Wind farms

[Slow_boat]

I haven't crossed the Thames estuary since the wind farms were built and I'm curious; Do they have any effect on the wind flow in practical terms?

BTW, what is that thing that looks like an oil rig on Gunfleet Sands?

 

[Sixpence]

Don't know what difference , if any , the wind turbines have made but as for the building / structure , that sounds like you mean the Maunsell Fort , see here http://www.bobleroi.co.uk/ScrapBook/CityReunion/FortFanatics.html

 

[alldownwind]

I've sailed thro a windfarm and noticed no effects at all.
The structure will have been the jack-up rig used for taking drilling test boreholes. No Maunsell Forts on the Gunfleet, T25.

 

[Sixpence]

Must mean the old disused lighthouse then

 

[Slow_boat]

Nope, definately not the old lighthouse. It certainly looked like an oil rig in the general area of the radio mast, south or south east of Clacton.

 

[Athene V30]

Coming back from Calais after the May Bank Holiday there was some sort of oil / gas rig in that area.

At the time I was more concerned by the weather and forecast (F7's!) to take too much notice (other than miss it!) but it looked like it was under tow.

Maybe it is doing some exploratory work?

 

[Sixpence]

Good chance it was an oil rig then /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MikeBz]

If it's the very tall structure clearly visible from Clacton that we're talking about then I'm told it's purpose was to gather data for the proposed wind farm in that area.

Mike

 

[alldownwind]

[ QUOTE ]
If it's the very tall structure clearly visible from Clacton that we're talking about then I'm told it's purpose was to gather data for the proposed wind farm in that area.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes there is a tall mast out there, been there for about 3 years, it's a met mast you're quite right. The similar one for the Kentish Flats is still there and I guess provides a continuing purpose now that the windfarm is (sort of) fully operational.
An oil-rig-like structure on the Gunfleet will be a jack-up platform drilling sample bore holes. They do this to decide where best to plant turbines. (They drill the hole, drop a turbine seed down, press the ground firmly all round and water well, then wait and see what comes up).
If the rig is a really big bu**er then perhaps they are actually putting in the foundation towers but I didn't think the project had got anywhere near that far. You'd know in Clacton because the ground will shake as they drive them in.
And no I'm not a windfarm builder. I live in sight of the Kent one and watched how they did it!

 

[johnalison]

I've also sailed through a windfarm;

This was in Danish waters south of Falster. It was reputedly the largest in Europe. The wind certainly dropped during our passage and we drifted through, later getting about 15 knots when we were free again. They are designed to extract energy after all.

 

[neiloakley]

I was out at gunfleet sands today on the jet ski and came across the 'rig' thats mentioned in this post. I know its an old thread but i too wanted to know what it was so whilst out at sea i googled and up popped this thread.

There was a service vessel working on one of the turbines so i popped over to ask them. Turns out its just a substation. All the turbine link to it, it ups the voltage and sends it back to shore via one cable.

Pics attached, is that what you saw?