What wind force would keep you in harbour?

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gavin400

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Was reading a post on the motor boat forum and the general consensus appeared to be that many motorboaters would not voluntarily venture out in a Force 6 or above.

Assuming a well found yacht, about 30 feet, with a reasonably competent crew - what wind force would keep you in harbour - on the basis that it is an enjoyable pastime and not a 'race for survival'?
I know wind direction, sailing area, tides etc play a huge part, and that many people enjoy an ocassional testing sail.
 
It depends entirely on the circumstances. If sailing with SWMBO anything around 3-4 is the limit she can take before getting overworried. I'm a bit 'chicken' as well as a rule when sailing on my own boat.

BUT when I'm racing in the Arrow Trophy (I'm the ballast mostly and only occasionally get to pull strings) we have raced in 6-7 in the Solent quite happily, and were indeed still racing hard when the racing was called off due to breakages/broaches and all the rest one year, but then I couldn't have got off the boat anyway. When safe in the bar I decided I had enjoyed it, but I wasn't so sure at the time I can tell you.

As I age I get much more nervous about high wind sailing.

Tim
 
Sorry, it's a daft question - too many other variables. :confused:

I wouldn't dream of going out with F5+ if SWMBO with me, Crossing Caernarfon Bar with F5 against the tide is a foolish passage (and advised against by the Pilot).

But pottering up & down the Straits in a F8+ just means reefing well down or motoring. Again, if the wind is offshore, the water is sheltered so F8 is probably fine, but wind onshore & (depending on fetch) the sea could be vicious & you have a lee shore, dangerous if anything went wrong.

The other issue is when one needs to get back home, then a F8 favourable wind might be quite acceptable, but F8 on the nose is probably too much for a long passage. Then again, if well offshore, one has to deal with whatever one gets - but you will probably have plenty of sea room (unlikely with shorter, coastal passages)
 
We're on a swinging mooring, so it's easier to get moving as it doesn't have the "womb effect" that harbours can. So, last year, of our first 19 days sailing, well over half, 12, were at F6 or above. I never bothered counting up the final tally but I suppose that of about 60 days in total probably around a third would have ticked that particular box.

While going out in a six is not ideal, we'd have done very little sailing last year if we had not. Having said that, I personally wouldn't choose to out in anything greater than, or likely to be greater than, about 28 or 30 knots. We find that sailing in strong winds can be quite tiring, but hugely enjoyable, especially if you start out with a deep reef - it's a pain having to hang on at the mast to reduce sail.

On the plus side, our home cruising area is littered with sea lochs and islands, with a lot of sheltered waters in between which can often give some very fast sailing on fairly flat water.
 
gavin400 said:
Was reading a post on the motor boat forum and the general consensus appeared to be that many motorboaters would not voluntarily venture out in a Force 6 or above.

Assuming a well found yacht, about 30 feet, with a reasonably competent crew - what wind force would keep you in harbour - on the basis that it is an enjoyable pastime and not a 'race for survival'?
I know wind direction, sailing area, tides etc play a huge part, and that many people enjoy an ocassional testing sail.
Click to expand...

Well what would you be happy with.

As said too many variables and threads like this have a habit of degenerating into a p***ing contest
 
Old Troll

Force six is a yachtsman gale and about enough in open waters unless one is an experienced yachtperson. If you are at sea when the wind freshens to F6 and above so be it. Never leave a harbour to look for a harbour.
 
gavin400 said:
Was reading a post on the motor boat forum and the general consensus appeared to be that many motorboaters would not voluntarily venture out in a Force 6 or above.

Assuming a well found yacht, about 30 feet, with a reasonably competent crew - what wind force would keep you in harbour - on the basis that it is an enjoyable pastime and not a 'race for survival'?
I know wind direction, sailing area, tides etc play a huge part, and that many people enjoy an ocassional testing sail.
Click to expand...

Depends on the circumstances, but don't think I would go out with a 9 forecast.
 
Depends. I don't think I'd ever set out into a solid F8. And would only really want to venture out in to a F7 if I really had to be somewhere. I have every faith in my boat to carry me through the worst of weather. But I'm not a masochist and know what is comfortable.

