Wind and Waves

GrowingLad

GrowingLad

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Guys,

I'd like to pick your brains and experience on the following.

I've got a mate coming over for the weekend and we're hoping to get out on the boat Saturday and Sunday for a bit of fishing and a few beers in the evening.

I'm looking at the long term weather forecast and although not great it so far doesn't look too bad....although I will wait until Tomorrow/Friday before I say yay or nay.

We are going to be in the area shown attached. Now I know the mountains can effect the wind but although the wind will peak to a 5 at some point majority of the time 4's are forecast (so far)...now depending on the wind will determine whether we stay on the main land side or head over to the Island of Evia.

Evia1.jpg




My main question is if it starts blowing a force 5 how much could this build the sea in say a stretch of 6miles.

Using one website that I've found to be quite accurate although it shows the wind getting upto a 5 Sat midday the wave height isn't anything to worry about.

I've not headed North before on this stretch of water and I'm assuming that in times of mainly 4's perhaps 5's there isn't enough open sea for it to build too much.

I'm I correct in this thinking?

There is a slight tide in this area (upto 2knts) so I understand this can effect whether it gets a bit choppy regarding tide direction and wind direction.

Sorry, I should clarify...the weather bods over here will use the beaufort scale for wind speed but as far as I can tell don't really take into consideration the wave type/height..
 
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GL if you are only going for a fish, get on the water at dawn, going in the direction the wind will come from later.
Sit out until you feel you have had enough (with me its 2 or 3 hours), and ride the following sea home.

Keep getting updates on that wind, right through to departure time.

Have a good weekend...
 
Hey GL,
you'r perfectly right, not to look to wind force only,
each area has particular influences on wave hight, such as wind direction, tide, fetch (the surface the wind has a grip on )...etc

no I no nothing about your area, you might asc local fisherman or sailers, what wheater forecast to look for, and to avoid

but I think for this weekend you'r good,
I alway's look at o.a. windfinder:
http://www.windfinder.com/forecasts/wind_mediterranean_east108.htm

wind forecast is less then 15kn, or even less then 10kn most of sat and sunday in your area,
moreover the main wind direction is south west, so wind is coming from the mountens, so has very little fetch, so I would not expect any problems.

and as you say, keep an eye on the forecast,
as an exercice, look at the actual wind status on windfinder (force and direction) and then go out on sea and look how the waves behave,
this way you can buyld up experience to "read" the forecasts
ofcause you can use in addition, other more detailed and local weather forecasts .


enjoy the fishing !
 
Hi Chaps,

Aye, I had in mind to get somewhere early which would suffer less from the wind and then move over later..and if the wind was still blowing a bit it would be from behind.

I like the wind finder tool too. handy that.

I was sort of after a rule of thumb for something along the following lines, you have a coast line running North to South. Sea out to the east and a westerly wind. How far out would you be for the sea state to be effected by the wind...

But the more and more I think about it, there are too many variables to come up with some kind of rough equation....is the land flat? Mountainous? Which way the tide is flowing....

Up until now I've only been out on the boat probably about 10 times and it's pretty much been perfect weather..then again it's always been with the wife and baby so I wouldn't even bother heading out unless we were talking 2-3 max...

I'm just thinking back to the summer...man there were some nice days...only a few more months until we're back there again :)
 
It depends on which direction the wind is coming from. Obviously if your map is oriented North up, then any wind from the North or South will have very little fetch so it will not affect the sea state much. If the wind is from the West or East then obviously the fetch is longer and the sea state would be worse but a F5 would not cause a heavy sea in 6 miles of fetch, more like an uncomfortable sharp chop
 
Ok, growing Lad, I live out here as well!:) In our Cranchi we would (in the Summer) think nowt of going 20 miles up the coast if a 5 had been forecast, simply because the summer winds have northerly in them, we could easily run back in a Northerly 5, no probs. As you probably know, no one out here buys a slammy tripple hull, or a Boston Whaler because they are **** in a head sea.
So, if you know the forecast for now, ie Southerlies, then head South for your jolly and run back with the wind as it increases, much smoothness!
Greek waters inshore can have a fearsome short chop, not a danger but uncomfortable, I would have thought your little mobo would cope no problems with a 5, but, go early towards the wind direction, and return with it. not against it.:)
 
GrowingLad said:
Up until now I've only been out on the boat probably about 10 times and it's pretty much been perfect weather..then again it's always been with the wife and baby so I wouldn't even bother heading out unless we were talking 2-3 max...
Click to expand...

