When was the last time you sailed in a force 8?

[dom]

A couple of years ago, coming back from the Scuttlebutt Cherbourg run. Not much when we left, but increased as we crossed, and was well into a F8 by the time we got through the shipping lanes and for the last stretch to the Needles.

It was forecast and we expected it, but knowing that is was downwind, we left anyway.

I remember that. Also the year before I think was interesting; we left a couple of hours before dark, sailing with Giblets of this parish. SW F 7/8 forecast dead ahead, moderating and veering W overnight, so off we went. Having reached Bembridge Ledge I recall posting on the forum that it wasn't too bad; came back up on deck only to see a ponderous rolly wave meandering in an odd direction. It came over to say hello, then somehow lost it's balance and accidentally filled the cockpit with water!

I did get a few dirty looks and a couple of comments of dubious political correctness .

After which bash, bash, bash, then the wind veered and whoooshed us all the way to Cherbourg.

 

[38mess]

Sailing from Tenby to Cardiff last winter the week before lockdown, had to get a friend's boat back. No problems really, wind and tide with us most of the way. Wouldn't fancy going the other way though.

 

[Robin]

Late august1992(I think) when we, (SWMBO and I)had a W33 ketch returning to Poole from southern Brittany, got stuck in concarneau waiting out one gale then again in Morgat then again in L'aberwrac'h (2 more ) then left with fair forecast for Guernsey but ended up with unforecast secondary low that had us surfing downwind at 10kts SOG in a W33 with 50kts on the anemometer, freakin' wild especially when tide turned against wind. Had to hand steer all the way, but milady still provided hot food. Had to peel my hands off the wheel on arrival. St PP HM asked where we came from and said 'tonight??!' he then took us straight in marina and refused to charge us. Jersey radio only one to predict the sudden gale but when we started out we were out of range of that and UK and French met gave w-sw 5/6 dec 4. Boat did just fine even with full main, no mizzen as I got that off and rolled 95% of hedsail away. Wanted main off altogether but in the huge breaking seas that risked a rollover.

Another in 2001 ran downwind from Cherbourg to Poole in our then Jeanneau Sun Legende41 exhilarating ride but that one was forecast and the boat extremely capable. Thank heaven for Studland on arrival to allow us to stow sails and tidy up. Had two close friends from USA on board one ex navy was ok but his wife has not set foot on a boat since nor she says will she ever.

prior to that, the 1979 Fastnet Race gale, but not racing, family crew in an Elizabethan 30 ( poor man's Contessa, but better) in western approaches, no sweat for us but not in worst part but listening to the VHF multiple calls for help had me in tears and the memory still does.

Nowadays have lost the mojo and have better forecasts and sense. (and a mobo)

 

[Wansworth]

Crossing Lyme Bay in a small coaster,wind from astern,force 8...........full moon,managed to open bridge door without it blowing away to just see the spectacular landscape,electrifying with the moon light illuminating the white streaks and wake...

 

[25931]

10 years ago for me, like some others when crossing Biscay, fortunately our Bavaria 38, well reefed down, handled it well. None since. as others have said weather forecasts are reliable enough to avoid such winds in shorter time periods.

Forecasts in 1980 left a bit to be desired.

 

[Concerto]

I always wonder whether many sailors who say they have been out in a Force 8 actually have. It may feel like force 8 to them, but is probably only a force 6.

I regularly sail singlehanded in force 6 and 7, but try and avoid force 8. The last time was from the Isles of Scilly with a north westerly 6 to 7. I planned to go to Penzance, or possibly Plymouth, but proved to difficult so ended up going straight to Salcombe. That was a blast and took about 14 hours and averaged about 7½ knots all the way in my Fulmar.

I can still remember the time in the 1970's when racing my parent's new Nicholson 30 from Harwich to Ostend and the wind kept increasing. We were sailing south east and the wind was north west, so a nice dead run. Started with 15 knots true wind speed and full main and spinnaker. Half way across we passed a Nicholson 43 (the largest boat in the fleet) that started 15 minutes ahead of us. We do not know what speed we were doing as the log was stuck on 10 knots and the windspeed was stuck on 48 knots. Out of the crew of 5 we had 3 people on the helm as it was so heavy to hold. We were estimated to have been sailing at 14 to to 16 knots, and were definitely planning. Everything went fine until we hit the banks off the Belgium coast. We misjudged a wave and went broadside to the wind and put the mast in the water. Chaos then reigned. I remember standing on the pulpit and trying to release the tack of the spinnaker. Once sorted we had to bail out about 6 inches of water from the main cabin. We continued sailing with full main and a small jib and ended up coming 2nd out of over 70 yachts.

