SEA STATE OR WIND SPEED

[johnnyb.]

Hi lads can anybody help a novice.I was looking on Met check at the shipping forcast and it says wind 5 to 6 backing of to 4.Sea state slight or moderate I thought if there is a 5 in the wind its going to be bumpy.Is this not so,and is it safe to go out in .???

Edited May 17, 2011 by johnnyb.

[Graham Nash]

There are variables but the sea is worse if the wind is against the tide.

 

I personally would NOT go out in anything 5 or above. Even with a 4 I would be looking at the sea conditions before venturing out.

 

Having said that, I am sure my boat would take it, i just doubt my tummy would

[johnnyb.]

thanks for the advice ,Ive been out in a 5 a couple of times but as you say when the tide turns it really does catch you unawares and cant get the anchor up quick enough.I was planning on coming down this evening and going out Wed and maybe Thursday,Has anyone got any thoughts on this ,and is anyone else going out Wed or Thurs???

Edited May 17, 2011 by johnnyb.

[Adam F]

Jonny,

 

It's a really hard one to answer with so many varibles, even tougher if you dont know the area!

 

Where are you wanting / planning to fish? What boat do you have? How experianced are you? What is the effect of the tide? etc, etc

 

In a northerly wind generally you'll find shelter close in as the land will give a bit of protection, however once a mile or so out this will be less. Certianly inside the harbour is more protected. Looking at your boat in your profile a 15' Bonwitco I'd say you'll want pretty calm conditions. Tide effects the sea state, we have strong spring tides this week/end. When the tide runs against even a gentle breeze it can kick the sea up - when it runs against a F5 it can get really nasty - headlands with a strong tidal race can be very dangerous.

 

As a rule of thumb with your boat I'd be looking for no more than F3 with sea state slight.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Adam

[Mike Fox]

Hi Johny,

Wind direction is also a big factor, especially how far it has travelled over water...the "fetch". The direction and strength of the tide also needs to be considered. Swell can also be a major factor at times.

 

Around the Poole area:

- Winds with a northerly component come off the land, the "fetch" is relatively short, and the waves don't get much time to build. This weekend a NW Force 5 kicked up 2' waves on Poole Patch with white tops, making anchoring difficult and uncomfortable, and drifting hard work. Closer inshore was flatter...but just as windy.

 

- Winds from a South or South-East direction can travel 60 to 100 miles or more over the water, and can kick up bigger waves. If these are combined with a flooding tide to give "wind against tide" effects, the waves get much larger and steeper. The Swash Channel can kick up 8' waves at times in a spring tide ebb, for example, and should be avoided.

 

- for Westerlies or SW winds, Old Harry, Anvil Point and Portland Bill can reduce the wave height, and as you get out of shelter of one, you can get some shelter from the next, and so on.

 

The stronger the tide against the wind, the worst the sea state can get. The opposite is also true, if wind and tide are together for a while, the sea state can flatten off until turn of tide. Take care in big tides!

 

Swell is usually less of a factor in the Poole area, because this is usually considered to be an oceanic type of wave, rolling in from the Atlantic with a long wavelength. If the direction is such it comes around Portland, and rolls in to the Purbeck coast (especially Kimmeridge) it can make for dangerous conditions close to shore, and the slipway at Kimmeridge is then best avoided.

 

If it's blowing and lumpy outside, the fishing isn't always that good or pleasant out of the harbour, and tucking up in Poole Harbour can still be possible, and can produce a few fish.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Mike

[johnnyb.]

thanks Adam and Mike ,I wouldnt say I am experienced but after 2 years owning a boat I manage to find my way around clumsily perhaps.I normally launch from Muddy take a big swing around to the right cos Iknow there are some nasty rocks around there and usually end up round by Hinggs head no more than half a mile of shore, mainlly because most of the time its the calmest place I found where there are a few fish to be found.On the way back it always seems to get bumpy on the bend where the depth goes from 35ft to about 11ft, I always try and nip through there a bit smartish trying to to doge all the holes in the sea .Iam going to change the boat soon cos Iwould love to go out a bit further,Ihad my eye on a 165 warrior but recently I ve been looking at quicksilvers 500 basically just to try and get out to some of the better marks.

