Whats the worst weather you have sailed in?

[StugeronSteve]

Hi Robin. I am in full agreement with you, coming back from Poole I tend to use the Looe, then North Channels as a matter of course, with a little dive south around Christchurch Ledge to miss the worst of the lobster pots. If the wind is dead in the east, or south of east, I will come up the main channel from Poole to the Bar Buoy and then head for the N. Heads SHM, gives a better slant on the wind and quicker passage.

I generally prefer the North Channel, unless heading back from further west ie. St. Albans, when it is easier, subject to conditions to zip straight down passed the Needles. The Needles channel can, at times, be deceptively uncomfortable in little more than moderate winds and, as you rightly say, provides a great training ground for the Yarmouth and Lymington Lifeboats.

Steve.

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[jimi]

I've always tended to avoid the E Looe channel in anything less than almost smooth conditions as there's not a lotta water in some places and I've been wary of bouncing off the botton when there's a swell running .. be interested in other's experiences here.

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[StugeronSteve]

Never touched bottom but, like you, I have never come out that way with any swell running. When the wind is in the SE, which tends to bring swell into that corner, I go out to the Bar Buoy. My early morning exits from Poole usually seem to be met with a glassy calm off the Sandbanks beach.

Steve.

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[ChrisE]

E Looe is OK at Poole HW, you get an extra 2m which keeps keel off bottom. I've been through there at LW springs and viewed fish on the bottom (literally). There are places where you've got less than 0.5m metre under the keel but unless it was a really big swell you'll only touch down on sand (unless you're daft enough to hit one of the groins!)

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[jimi]

Problem is that if you're going that way you tend to be going out at LW to get the tide.

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[Robin]

The problem though is not in the channel itself but just to the east/north east outside of it, though the buoy was moved last year I think to help a bit. I have touched there in a W33 1.68m draft and not right at LW either. The swell is a worry in and east/southeasterly but there are so many powerboats that use this route for the poser's run along the beaches that there is a perpetual swell at weekends! We now have a 2.08m draft and have been through at 2nd HW but mostly avoid nowadays it for peace of mind.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[ChrisE]

Robin and Jimi,

You're right, of course, Rival Spirit has a keel that pushes the bottom out of the way so we don't fret too much.

But with your modern lightweight jobbies I can see that this would be a problem.

Only joking fellas

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[Robin]

L'Aberwrac'h to Guernsey in Westerly 33 Ketch after sitting out 2 separate gales, the 2nd not forecast by the Met Office only Meteo France and a gale warning gven by Ushant Traffic Control as we left (we went back in). When we did leave (Forecast W-NW 3/4 perhaps 5/6 at first) we motored an hour in no wind but a huge residual swell then sailed all up nicely for a couple more hours. The secondary depression that formed on the trailing cold front of the previous gale was not forecast and fair zoomed up the channel with us on it - Jersey Radio had the foreast but we were out of their range until some hours later. Wind speed (apparent) at the top of the swells was 45kts, at the bottoms almost nothing, we hit 10.5kts surfing and were doing 8kts SOG downwind, so the true wind was >50kts much of the time. We got the mizzen off but daren't turn to try and get the main off for fear of being rolled in the huge seas even after the tide turned back with the wind, the jib was rolled away to nothing. I hand steered for nearly 14 hrs and 'peeled' my fingers off the wheel one by one when we got in. Two other boats were also going the same way, one, another W33, also kept the full mainsail but the other had in-mast and managed to winch it away downwind. Other than that it was a beautiful starry night with maybe 25ml vis, but (ref another post) much of the time the other W33 was invisible as he didn't have a masthead tricolour and his pulpit lights were hidden except when we both hit the top of a swell at the same time. This was pre-GPS but we had Decca with a cockpit repeater and steered to stay just off track to the right, steering by compass was not possible it was swinging around so much. SWMBO kept our position updated with the Yeoman plotter at the chart table and kept hot drinks and food coming at regular intervals. St Peter Port HM gave all 3 boats a free stay when we got in, he couldn't believe anyone was out that night beause they HAD seen Jersey's foreast!

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[Robin]

/forums/images/icons/laugh.gifTwas a heavyweight W33 I touched with! Seriously though that sand is very hard and I suspect could do a fair bit of damage if you bounce on it, the mud inside the harbour is much more forgiving (I'm told...)

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[NigelW]

Off the East coast of USA, Nic 55, 22 tons, F11+, sailing like a Flying Dutchman. Fun......
Hot food was delayed a while, as waves were up to second spreaders!

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