An even earlier trip home from Ostend in the late 1960's at the October school half term. We started in our Northerny 34 (like a big Twister with a counter stern) to beat home in a westerly force 8. After an hour of treble reefed main and storm jib, the yacht heeling with the gunnels awash most of the time, we decided to turn back. An easy ride back into Ostend, but we felt we had cheated when 2 Belgium minesweepers passed us leaving Ostend as we entered and the sailors applauded us believing we had just sailed from the UK. The ferry ride back to Dover was horrendous and the captain said we were punching into a force 9 and the trip took 4 hours longer than scheduled. It was a wise move on our part to return to port, but it took another 3 weeks before we could sail home even though we went over every weekend - but the duty frees made it worthwhile for my parents (both my brother and I were still at school).

 

[ip485]

This year going west bound down the channel and the year before going Eastbound. The IP rather revals in these conditions, even if the crew doesnt, especially anywhere off the wind. It is the most we have seen together in the IP.

 

[rotrax]

We have been in a genuine F8 twice, both in Island Packets.

During both instances it became very clear the boats were far better than the crew of retirees, First Mate and I.

Both times conditions exceeded the forecast.

First time was between Bray and Cherbourg. Island Packet 350.

Left Bray in a forecast 4 to 5, good vis. , moderate sea. 4 miles off wind gusting 40 plus knots from the NE. 6 metre swells, breaking tops. An approaching sea was as high as our spreaders.

I set staysail and 1500 RPM and we clipped on.

The French Douanes vessel shadowed us for 6 miles on our Port side, switched to the Starboard side under the Atomic Power Station and observed us until we got in the lee of Barfleur. They were clearly looking out for us - Thank You.

Things settled down a bit then.

Got into Cherbourg and Jersey Coastguard was still giving out " 4 to 5, good visibility, moderate seas.

Yeah, right.................................

Best part was meeting up with Laminar Flow and his lovely partner and enjoying a meal with them in Cherbourg.

Second time was failing to get to Cherbourg for the Forum meet.

Bashing into 40 knots was just not worth it. Turned back after 16 NM's.

Island Packet SP Cruiser. We decided, just like Motorcycling, Sailing is to be enjoyed, not endured!

 

[wully1]

Off the west coast of Skye wind blowing offshore fortunately as the anemometer was topping out a lot of the time. Triple reefed main on a close reach until the reefing horn bent.. I think this was in July as the Classic Malts Cruise was going on.
Another time heading towards Portree the wind switched on and swung round suddenly without any forecast warning and the VHF lit up with panic calls to the CG from lots of scared sounding people. We turned and ran for shelter in Plockton and spent a long night on anchor watch.

Another time tucked up in Loch Na Cuilce we got swatted around by some ferocious gusts coming down off the Cuillins - it wasn’t that windy outside but the gusts...

Must be something about Skye.

The only time at sea was off SW Ireland on a beautiful sunny day broad reaching down big blue waves with gently feathering breaking crests. Simply wonderful - but we were glad to get into the Arran Islands and shelter before dark.

 

[capnsensible]

It's always quite pleasant when strong winds calm down to a force eight. ?

 

[Robin]

It's the waves wot spoil it all, not the wind and wind against tide seas are yuk yuk yuk. double yuk. Going upwind in a gale teeth grinding a) covers the noise partly but b) tight closed jaws gives a bad headache. Wind and sea state are both magnified inversely to number and capability of crew on board

 

[Biggles Wader]

Ive sailed in many a yachtsman's gale, most recently this year. Forecast was rubbish saying 5-6 and it underestimated the sea state too. Amazing how often that happens.

 

[Koeketiene]

Only been caught in an F8/9 twice.

First time was when I helped to deliver a HR39 from the BVI back to the UK.
May 2009 IIRC, somewhere south of Ireland and West of Biscay.
Nearly shat myself when the in-mast furling main jammed.
Things were 'interesting' for a while.
Made me go off in-mast furling for life.

Second time was 2011 or 2012 - May or early June.
My own (previous boat - Kalik 44).
Returning from Ostend to Harwich.
The worst hit us between LSH and Roughs Towers.
The boat was like a submarine - cockpit coaming was at sea-level.
Other than one minor hatch leak and the saloon looking like I had just lost a game of Jumanji, no real harm was done.

As I get older, I tend to avoid bad weather (to me this is F7+) as much as possible.
But still, I'd rather sail an older boat I know that can handle such conditions rather than some of the more recent models where internal volume and keeping the costs down is the prime consideration.
But, that's just me.
Sort of like my attitude towards having a spare tire in my car: I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[Kukri]

I will always remember running up the Downs in the dark with 9-10 knots on the clock and 40 knots from astern on the anemometer.

