medina cruise speeds

nik · 20 March 2007, 14:58

I posted this message on upcoming cruises, but so far have not had any replies.

I tried to get over to cowes yesterday from chichester around 1400ish.
It was quite lumpy and I could only seem to manage about 9 knots, I also had a nervous passenger.
I got a couple of miles out, decided it was going to take too long and gave it up.
I would like to know what kind of speeds you were able to manage.
Thanks, Nick.

PS. going over chichester bar, the depth sounder was reading 1.5 metres at times, which was a unnerving.

Nauti Buoy · 20 March 2007, 15:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by nik

I posted this message on upcoming cruises, but so far have not had any replies.

I tried to get over to cowes yesterday from chichester around 1400ish.
It was quite lumpy and I could only seem to manage about 9 knots, I also had a nervous passenger.
I got a couple of miles out, decided it was going to take too long and gave it up.
I would like to know what kind of speeds you were able to manage.
Thanks, Nick.

PS. going over chichester bar, the depth sounder was reading 1.5 metres at times, which was a unnerving.

Hi,

Sorry to hear you had to turn back, but that is the sensible thing to have done in the circumstances. The speeds we were able to cruise comfortably at in the Solent were about a constant 36 knots but that is not really fair of me to put that due to the size of my rib. Just thought I'd at lease put a reply back to you.

Hopefully see you out for the next cruises

regards

Richard

robin · 20 March 2007, 15:51

Nik...

I can't comment on the speeds other people attained as I travelled over to the IOW courtesy of Nauti Buoy in the relative shelter of the Island. By 1400 that day I was eating my Bass and drinking my Fosters in the Folly.

The stretch of water between Chi bar and the eastern approaches can be particularly exposed and challenging under certain conditions. I know from personal experience....and try to plan entry/departure to avoid the rush hours (the middle 2 and some of the third hour of the ebb) particularly in a southerly/south westerly.

According to my tide table for 17th March 2007...
At Chichester Harbour entrance ......
HW 0959 4.6
LW 1532 0.8

The bar is notorious for strong tidal flow on the spring ebb.....and that flow is roughly south to southwest.

According to the Metoffice weather observations archive for 1400 that day...

Wind SW force 6 - 7 (25 - 30 knots)

At the time of your departure from the Harbour you were in the strongest flow times (rule of twelfths) for that day and in a classic wind against tide situation. No wonder you were only getting 1.5 metres under you at times (what goes up must come down) also no wonder you could only make 9 knots at times.

Shrewd move turning back for home.

codprawn · 20 March 2007, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nauti Buoy

Hi,

Sorry to hear you had to turn back, but that is the sensible thing to have done in the circumstances. The speeds we were able to cruise comfortably at in the Solent were about a constant 36 knots but that is not really fair of me to put that due to the size of my rib. Just thought I'd at lease put a reply back to you.

Hopefully see you out for the next cruises

regards

Richard

You are right about the size difference. Once you get up to the 9m mark the smaller waves seem to vanish. To be honest though I reckon smaller Ribs are more fun and easier to chuck around. Bit like a Spitfire and a Jumbo Jet - the Jumbo is faster and more comfortable but that isn't ALWAYS the point.

I bet a Zapcat for example is more fun than any other RIB!!!

jwalker · 20 March 2007, 16:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

.. Once you get up to the 9m mark the waves seem to vanish. ..

JABS · 20 March 2007, 16:23

Hi,

We crossed early in the day and ran down towards Portsmouth and then crossed to Cowes. It was a bit wet but not too dramatic. We were doing, I guess 25 ish.

We returned leaving Cowes at around 16.00 and it was pretty lumpy. We ran with the waves at 17 to 20. It was not at all comfortable but was our first outing in conditions such as these. The boat felt just fine, so we were not at all worried. Looking at BrambleMet alter, it was 28 to 30 knots at 16.00, force seven.

I hasten to add that I would not have crossed if I didn't have some sea hours under my belt and 'crew' was happy!

Better to turn back than get frit!

codprawn · 20 March 2007, 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

You are right about the size difference. Once you get up to the 9m mark the smaller waves seem to vanish. To be honest though I reckon smaller Ribs are more fun and easier to chuck around. Bit like a Spitfire and a Jumbo Jet - the Jumbo is faster and more comfortable but that isn't ALWAYS the point.

I bet a Zapcat for example is more fun than any other RIB!!!

Missed out ONE word - humble apologies Mr Walker......

Andre · 20 March 2007, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by nik

I posted this message on upcoming cruises, but so far have not had any replies.

I tried to get over to cowes yesterday from chichester around 1400ish.
It was quite lumpy and I could only seem to manage about 9 knots, I also had a nervous passenger.
I got a couple of miles out, decided it was going to take too long and gave it up.
I would like to know what kind of speeds you were able to manage.
Thanks, Nick.

PS. going over chichester bar, the depth sounder was reading 1.5 metres at times, which was a unnerving.

