for ocean/coastal sailing? I've ask some ocean sailors on the coast here if they had a general rule for going out day sailing. I have been told that 6..6 is their rule. If the swells get 6 feet at 6 seconds you get beat-up, so stay in. So far I haven't been anywhere near that for my limited coastal sailing, but was wondering what others have to say. Today I wanted to go, but we had swells 12 feet at 10 seconds with wind, I stayed in. I sail the Mac26X with 50hp Honda, which gets me in and out pretty well, but I don't go when its breaking over the bar at the river mouth.
"General Rule"
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Rule of them
When the whitecaps are breaking, them's require reefing the main and keeping the jib in. Beyond that, experience and caution suggest venturing out only short distances if too rough. Make a note of the wind as well, since that's what's driving the waves.
When the whitecaps are breaking, them's require reefing the main and keeping the jib in. Beyond that, experience and caution suggest venturing out only short distances if too rough. Make a note of the wind as well, since that's what's driving the waves.
One Way to do it is to
"go out there" on a series of trips and record the wind and sea states (you can get the sea states and the history right on the web from NOAA). If you do it a number of times, when calm and more active, you'll get a much better idea of what 6 and 6 really means and how you and your boat can handle the conditions. There are the wind waves. There is also the swell, which can be affected by weather systems far away. Also remember that certain areas off some coasts are always more active than others (headlands, shallows like The Potato Patch north of the shipping channel to SF bay, etc.) Only way you'll know is to do it. Stu
"go out there" on a series of trips and record the wind and sea states (you can get the sea states and the history right on the web from NOAA). If you do it a number of times, when calm and more active, you'll get a much better idea of what 6 and 6 really means and how you and your boat can handle the conditions. There are the wind waves. There is also the swell, which can be affected by weather systems far away. Also remember that certain areas off some coasts are always more active than others (headlands, shallows like The Potato Patch north of the shipping channel to SF bay, etc.) Only way you'll know is to do it. Stu
If period < height, reconsider...
My rule of thumb on my Cat 27 is if the period frequency (in seconds) is shorter than the height (in feet), I seriously think about staying in. As you said 6 x 6 is pretty uncomfortable! And 8x8 is worse, while 8 x 15 is fine. I stayed in Bodega Bay one day in Sept. this year when others in our group said they had the worst trip they'd ever had around Pt. Reyes. The Pt. Reyes waverider buoy was reporting 10 ft. @ 4 sec. that day.
My rule of thumb on my Cat 27 is if the period frequency (in seconds) is shorter than the height (in feet), I seriously think about staying in. As you said 6 x 6 is pretty uncomfortable! And 8x8 is worse, while 8 x 15 is fine. I stayed in Bodega Bay one day in Sept. this year when others in our group said they had the worst trip they'd ever had around Pt. Reyes. The Pt. Reyes waverider buoy was reporting 10 ft. @ 4 sec. that day.
Thanks Everyone
that gives me a little more info to go on. We did all our sailing in Don Pedro, Turlock, Oakdale, and other Calif. Central Valley reservoirs, lakes, and Delta before moving here. I have my computer home page come up with coastal boating weather everyday. I'm still very cautious when it comes to this ocean. Every time I have been out (10 miles max so far) this Mac seems very sea worthy.
that gives me a little more info to go on. We did all our sailing in Don Pedro, Turlock, Oakdale, and other Calif. Central Valley reservoirs, lakes, and Delta before moving here. I have my computer home page come up with coastal boating weather everyday. I'm still very cautious when it comes to this ocean. Every time I have been out (10 miles max so far) this Mac seems very sea worthy.
Pacific NW coast
I have sailed the northern CA, OR, WA and BC coasts a lot over the last 3 years. From my perspective a lot depends on the combination of wind and wave and your direction of sail. We did a trip N in 12-14 foot swells from the W, some sets of 3 pretty close, most pretty smooth, with a SW wind between 15 and 25 kts. We sailed on one tack for 38 hours from newport to cape flattery and never had to head directly into the swells. we had a great time. What I hate is needing to head directly into the swells to make your destination, that can be rough. We did a race early this year where the swells were under 10 feet but from the NNW with wind on the nose for a northern passage. We were beat up hard for 4 hours trying to north and then sailed smoothly south covering the same ground in about 45 minutes. you could always go out into the rough conditions that way if it is too much you can return smoothly.
I have sailed the northern CA, OR, WA and BC coasts a lot over the last 3 years. From my perspective a lot depends on the combination of wind and wave and your direction of sail. We did a trip N in 12-14 foot swells from the W, some sets of 3 pretty close, most pretty smooth, with a SW wind between 15 and 25 kts. We sailed on one tack for 38 hours from newport to cape flattery and never had to head directly into the swells. we had a great time. What I hate is needing to head directly into the swells to make your destination, that can be rough. We did a race early this year where the swells were under 10 feet but from the NNW with wind on the nose for a northern passage. We were beat up hard for 4 hours trying to north and then sailed smoothly south covering the same ground in about 45 minutes. you could always go out into the rough conditions that way if it is too much you can return smoothly.
Thanks Monty
I'm right in your area, we were in Newport a few weeks ago when the 80 ft fishing boat ran aground on the south jetty, with 10 tons of Albacore Tuna. We could only see the stern above water.
I'm right in your area, we were in Newport a few weeks ago when the 80 ft fishing boat ran aground on the south jetty, with 10 tons of Albacore Tuna. We could only see the stern above water.
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