[Paul J]

Very imformative post Mike

 

nice one

 

PJ

[duncan]

I would just add that the 'sea state' in the met forecast is a very general indication of the open water conditions in the area as a whole.

 

Whilst the inshore forecast will take more account of the prevailing shelter relative to the winds (ie the inshore sea state for portland - lyme regis might give slight in a F5 N but moderate in a F4 S) they take no account of the sort of localised conditions discussed in other posts.

[shytalk]

it is also worth looking up what is classed as slight or moderate sea its more than you think off the top of my head i think slight is seas to 1metre moderate is up to 3 meters !!!!!!!!#

 

[duncan]

it is also worth looking up what is classed as slight or moderate sea its more than you think off the top of my head i think slight is seas to 1metre moderate is up to 3 meters !!!!!!!!#

Sea state

 

Smooth

Wave height less than 0.5 m

Slight

Wave height of 0.5 to 1.25 m

Moderate

Wave height of 1.25 to 2.5 m

Rough

Wave height of 2.5 to 4.0 m

Very rough

Wave height of 4.0 to 6.0 m

High

Wave height of 6.0 to 9.0 m

Very high

Wave height of 9.0 to 14.0 m

Phenomenal

Wave height more than 14.0 m

[TomBettle]

The last two posts were in and written as I was reading through the others thinking to myself...

"The sea states are a guide to large ships and commercial fishing vessels, not small private angling boats".

 

What you and I consider moderate would often barely class as slight to a merchant vessel. What you and I consider rough would probably be just kissing moderate on the usual scale.

 

My advice would be to take wind speed very seriously, but not to take a small boat out in anything more than a truly slight sea. The boat may well take it, but you certainly won't enjoy it.

[gjb]

Not living by the sea i have to take note of what the forcast is on the web and i don't go if it's not smooth to slight i don't make my wages from it i go to enjoy it and i can't make my bacon & egg sarnies

Cheers

graham

[johnnyb.]

Its intresting this thing called fetch( big rollers from pos.100mls away),something I never even thought about. Youd think in this day and age with all the variables someone would have put them all in a computer,then take an average say 20ft boat ,and on a scale of 0 to 10 how comfortable and safe it is to go out lets say 10 miles ofshore,it would certainly make my life easyer.Untill that day I think probably the best thing to do is to ask Mike or one of the other experienced members.Im like you GJB I dont live near the sea but I quite often look on Highcliff sailing club web cams ,if I only go out when its slight and smooth and 3to4 Iwould go mad at home sitting around for months.

Edited May 18, 2011 by johnnyb.

[Rob]

 

But then you get the situation where the wind in onshore and a bit sloppy inshore (3 miles or so), but further out over the deep water is is flat calm!

 

Good luck and stay safe!

 

The pier webcams are always a help!!!!

 

http://www.sortedsurfshop.co.uk/weather.asp?cam=boscombe

 

Rob

[TomBettle]

Its intresting this thing called fetch( big rollers from pos.100mls away),something I never even thought about. Youd think in this day and age with all the variables someone would have put them all in a computer,then take an average say 20ft boat ,and on a scale of 0 to 10 how comfortable and safe it is to go out lets say 10 miles ofshore,it would certainly make my life easyer.Untill that day I think probably the best thing to do is ask Mike

Johnny

 

Experience is the only way forward as relying on someone else to tell you it is safe or comfortable is a little unfair to them.

 

Fetch is pretty straight forward.

Go to any lake on a breezy day and you'll see small waves throwing froth on the downwind bank. A few hundred yards away on the lee bank it will be still and calm and probably a very pleasant place for a picnic.

Fetch will have the same effect in the Channel. A Southerly blow will put large breakers on the beaches, but a northerly gale will still see it calm at the shoreline (unless you are French).

[johnnyb.]

Yea your right Tom, sorry Mike I really didnt mean to put you on the spot.