I must say that gale was a very helpful one. Having lolloped our way up the Channel ...

we were off Dover when it chose to back to SSE and blow properly, so we had relatively flat water for our high speed dash up the Downs. It then calmed down a bit as I chickened out of Foulger’s and / or Fisherman’s Gats and didn’t really veer until we were off the Roughs, and we were all a bit sulky at having to make an actual tack to make Harwich. I must make an offering to the weather gods.

 

[boyblue]

Sailing from Brixham to A'Coruna in April 2008 with two crew. We had made really good time averaging 8 knots. On the last afternoon and about 12 hours from A'Coruna a dark black line appeared on the horizon. We rolled away the genoa and reefed the main, the sea was building long before the wind arrived. When it did the noise was terrific, green water over the fore deck, cascading over the spray hood. The wind had by this time built to a steady 42 knots, the autopilot was having trouble steering so put engine on to just above tickover to give the rudder more control while we hid under the spray hood.
As they say, quickly to arrive, quickly to leave. After some eight hours the wind abated some but still steep seas as we came back onto the continental shelf, the wind had dropped to a f6 so up with the sails and made it to A'Coruna just after midday.
The only other time I had extra strong wind was the same year in February, motoring against the wind at night from Harwich to Ipswich, the night the Chinese ship broke it's moorings at Felixstowe and smashed 3 cranes, it was also carrying new cranes for the port. The Raymarine windex recorded 60 knots with waves over the bow going past Woolverstone marina.
Bavaria 49

 

[RupertW]

I’m not really sure. We’ve been in sustained 40 knots plus (top 65 knots very briefly) a few times in the last couple of years but as they were all assisted by wind squeezed between islands or between Africa and Europe I’m not sure they count as a full gale.

In the open sea more than a hundred miles from land we have had a couple of days and nights in the last 3 years with wind gusting in high 30s but probably averaging low 30s and those were very manageable downwind but although we made good progress was quite uncomfortable beating.

 

[Laminar Flow]

Forgive my questioning, but I seem to remember being in those waters in and around that time. There was a brief period where it blew 30 knots late July (and as normal gusted a few knots more) but I can’t remember or find any record of a F9 in July. Perhaps you’ve got the month wrong? F9 in the CI in July is not very common.

Weather in July 2019 in St. Peter Port, Guernsey

Perhaps, you may be right about the month. The log book is on the boat in Pontrieux, alas I'm not. The storm, we were later told, apparently caused considerable commotion and trouble in St. Peters' outer port. Even as we finally entered the Trieux river and in spite of the fact that the wind was offshore the sea state was still very violent. We made it into Lezardrieux in the dark and tied up to the ponton in the middle of the river. The blow lasted all night and though sheltered by the surrounding land the boat was heeling beyond 15 degr. under bare poles in the gusts, surging violently on it's lines. The harbour master didn't come out the next day in the zodiac to collect his fees as the wind was still strong enough to whip the spray off the water.

I have been in storms (F10 +) in the open sea multiple times and I am not generally given to exaggeration. When we received the securite, we did briefly wonder what they meant by "imminent"; minutes later we knew. I have never seen wind come up so fast or sudden, even with approaching line squalls in the open sea and in the tropics. Within 15min we were reefed down from full sail to a jib reefed to a hanky. Blessed with a powerful engine, we were able to cut through the steep lines of continuously breaking seas and eventually made port late at night.

 

[Jungle Jim]

A couple of years ago, coming back from the Scuttlebutt Cherbourg run. Not much when we left, but increased as we crossed, and was well into a F8 by the time we got through the shipping lanes and for the last stretch to the Needles.

It was forecast and we expected it, but knowing that is was downwind, we left anyway.

I think that may have been the year we copped that lot just south west of the Needles. 46knot gusts and some very rolly conditions plus the skipper wouldn't leave before the boulangerie opened, so instead of being 2 hours ahead of a front we spent 8 hours in it in the pouring rain. The sense of humour departed just outside Cherbourg's outer walls.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

My experience was on a seacat ferry from Holland to Harwich. I don't think I have been out in anything above F6, or possibly gusting F7 in a yacht.

It was great fun on the ferry. It rolled and lolluped taking the furniture , sick , and assorted bits and pieces with it from side to side. When one hull hit a wave wrong the thud was magnificent. I felt sick but surprisingly did not throw up.

What sticks in my mind, is how the serious gamblers and croupier were at the blackjack table or whatever it was .
To them, nothing was happening.

 

[Sandy]

24/04/2020 Force 9 gusting Force 11. After spending most of the previous 24 hours in a Force 7.