Toughest sea you have been to?

Hung · 20 January 2009, 07:47

I am interested, how much weather can RIBs take?
My personal experience was wind force 7, sea 6 in a tiny (under 5m) Viking 470 GRP with 60hp Yamaha outboard. December. North Sea, MOB SAR situation. The screw got "aired" constantly and it was difficult to even control the boat not to come "sideways" against waves. The boat seemed too heavy and did try not to go on the wave crest, but rather crush through it. Recovering body was successful, but attempt to get back onboard the mother vessel was not at all.
I wonder how other RIBs take on weather. Sure RNLI jumps into the sea also past force 6, do they?

codprawn · 20 January 2009, 12:26

I have been out in a Force 9 before - it was great fun and we barely got wet. It is a 9m RIB though.

Having said that wave shape and distance apart can make far more of a differance. I would rather 20' Atlantic rollers than nasty 6' short sharp waves that are breaking.

Tidal races like the Bitches can be worse in a Force 4 than the open Atlantic in a Force 10!!!

Ribs can take a lot.

Watch these videos.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_f7t5y...e=channel_page

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6kqpHx...eature=channel

ollyit · 20 January 2009, 13:37

good videos

lets sum some more of the big stuff!

Carl · 20 January 2009, 13:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I have been out in a Force 9 before - it was great fun and we barely got wet. It is a 9m RIB though.

Having said that wave shape and distance apart can make far more of a differance. I would rather 20' Atlantic rollers than nasty 6' short sharp waves that are breaking.

Tidal races like the Bitches can be worse in a Force 4 than the open Atlantic in a Force 10!!!

Ribs can take a lot.

Watch these videos.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_f7t5y...e=channel_page

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6kqpHx...eature=channel

good to see your back on form, i take it was a cabin rib thats why you didnt get wet

MarkM · 20 January 2009, 17:08

On our way back from the Ribex in 2005, the engine broke down at about 50 km south of Brighton. Left out there with a limited speed of 8 km/hr.
The wind was considerable strong but the sea looked enormous, because it took ages to get over the waves.
That's us in the middle of the picture.

RAD · 20 January 2009, 19:06

been out in a F8 gusting 9 in a small 4mtr rib after the conditions turned while doing rescue/support cover. was a single jockey seat, the crew was in adequetly equiped so left her behind on mother ship. All I remember is a spare fuel can bashing my shin and me flying over waves.

Was fun on reflection but couldn't see a thing cos of the rain coming down, and the noise of the waves/wind/rain.

BIG ribs must be fun in that stuff.

Downhilldai · 20 January 2009, 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl

... i take it was a cabin rib thats why you didnt get wet

Remote control

codprawn · 21 January 2009, 02:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAD

been out in a F8 gusting 9 in a small 4mtr rib after the conditions turned while doing rescue/support cover. was a single jockey seat, the crew was in adequetly equiped so left her behind on mother ship. All I remember is a spare fuel can bashing my shin and me flying over waves.

Was fun on reflection but couldn't see a thing cos of the rain coming down, and the noise of the waves/wind/rain.

BIG ribs must be fun in that stuff.

To be honest I would say small RIBs are more fun most of the time. I liken it to comparing a Jumbo Jet and a Tiger Moth. The Jumbo is far faster - far more comfortable and will go a lot further but which would put the biggest grin on your face???

Hung · 21 January 2009, 13:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkM

That's us in the middle of the picture.

That is what I call proper ocean swell..

Hung · 21 January 2009, 13:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I have been out in a Force 9 before - it was great fun and we barely got wet. It is a 9m RIB though.

This is force 9:

Solent-Salted · 21 January 2009, 14:53

7 years ago, it was what started my love affair with RIBs.

Went out of the River Fal into the Falmouth Estuary, then past Black Rock and into the sea proper for a bit of a wazz.

We were well kitted up in thermals and immersion suits.

Was blowing a hooley and the sea state was confused which made it damned good fun.

It wasn't tiring in the respect of physical excursion but more on the concentration side.

Was in a 5.4m with a 90 on the back.

I blinkin' well loved it.

We were supposed to be fishing but that went straight out of the window when my Bro in law spotted the waves outside the harbour.

Hopefully will get to do it again this year, tow the old girl down for some skippin'.

Mollers · 21 January 2009, 15:07

We've gone through some pretty big confused stuff when approaching the Scillies. It shallows dramatically which shoves the sea up.

Solent-Salted · 21 January 2009, 15:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

We've gone through some pretty big confused stuff when approaching the Scillies. It shallows dramatically which shoves the sea up.

Confused you say?

Will have to twist the arm of a few kin and see if we can arrange a little excursion across.

codprawn · 21 January 2009, 16:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hung

This is force 9:

I know what they are like.

Here is a Force 10.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ihzaDoG1JfY

You will see it is quite possible to have very large waves that do not break or have foam blowing off them.

Short confused seas are often a lot worse than 30' Atlantic Rollers - they are just like driving up big hills!!!

Bigmuz7 · 21 January 2009, 17:11

Some good enthusiatic driving in that clip

walruz · 22 January 2009, 06:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

We've gone through some pretty big confused stuff when approaching the Scillies. It shallows dramatically which shoves the sea up.

Especially around the North end of Tresco. I can vouch it is certainly the most entertaining sea conditions I've ever been out in. I think the longest the throttle was ever in 1 position was about 2 seconds. A little scary at the time but once I got back safe what a sh1t eating grin I had on my face.

Ian

Hung · 24 January 2009, 19:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I know what they are like.

Here is a Force 10.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ihzaDoG1JfY

You will see it is quite possible to have very large waves that do not break or have foam blowing off them.

Short confused seas are often a lot worse than 30' Atlantic Rollers - they are just like driving up big hills!!!

I think that the large waves that you are talking about are swell, not sea. If it is sea force 9, then it means wind is usually 1 grade up, that is 10. And wind 10 will definitely break the wave and form foam.

Erin · 24 January 2009, 20:54

But you have to consider fetch and how long it's been blowing for. I wouldn't have a problem being out in a 6 if it had been 2-3 half an hour before. But if it's been a 6 for the last two days from the south west, I think the sofa in front of the fire is where you'll find me.

codprawn · 25 January 2009, 02:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hung

I think that the large waves that you are talking about are swell, not sea. If it is sea force 9, then it means wind is usually 1 grade up, that is 10. And wind 10 will definitely break the wave and form foam.

A wave is a wave but they are all different. You are correct in a way - we get huge waves coming in off the atlantic - often with no real wind to blow the spay around.

The day I was talking about was a Force 9 but the wind was with the tide - against the tide it's a very different story. A lot also has to do with wind direction as well. We are used to wind from the West but an East wind can cause chaos!!!

Action Man · 25 January 2009, 15:36

7.8m RIB F9 Wind over Tide

6.0m RIB 150Nm offshore F8 Westery,Biscay.

no probs on either occasion