Wind against tide - which direction the worst?

[Chamaerops]

My question is in wind against tide conditions, which direction is the worst to be travelling in, with the wind or with the tide?

 

[BruceK]

Rightly or wrongly in such circumstances I much prefer a following sea. Following a wave in riding it's back makes for a much smoother ride. Of course this is only applicable if you can, and the boat can, do this. Otherwise very definitely into the waves.

 

[Whitelighter]

Depends which force it stronger, but either way it's going to be unpleasant.
Generally going with the wind is the lesser of two evils as this tends to be the dominant force.

Unless you have to go it would be worth waiting a couple of hours/going early to avoid the biggest tidal push

Edit: agree with Bruce above, the wave direction will be dictated by the dominant force which is likely wind

 

[rwoofer]

Good question! I haven't got a definitive answer myself, because in areas like the Alderney Race or Pointe de Raz I have found it equally bad each way. I await the collective wisdom.

 

[sarabande]

much depends on the

wavelength (distance between crests) of the waves,

profile of the waves (sinusoidal/sawtooth etc) which has a relationship with the movement of water particles within the wave that would affect e.g. a keel,

wave period (basically speed),

height from crest to trough.

Then there's the size of the boat, length, beam, draft to consider.

If the overall wave "shape" and the boat "shape" are roughly coincidental, then either in phase or out of phase, an uncomfortable ride will be had, both up and down wind. The main difference will be the apparent wind speed going up wind; much faster than going downwind, and this may affect the skipper's perception of roughness.

Going downwind a boat may overtake a wave; this usually entails climbing up the back of a wave and breaking through the crest, then falling into the trough.

So many variables.

 

[KevB]

Personally I always find into the wind is much worse. Often we've been out and had enough of the pounding, turn round to go with the wind and it becomes a much nicer ride. I find another trick is to go across the wind/tide and zig zag the journey, unless it's particularly rough of course.

 

[Sailorsam101]

I'm hoping to make it to Weymouth tomorrow. I will be against the tide all the way and F4 ish wind on the beam ish...It will be ok but hope my lady does not find it too bumpy.

Looking forward to the F5 SW on Sunday...all the way back with wind and tide behind me....lets go surfing.

 

[gjgm]

My question is in wind against tide conditions, which direction is the worst to be travelling in, with the wind or with the tide?

I think the question should be
which is worst to be travelling INTO
Other than very large tidal areas such as narrowed channels,estuaries,headlands and races, I think travelling into the wind (assuming some fetch) is likely to be worse (in a MOBO)

 

[benjenbav]

Looking forward to the F5 SW on Sunday...all the way back with wind and tide behind me....lets go surfing.

Pretty much a case of turning off the engines and sitting back

 

[oldgit]

equally bad but poss worst if you are going into wind and all the spray is coming back at you making viewing things ahead difficult/impossible ?.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Personally I always prefer to go with the wind in wind against tide conditions for 2 reasons. First the impact speed with the waves is reduced because you're going in the same direction as the waves and secondly you're hitting the shallower back side of the waves rather than the steep front side. IMHO the only reason to think the opposite might be if your boat is tender in following sea conditions but generally planing boats are far better in a following sea

Having said that it is better to avoid wind against tide conditions altogether if you can because the height of the waves may be considerably higher than in wind over (with) tide or slack conditions

 

[superheat6k]

I'm hoping to make it to Weymouth tomorrow. I will be against the tide all the way and F4 ish wind on the beam ish...It will be ok but hope my lady does not find it too bumpy.

Looking forward to the F5 SW on Sunday...all the way back with wind and tide behind me....lets go surfing.

I would venture out through the Needles channel across the Bridge - if it is too rough there, then it will be worse off St Albans, and you do have the option of a turn to stbd and up to Poole instead. 40 miles is one heck of a flog right into it.