Am I correct in assuming GL that maybe you are looking to 'play' out in the chop. ;)

Not a bad thing to see what the boat, and more importantly yourself, can handle, especially as the family are safe on shore......go and have some fun mate. :)
 
Thanks for the points guys.

Just looking at the different forecasts you can see that the wind directions can vary greatly and obviously the mountains tend to do some funny things.....Oh how I laughed once when I was out on the wind surfer and from no where direction and force suddenly changed to an offshore and I was having problems staying up and getting back to the shore....

Yep, I think in this area unless it really starts to blow it's going to be short chop when the wind picks up a bit...shame the old girl is a bit slappy bang...oh well, well just have to try a few different things to see how she prefers to take things on for future reference.

As I said although I've done all the theory and read up on things, I'd say I'm lacking a bit in practical experience of choppy seas...up until now I've been blessed with good weather...it's a bitch living in the Med I tell you :)

Now's as good as time as any to check out the old girls sea legs...I've planned a few places to retreat to should things get a bit too uncomfortable.

Cheers,
GL
 
GrowingLad said:
Yep, I think in this area unless it really starts to blow it's going to be short chop when the wind picks up a bit...shame the old girl is a bit slappy bang...oh well, well just have to try a few different things to see how she prefers to take things on for future reference.
Click to expand...

GL do you have trim tabs fitted? What about a hydra-foil on the leg?

If you can get the nose down far enough into that short close chop, the ride should improve greatly. The further down the bow goes in this size of boat, the speed washes off also. You may lose 5 knots, but gain significant ride comfort.

Of course you must keep adjusting the tab and leg positions as the conditions change, especially when the change goes to beam and following seas!!
 
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AndieMac said:
GL do you have trim tabs fitted? What about a hydra-foil on the leg?

If you can get the nose down far enough into that short close chop, the ride should improve greatly. The further down the bow goes in this size of boat, the speed washes off also. You may lose 5 knots, but gain significant ride comfort.

Of course you must keep adjusting the tab and leg positions as the conditions change, especially when the change goes to beam and following seas!!
Click to expand...

I've got trim tabs but the leg is not adjustable.

I shall have a bit of an investigation over the weekend so I can understand what suits the boat more...

It nearly all got called off as the Air Traffic Controllers have called a strike today and Easy jet canceled their flight...thankfully my mate managed to change flights so fingers crossed we should be getting a bit of fishing in over the weekend...

...I've even heard rumors that one or two beers may get drunk in the evening :)
 
AndieMac said:
If you can get the nose down far enough into that short close chop, the ride should improve greatly. The further down the bow goes in this size of boat, the speed washes off also. You may lose 5 knots, but gain significant ride comfort.
Click to expand...

Oh thats nice advice AndyMac, I never thought about that, in fact I only use a bit of STB trim tap to level the boat, as she alway's leans a bit to stb.
And the trimtaps get enought attention doing just that at different speeds :)
Thats also the reason for ordering that ATT see other tread.
I always have the feeling that the bow hight of my boat is in a good position at normal cruising speed, so no need for playing with the TT's
For shure will try out yr advice.
Sorry GL for the thread drift.
 
Bart... I'm sure GL is ready to roll now......he's already thinking about a drink when he gets back. :)

I reckon Bart your Karnics' beautiful deep fore-foot would carve up the chop nicely.
Obviously the bigger the boat, the longer you can have the tabs down (hard) as the wind and waves increase.
I like to soften the ride as much, and for as long as possible, but when the waves get too big (head seas), the bow just drops down too far, and you end up going under the big ones.
Just got to judge when to back off the tabs, slow down the boat and let her ride up and over.

BTW (Bart) hope your sea trials go well, have been watching your post regarding the engine rebuild :(
 
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