Worse weather you would risk on your boat

[Wiggo]

Well, I won't generally set out in anything worse than an F5, unless it's only just started to blow that hard and it's a short trip (i.e. not much time for the seas to build).

Having said that, we left St Peter Port for St Helier a few years back with a forecast of SW F3-4, and half way to La Corbiere light we had breaking waves on the beam level with my head (and I was up on the flybridge, so about 12'). Once we turned the corner, we had the same seas up the chufff, which was interesting.

We also crossed from Lymington to Christchurch in a SW F7, that was gusting F9 by the time we got into the harbour. The waves breaking on the bar were a challenge, given the available depth.

 

[Divemaster1]

What do you mean by "not hesitate......

Short coastal (protected) journey & wind from shore = unlikely to become uncomfortable with waves > 1 - 2 M .... until you're several NM out ...

Prefer flat calm of course ..

 

[dunmor]

force 7 gusting force 8 for 4 hrs not comfortable but boat copting well crew suffering but wouldent wont to go any worse, 32 ft displace ment boat. i think boat could do force 10 but i woulde nt wont to be on it.!!

 

[westernman]

If the wind is going in the right direction, I won't hesitate to go out in a F8/F9. Especially if the sun is shining.

If the wind is any more than that I don't have enough engine power (88HP) to actually get out of the harbour. (We go backwards with engine at full power pointing into a F9).

With a following F8 and 3m seas, we will have a very pleasant sail with just the staysail up. The decks don't even get wet.

However, beating against the same, we will need the main up with two reefs and the staysail (no jib) or storm staysail and storm jib. It is hard work, unpleasant, very wet (waves breaking over the bow) and progress depressingly slow to destination (although through the water we are quite fast). (We can put a third reef into the main, but not if we want to make any progress to windward).

We also need to be a bit careful, because without the sails, we cannot actually make any progress at all against the wind. So we need to watch out for lee shores etc.

We try to stay put in such conditions and rebook the train tickets for the guests or turn around and go somewhere else.

 

[Stevie99]

I'm with you....max F3 in the Solent with ideally a Northerly...anything more is a back/ball breaker....Regal 20ft... bowrider/petrol/American GRP...that's two of us who have so far lived to tell the tale..lol !

There are so many factors. F3 in the Solent gets uncomfortable for us.

Yet this week we have happily been out in an F6 in Poole, wind direction westerly meaning that the sea state was still "slight" in the sheltered harbour and bay.

However, we have been here with an F2 Easterly which is not good in Poole.

18ft Bowrider.

We have just survived a week on the boat without sinking (bowrider), exploding (petrol) or breaking up (American GRP) which will, no doubt, astound some members of this forum.

Martin

 

[Fire99]

23ft Shetland Black Prince, out in a F7-8, East Coast blowing N.Easterlies.

Other than the shower tray fixings taking a bit of a pounding, no problems.

Fun? Ish.. Bit flippin' uncomfortable after a while and can't hear a thing on the radio with all the crashing going on.
Probably wouldn't plan to go out in weather that naff though. F6 with reasonable sea conditions was more comfortable. At least you know the boat can handle it though.