Nik

Sidney 1 a XS-7.0 Rib and Lynx a Ballistic 6.5 launched at Chichester that morning and it was close to HW but we got back probably some time later then you were leaving. We had no problems in getting in and from Cowes to Chichester managed a good speed can't remember exactly but for sure about 25/30

the depth sounder at the approach to the Chichester lock was showing 0.8 mtr so with engines trimed up no problem.

I see from your profile that you have a Humber 6 mtr and 120 HP diesel so a Mercruiser 1.7 TDI. Well, I managed to get into Littlehampton with my Parker 630 fitted with the same engine on many occassions when the tide was running out with the depth sounder reading 0.6 mtr . With 1.5 mtr on the sounder I do not think you should get worried. It is only when you get below 1 mtr should you really worry

nik · 20 March 2007, 20:41

Thanks for the answers.
Once I turned around I was able to make much better speed.
My concern about the bar was that if the swell increased, then that might take much closer to the sand in the troughs.
Nick.

PS. I saw a couple of dive ribs comming back when I did, god knows what their trip was like.

Chris Murray · 20 March 2007, 22:19

47 kts in Southampton Water at around 12:30
A relatively comfortable (and surprisingly dry) 35 kts crossing the Solent at about 15:30

Who says antifouling slows the boat down???
Mine has "VC Offshore" and that is what it will be getting next time!

I would have been hard pushed to make an uncomfortable 12 - 15 kts in my old sports cruiser, which otherwise cruised at 30 kts.

You made a good decision Nik.

Regards,

Chris

Mark Halliday · 21 March 2007, 15:25

nik

Natasha (8 y.o.) and I went out through Langstone entrance at around 10:30, 1/2 hour after high water. The tide was running strongly with us and therefore against the wind.
It was a bit lumpy in places. I took the inner passage through the barrier so was in 15 to 20 ft of water most of the way. We were quite comfortable at 15 - 20 kts. Natasha has got back into thinking the RIB will flip if we get the bow too high off a wave.
The waves were between 1.5 & 2 feet and about 20 - 25ft apart.
We met up with the Pompites and set off along Haslar wall at around 20 kts. Again the conditions were similar but the sea was a bit shorter. Nautibouy passed us like he was on glass.

From experience, I know that I would have been a smoother ride at 25-30kts but my 8 y.o. rev limiter cut in around 20 kts.

Natasha called a stop just before Gilkicker, and we turned back to Northney at a comfortable leisurely 18 kts.
Not anywhere near the Solent at its worst last Saturday, but not an easy ride along the mainland beach. I should imagine it got a bit smoother when out in deeper water and in the lea if the island.

As Robin says, Chi Bar and Hayling Bay can be quite a challenge.

Turning back was a good call with a nervous passenger.

codprawn · 21 March 2007, 21:39

If she is a nervous passenger maybe you should let her drive!!!

Seriously though I am terrified when I am in a passenger in anything. My mates daughter was a bit nervous in my Rib - until I let her use the throttle - she seemed to think WOT was it's only position!!!

Biggles · 21 March 2007, 22:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by nik

I posted this message on upcoming cruises, but so far have not had any replies.

I tried to get over to cowes yesterday from chichester around 1400ish.
It was quite lumpy and I could only seem to manage about 9 knots, I also had a nervous passenger.
I got a couple of miles out, decided it was going to take too long and gave it up.
I would like to know what kind of speeds you were able to manage.
Thanks, Nick.

PS. going over chichester bar, the depth sounder was reading 1.5 metres at times, which was a unnerving.

Having spent a few years transitting out of Chichester harbour I thoroughly understand where your coming from. My experience has always been that I will persevere and use all my skill to get me out to Chichester Bar. If I can't get to the bar because its too rough then obviously I give up but you usually find that once your past the bar it eases off a bit. If it doesn't then I turn back. Its just not worth all the pounding from Chi to the Forts. A little workaround if its high tide is to go North round Hayling Island and exit at langstone. Then you've only got a couple of miles to Pompey.

Chichester entrance and langstone, as is marked on the charts can be very bad. The RNLI stations are there for a reason.

Good areas to learn about playing in waves but not good areas for a beginner on a bad day.

With the wind on saturday I guess it was quite interesting.

Chris Murray · 22 March 2007, 00:44

I should have mentioned that we were in (West) Cowes hunting for some yachting boots. If you are happy with last year's stock, some of the boots in the shop that sells nautical boots & deck shoes (and not a lot else) were £50 off this year's price.

We had hoped to pay a visit to the Folley and perhaps meet a few RIBnetters but the wind was getting up and it seemed like a good idea to get back in daylight.
Maybe next time.

Chris.

Jizm · 22 March 2007, 11:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

If she is a nervous passenger maybe you should let her drive!!!

Seriously though I am terrified when I am in a passenger in anything. My mates daughter was a bit nervous in my Rib - until I let her use the throttle - she seemed to think WOT was it's only position!!!

I let my five year old pilot up the river hamble while I sat next to her and she kept nudging the throttle forward when she thought I wasn't looking and wouldn't notice.