On the other hand, if my boat was a Challenge 67, no amount of weather would stop me leaving.:D
 
Of course it depends on more than just wind. F7 off-shore on a warm sunny day is quite different to F7 with a long fetch when its dull and raining.

That said, our tolerance goes up the longer into the cruise we are.

Also, we have put in to shelter from a wind, spent two or three days in some miserable harbour, then left in desperation in wind no less than we came in to avoid.
 
gavin400 said:
Was reading a post on the motor boat forum and the general consensus appeared to be that many motorboaters would not voluntarily venture out in a Force 6 or above.

Assuming a well found yacht, about 30 feet, with a reasonably competent crew - what wind force would keep you in harbour - on the basis that it is an enjoyable pastime and not a 'race for survival'?
I know wind direction, sailing area, tides etc play a huge part, and that many people enjoy an ocassional testing sail.
Click to expand...

Oh boy, what a question!

I suffer badly from harbour rot. So sailing with just SWMBO in summer, the only times I get a decent sail is when the wind pipes up unexpectedly whilst we are at sea. I wouldnt dream of going out in an F4 to windward for example. Once I'm out it doesnt bother me but I go through hell dithering about going

In winter racing its a bit different since I have a full crew who would take the p*ss mercilessly, and I am just a bit competitive anyway. So in winter we go out in anything. Literally anything since the club as a matter of policy never cancels races for weather - thats up to the boats. So far the record has been 40knots average gusting 60 wind against spring tide when the MO forecast F9 to storm force 10. We did eventually retire but we were the last to do so.

I don't know whether others are as gutless as I am but at least I'm being honest.:o

P.S. Races are between 1 hour and 4 hours - I wouldnt dream of going out in a 9 for a full day even with a full crew. I doubt they would want to go - it would be just too unpleasant. And no trophy to win either.
 
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I think this is a good question to ask. Although I expect most of us will interpret it differently.

To me, it means do I go home on Sunday and save all the expense, agro and travel or do I go for it and possibly get the best sail of the year or swear that I will pack it all in.

It is a far easier decision if you are a single hander. I remember one crew member losing it on a bad trip home although I suppose you could put it down to a good learning experience. I wasn't feeling too good either.

In a way, it was far easier for the old timer's as they had little data to go on and their primary tool was intuition.

I know this sounds weird in our logical, practical world but I find intuition the best tool for sailing. By all means gather all the data and have a think about it but then forget it and go with what feels right. Even if it is a bit scary.

What must it be like though when you don't have choices ? On your own in the Southern Ocean knowing that a gale is coming in 12 hour's time and could last for days.
 
A six on the nose kills my enthusiam stone dead.
In my (very limited) experience of cabin cruisers there is a lot of chatter at the mention of the top end of a force four. Force 5 = get the ferry timetable out. I don't bame them one bit.
 
To misquote an aviation saying...

"better to be down here (in harbour) wishing you were up there (out to sea) rather than being up there (at sea) wishing you were down here (in harbour)"

Another aviation saying with equal relevance...

There are old pilots (skippers) and there are bold pilots, but there are very few old, bold pilots
 
Some interesting comments, and I do agree that there are too many variables for even one yacht/skipper/crew to have a hard and fast rule. For me, wave height, and the distance between waves, tend to be more important considerations than wind strength.

Incidentally, I don't know if anyone keeps a complete record of inshore forecasts, but I'd guess that during last year's cruising season, F5-7, and a lot of red in the Met Office website illustrative map, would have been the norm for most days in the Caledonian and Minch forecast areas, and a lot worse in Shetland.
 
Boomshanka said:
To misquote an aviation saying...

"better to be down here (in harbour) wishing you were up there (out to sea) rather than being up there (at sea) wishing you were down here (in harbour)"
Click to expand...

Last year, I met up with microlight-flying friend at Ryde/Bembridge for the IOW steam fair - we delayed meeting for a day (we stayed in Newport) 'cos Bramblemet was showing F6 gusting F7 - I asked him about a crosswind takeoff in 35 knots, and he explained that "the runway becomes very, very short, but very, very wide" ;->

A forecast of 5-7 gets me checking other sources for a more detailed, favourable forecast...
 
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