually leads to overheating.
3. The warning buzzer on the VP instrument panel is not as load as 38kts of wind.
4. A Beneteau First 31.7 sails remarkably well, almost up wind, in 30kts under a small amount of genoa only.
5. Two days over the same weekend can be completely different (today light winds, some sun and flat water).
Such is life.

 

[ripvan1]

Twasn't much fun coming the other way (Christchurch to Pompey) in a Macwester 26 by outboard and with shredded foresail.

Checked Bramblemet and average wind speeds were 35 kts with highest gusts 43kts

Edit: Heard mayday for boat outside Cowes - lady with head injury I believe - Yarmouth lifeboat and heli launched.

 

[wiggy]

Biggest gust I saw was 38.5 kts.

 

[winsbury]

Does anyone know if the guy in the Moody that was returning solo from Dunkirk Saturday night was okay ? It was bl**dy windy in the marina so wouldn't have wanted to be out in it myself.

 

[PaulR]

ditto - would be glad to hear of happy outcome to that one - we sailed to lymington area friday night - nice sail - met with friend and son in lymington - son sailing in oppie open - weather on saturday awful and walking around lymington saltings could not see a single sail in the solent - just these incredibly plucky youngsters in oppies trying to blast up and down lymington approaches (racing cancelled) - then sunday lovely sail back again in gentle conditions - did not miss sailing on the saturday!