medina cruise speeds

[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.

[UKPOWERBOAT]

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]

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]

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]

Originally Posted by codprawn

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

[JABS]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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