Dockhead
Well-Known Member
It's not the wind, it's the sea state you should be concerned about -- assuming you have an effective way to reef, of course.
People go out into the Solent in practically any wind force, since a dangerous sea state is almost impossible in those sheltered waters (with a few exceptions like a SW gale blowing against the tide at Hurst Narrows).
The sea state is related to wind force, but also depends on fetch, duration of the blow, water depth, etc.
On our boat (54' strong cruising boat), we will generally not cancel a passage due to weather for anything up to and including a F8, as long as the wind is not ahead of the beam, and in that case maybe F7.
This policy did bite us this year, however, when we headed out into the North Sea in a Southerly F8 which turned into a F9 on the second day. F8 will not usually create a sea state which is a problem for us in deep water, but in this case we got large breaking seas which were difficult and possibly dangerous. The North Sea is shallow which exacerbates the problem.
If you are starting out, then just take it slow and gain experience in different conditions. You will soon figure it out, not without a good scare or two, but this goes with the territory. Take SeaJet's (and other's) good advice and don't push yourself -- don't be ashamed to scrub a trip if you are nervous about the weather. The pub is a great place to be in stormy weather. Discretion is the greater part of valour, as they say, and nowhere more than at sea.
People go out into the Solent in practically any wind force, since a dangerous sea state is almost impossible in those sheltered waters (with a few exceptions like a SW gale blowing against the tide at Hurst Narrows).
The sea state is related to wind force, but also depends on fetch, duration of the blow, water depth, etc.
On our boat (54' strong cruising boat), we will generally not cancel a passage due to weather for anything up to and including a F8, as long as the wind is not ahead of the beam, and in that case maybe F7.
This policy did bite us this year, however, when we headed out into the North Sea in a Southerly F8 which turned into a F9 on the second day. F8 will not usually create a sea state which is a problem for us in deep water, but in this case we got large breaking seas which were difficult and possibly dangerous. The North Sea is shallow which exacerbates the problem.
If you are starting out, then just take it slow and gain experience in different conditions. You will soon figure it out, not without a good scare or two, but this goes with the territory. Take SeaJet's (and other's) good advice and don't push yourself -- don't be ashamed to scrub a trip if you are nervous about the weather. The pub is a great place to be in stormy weather. Discretion is the greater part of valour, as they say, and nowhere more than at sea.
