When does the chop stop?

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ricky_s

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Hi,

I haven't been outside of the Solent on my little boat and was wondering where does the short chop stop? Selsey, Brighton? and when going the other way does it stop when you get past the needles? What about south of the island?

Sometimes the chop is a pain in the bum

Many thanks, /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
The short chop should stop once you're into deeper water, and when less traffic is about ...

Then the short chop may be replaced with slightly bigger stuff which may be nice and round, or when you hit a combination of wind & tide, it may be even more un-comfortable big stuff.. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.. Ouch !!! ... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

DSC_0416.jpg
 
being a raggie i don't tend to notice the chop as you describe it. I would suggest alot depends on the weather / tidal conditions. Wind against tide can cause some horrid chop espesially if it's being blowing hard for a few days. where as wind and tide going in the same direction can produce a flat sea.

You will gradually notice a change in sea state as you work down the coast. From about cornwall onwards you will get the influence of the Atlantic swell which is totally different to the short chop you describe.
 
Hi

When I bought my boat it was toward the end of the year and the worse weather. I found I had to be quite brave to get out of Chi harbour.

Once you get out past the pole its much better. (usually) But without any previous experience of crossing the bar it was a worrying 5 - 10 minutes. I have also been out where its been so rough you have to keep applying throttle and quickly letting it off. The swell is so deep you want to go back but realise its probably safer to turn around further out, which is daft really because if it is safer to turn around further out it's usualy OK to carry on.

look at the weather and plan to go out when the wind is coming off the land NE or that sort of direction. Also watch for the tide You probably don't want a SW with the tide going out.

I am not an expert on this one, someone will be along in a moment, but from advice I have had on here I have had better exits from the harbour.

The worst bit for MOBS's is the speed limit, as with a bit of power on its safer and more comfortable.

The limit out there is daft anyway, planing would not erode the banks, in fact it would do far less damage than a MOBO pushing along a great wad of water at 7 -8 knots.

However before anyone jumps down my throat, I always obay the limit out there and I would drop off if passing close to a yacht even if there was no limit. Dont be tempted to push it anyway, as they have radar traps.

I would go west the first time, there are difficult patches off Selsey, chopy water etc. And there is no protection from the IOW if the wind is from the south.

Good luck
 
Hi Frontier,

I am familier with the bar and up to Cowes etc. and have seen quite a bit of rough stuff (normally heading back east to Chi) just wondered if would be better with bigger waves so could keep going faster insted of the big holes you get with the chop.

Cheers

Ricky /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
Hi Ricky_s

Sorry I misunderstood,

I know what you mean, Solent water often seems to be like you describe. I had it like that all the way to Brighton on one of our very first trips, it was hard work and took us about 4 hours to get there.

Cheers D
 
Lots of people talk about the Solent chop as if it will be calmer in open sea in the same conditions. My experience is that's not true, if its choppy in the Solent, its just plain rough outside.
 
Re: the holes just get bigger....

at times!

consistent sea state is your friend, confusion your enemy

up to a point (relatively) open water like the channel will give you more consistency but you trade it for scale.

a big spring tide running over even a slight breeze in areas like the rips (rough ground pretty much mid channel needles/c'bourg) will kick up as much as hurst narrows.

enjoy your exploring
 
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