What wind would you go out in?

Sounds like one of Morganas YM questions!

For me in our 35ft AWB with just SWMBO on board, we would most likely be returning from a couple of weeks away, so, I would have been watching the forecast closely and if the wind was likely to have any north in it I would cross back to Weymouth or Poole. This would allow us to be comfortable in anything up to a F5. This also answers the second part of the question, cos if the wind then increased to a F6 or F7 N, NE or NW we could comfortably have a nice sail back to the Solent, a fast reach in reasonable sea.

We have sailed back from Cherbourg in both our current boat and our previous 28ftr in F6, up to about 30knts, I believe Galadriel would be comfy still in a reach in F6 -7, depending on sea state. Wind just risen OK. Wind dropped to F6-7 maybe not.

PS already reported, sailed back from Yarmouth to Chi in 30 - 38knts last bank hols, wind behind us, no probs, 24 miles in three hours!
 
In a 22ft boat anything more than a F4-5 would have me heading to the pub F5 falling would risk it somewhere sheltered. I would be unlikley to be in Cherbs except hitched to the back of the car. Came back on the fast cat from Cherbourg monday lunch time. I wouldn't have gone back in anything other than a ferry. Needless to say at 20knots in rough / sea it was a roller coaster ride back, there were some quite scared people on board. I did wonder at what point they cancel the service.

I've done 9 hours to Guernsey from Cherbs in a 40fter mid twenties gusting 30's and sea state rough, we were not in danger but it wasn't anything that could be described as fun.
 
hmmm what would i choose to go out in - on the beam most a 7 on the nose 5
what would i choose to get caught out in - ah no choice!

cheers
ian
 
We came back on a lovely night sail with a F2-3 on thursday night with a superb golden moon and the stars out- it was magical! My wife is now talking about one day living aboard - hooray! Thank God we didn't come back 48 hours later or she'd be talking about living in a caravan in Aylesbury (furthest place in UK from the sea i believe) and never setting out on the sea again. Phew, close one.
Personally I'm off to Ostend (hopefully) at the end of june with one exprienced and one inexperienced crew - to keep the inexperienced keen we've said no more than a forecast F5 from anywhere in a 35 ft boat. I tried F10 once and it was horrible.
 
Last year, pwllheli to arklow, 5-6, 7 later, south to south westerly.
took a chance and went, bene 35 and a bene 36cc. 3/4 way there saw a steady 35 on the nasa, then it went to 40 and then saw 44 at one point. toughed it out and it was OK. mam and kids were ok. when we were an hour out of arklow with 40ish on the nose was starting to do the shall we turn round and run to dun laughrie but the thought of another 10ish hrs kept the resolve up. lesson learned was that AWBs are a lot more sea kindly than people give them credit for. would i do it again? hmmm, we were on our limit, if there is a 7 anywhere in the forecast NO, because inevitably it goes above the forecast. if it talks about decreasing, 5-6 is ok for me.
 
Came across from C'bourg three weeks ago gusting up to 40 knots, but it was SW, so that doesn't count.

Came round Cape Finisterre and it was steady 35 gusting more (up to 40) and went on and on into the third day. Felt very sick and without the Monitor windvane it would have been horrendous. Boat flooded two-three inches above the floor boards (on the port side as very heeled over; it was coming down the anchor chain navel pipe), fresh water contaminated, cockpit regularly full of water. It was very unpleasant at the time.

But given choice, I wouldn't ever sail to windward /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
Tides

Remarkable how few, a couple I think, posters mention tides. I reckon springs v. neaps makes the difference of at least 1 wind force if not 2. You are going to get caught wind v. tide at some stage and that is where the stuff hits the fan! The sea state outside Cherbourg on Sunday morning was well frisky with 25, occ 30 knots, and that was more or less on neaps and a beam reach.
 
Re: Tides

Upwind force 5 and downwind 6 to 7.

The sea state is what matters most though and I don't think that is just about the usual factors of strength, fetch etc. Three years ago, we sailed upwind from Cherbourg to Guernsey in sustained winds of up to 30 knots, gusting up to 38. It was wind against tide with the SW blow and we had 2 novices on board. The boat was certainly rocking around as the waves were short and steep and I had to hand steer the whole way, which was nine hours in the end cause I chickened out of the Alderney race and went around Le Cascais. A potential nightmare, but apart from the physical exhaustion we all really enjoyed the sail cause the waves were very regular and predictable despite being up to 4 metres high (even higher close to le Cascais). It was also sunny and sea was blue, which I definitely think makes a difference to perception of danger.

In comparison, 2 years ago we sailed upwind from Falmouth to Camaret in 23 knots sustained gusting 28. The waves were all less than two metres. The sea was completely confused and the motion was unpredictable. There was a light fog giving 1 mile or so visibility and making the sea grey. After 18 hours of this we were all a little seasick and so battered by the awkward motion that it took at least 2 days to recover.

Asked up front, I would have expected the Guernsey trip to have been far worse (stronger wind + wind against tide), but in reality was totally the other way around.

The one good moment of the Camaret trip was that this came out of the mist....

DSC00348-1024_768.jpg
 
My own boat..32 foot Jen...and I have to pick up bill for damages.

Family....I chance my arm in a max force 4 on the nose or F5 astern...I effectively single hand.

Lads...all with some experience..then the cut off become F5 on the nose or F6 as a soldiers wind.

Tried a F7 but kept thinking about how to pay for all the breakages but it was fun viewed from the bar later.

Someone elses boat, skipper I trust then who cares go for it.
 
29ft AWB

1)F5

2)F4

3) Probably F6 - 7, did Torquay to Poole last year in a SW 6 - 7 and it was good fun most of the time except when we realised we wouldnt make Hurst before the tide changed and turned back west to go into Poole. Pitch black, raining and briefly a bit hairy till we got the main down.

New boat is a few feet bigger but I don't think I would change those numbers
 
Re: What wind would you go out in? Wind is irrelevant (almost)

Its not the wind that worries me, the boat sails comfortably in F9 with 3 reefs & storm jib in the haven and I was sailing in 30+ off the algarve beging of the month and everyone loved it. The question should be what sea state puts you off so check for srength of tide, wind over tide, any overfalls on rout, how long is the fetch and how long has the wind been blowing, any recent changes causing a cross sea etc. F7 against the spring ebb of cherburg, you better have seat belts fitted!
 
Anything forecast greater than a 5 and we don't go out regardless of direction. Boat is 21' LOD 25' LOA - an old salt in the yard said we would give in before the boat and I have no doubt we are the limiting factor.
 
Sunday, I went out in a F7 gusting 8 to tie back the roses to the garage wall. I didn't really enjoy that let alone if the lawn had been pitching, rolling and trying to throw me in the street.
 
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