How rough is too rough?

bernithebiker · 11 July 2008, 22:20

Just hoping I can tap into the extensive experience of some of you old sea dogs out there.....

We are hoping to make a short crossing tomorrow from the Morbihan (NW France, Atlantic), and it looks like it might be a bit of a rough one.

There are conflicting opinions on the weather but it looks like at least a Force 4, gusting to 6, although the Metoffice, for the Land's End area says that the sea state will be 'slight to moderate'.

Our RIB is 5.70m with 100hp, and the crossing is 14 n miles total, with half of that sheltered by a peninsula. As we have the kids with us, we would rather play it safe, no point putting them off with a scary ride, and if the general feeling is that it's too rough, maybe we'll just take the ferry this time....

Any thoughts?

Pete7 · 11 July 2008, 22:42

Bernie where are you going to ? XC Weather is giving 10 mph for S Brittany so Trinite-Sur-Mer would be easy and Belle Ile or Hoedic a possibility. If it is calm then La Turballe a good run for an hour and a superb little harbour with resturants overlooking the Quay. Arazal is another possibility, perhaps a little far with the kids but a good day out up to the lock and then the river, very pretty.

This might be worth a read:

http://www.moa.myzen.co.uk/discus/me...tml?1215791472

If it blows up then Vannes and Auray well worth a trip, bottled out going under the bridge at Auray because a standing wave looked like there might be a weir under the bridge, need to have a look a low water first.

Pete

bernithebiker · 12 July 2008, 07:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7

Bernie where are you going to ? XC Weather is giving 10 mph for S Brittany so Trinite-Sur-Mer would be easy and Belle Ile or Hoedic a possibility. If it is calm then La Turballe a good run for an hour and a superb little harbour with resturants overlooking the Quay. Arazal is another possibility, perhaps a little far with the kids but a good day out up to the lock and then the river, very pretty.

This might be worth a read:

http://www.moa.myzen.co.uk/discus/me...tml?1215791472

If it blows up then Vannes and Auray well worth a trip, bottled out going under the bridge at Auray because a standing wave looked like there might be a weir under the bridge, need to have a look a low water first.

Pete

Hi - it's odd - meteofrance is saying 20km/h wind, whilst the 'meteo-mer' is saying up to Beaufort Force 5, so not sure who to believe, although they both seem to be lowering their wind speeds this morning. Swell is 1m.

We're launching at Trinite sur Mer, crossing the bay bast Quiberon, then onto Belle Ile, where we have a house booked for the week.

I was really just after some opinion as to what consitutes too rough/bumpy/wet a ride with kids - I reckon Force 5 must be pretty borderline. Anyway, I reckon we'll go for it and cross our fingers!

Mollers · 12 July 2008, 10:07

It's not just about wind speed, the wind direction effects the sea state dramatically. If the wind is offshore it won't build the sea anything like an onshore wind. If the wind is onshore, but you're travelling in the lee of the islands you may gain some protection. The major factor is the 'fetch', which is the distance between you and and the nearest land in the direction from which the wind is coming. From the west you'll have the whole of the Northern Atlantic, East it'll be offshore.
Why not take a trip out minus the family and kit and see how you feel about it.

bernithebiker · 12 July 2008, 11:15

The wind is onshore being from the West, but one small crumb of comfort is that in heading towards Belle Ile, we are heading due West, so the island itself should provide some protection.

Turns out that the wind today really is much less strong than predicted, so it should be OK.

Having said that, summer still feels a long way off.......

MarkM · 12 July 2008, 11:30

Force 5 with kids is not a pleasure.
On your own no problem.

Poly · 12 July 2008, 11:39

Bern,

I once asked a sailing instructor a question along the lines of "do you think I should reef today" - and he had a very wise response "if you have to ask, you need to reef" - I guess a similar philosophy would apply here: If looking at the weather on the day and the up-to-date forecast you have to actually give serious consideration to the suitability for kids - then it probably isn't.

Neil