Rough sea in a Honwave t40

Alexwalms · 15 July 2018, 20:45

I was out on my Honwave t40 earlier with the wife and kids and encountered some rough sea conditions on the way home.
As I came around a headland near Exmouth it was very choppy /large swell and I was well out my comfort zone.

My question is how rough sea conditions can these sibs take?

Fenlander · 15 July 2018, 20:52

The Honwave will be capable of taking more than you would want to experience with a family. As long as you are good on the tiller to avoid taking on loads of water or throwing someone out the Honwave will look after you to a degree that might surprise.

However it can be scary and uncomfortable so best avoided.

I assume you got something a little wrong with weather, sea state forecast and tides to encounter this situation??

jeffstevens763@g · 15 July 2018, 20:52

If you drive em right more than you can take

Fenlander · 15 July 2018, 20:55

Ha ha… ditto posts!

Fenlander · 15 July 2018, 20:56

Where had you been Alex and which headland caused trouble?

gpsguru · 15 July 2018, 21:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexwalms

I was out on my Honwave t40 earlier with the wife and kids and encountered some rough sea conditions on the way home.
As I came around a headland near Exmouth it was very choppy /large swell and I was well out my comfort zone.

My question is how rough sea conditions can these sibs take?

What time was that ?

Looking at the Dawlish wavebuoy data, most of the day has been OK with a just a slight swell of 0.23m, however I had a look of Teignmouth early this afternoon and there was a little wind over tide which was causing the usual chop, but nothing to worry about.

At about 6:00pm the sea changed and the swell was 0.54m (most significant wave data) but the peaks were only 2.4 seconds apart, so it would have seemed quite choppy. The wave direction was 174 degrees True.

Right now there is a 0.79m swell @2.1s ............and coupled with a lyme bay spring flood tide, the sea will seem quite confused and not very inviting.

Mostly, its not the hight of the swell ........ its the time period between peaks (or troughs) that determined how 'rough', or 'lumpy' it is.

to be most comfortable, try to drive at 45 degrees to the waves and avoid any area of breaking waves.

You will bottle out long before the Honwave does ........

Alexwalms · 15 July 2018, 21:07

Was the headland near sandy bay so would have been straight point I think? went across to budleigh for the day, in the morning the sea was very flat but on the way home there was a bit of a swell so I was keeping in tightish to the coast.
I’m still fairly new to being on the water

Alexwalms · 15 July 2018, 21:08

Was around 4pm

simonl · 15 July 2018, 21:14

Staying close to a headland isn't always a good move.
Get to know the tidal flows for any headlands you might go around. Get to learn wind directions. Expect trouble when you have strong wind in the opposite direction to the tidal flow

gpsguru · 15 July 2018, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexwalms

Was around 4pm

Sea was OK at that time, however, the tide was then begining the flood and at 15:00 GMT (16:00 Local) the wind changed from S / SSW to SSE, so I guess you were getting some wave action from wind against tide............

Yes, you would have been passing Straight Point Range .............

Here you can check the data ........ Channel Coastal Observatory - Dawlish

Alexwalms · 15 July 2018, 21:24

Yes was a bit bumpy but got worse by straight point but I guess that’s my fault for staying in too close to the headland. Would you be about to recommend a good weather/tidal/sea condition website or system to check before heading out ?

Fenlander · 15 July 2018, 21:27

>>>bit of a swell so I was keeping in tightish to the coast

As I've put in a similar unexpected chop thread just now there is this natural temptation to keep in tight but as SimonL says round headlands particularly where shallows extend off it can put you in the roughest conditions.

gpsguru · 15 July 2018, 21:37

It probably would have been the same further out as where you were is not really a headland that is noted for rough sea conditions.

I go out usually from Teignmouth and check the following,

WaveBuoy realtime Data

XC Weather forcast .......... looking for F3 or less
WindGURU............ looking for a swell forecast of 0.5m or less and a peak to peak times of more than 3 secs.
MetOffice forecast for Teignmouth Beach .......... again seeing if the wind direction and speeds match the other forecasts ....... often they dont !

Magic Seaweed is also worth a look for a swell and direction forecast.

lastly, I look at the live weather data from the nearest National Coastwatch station .... NCI EastClff ......... Teignmouth NCI - Live Weather at Eastcliff ......... then I can see live wind direction and windspeed.

Alexwalms · 15 July 2018, 21:41

Cool, cheers for the advice fellas

Fenlander · 15 July 2018, 21:46

>>> not really a headland that is noted for rough sea conditions.

You are local to know that particular one GPS so fair enough but still a general point headlands often have shallows or rocks continuing out some distance and tide effect around them can be quite noticeable.

I always assume they may be an issue in route planning with smallcraft then it's a bonus if they are benign.

gpsguru · 15 July 2018, 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

>>> not really a headland that is noted for rough sea conditions.

You are local to know that particular one GPS so fair enough but still a general point headlands often have shallows or rocks continuing out some distance and tide effect around them can be quite noticeable.

I always assume they may be an issue in route planning with smallcraft then it's a bonus if they are benign.

In Lymebay its usually our deep water headlands that cause most grief ........... Portland Bill (in a small boat take the inside route and hug the shore, or go 5+ miles off shore to avoid the Portland race), Hopes Nose (can get nasty on Springs), Berry Head (dictated by wind direction), Start Point (nasty overfalls) and Bolt head (not in LymeBay) .............

Fenlander · 15 July 2018, 22:06

Yes I had a taste of Berry Head and Hopes nose when a teen in a 13ft Dory... too inexperienced with the false confidence of youth back then to realise I was pushing my luck.

Start point in heavy weather as well but in a much larger craft and crew not helm.

gpsguru · 15 July 2018, 22:26

Yes, its all about experience Dave ...........

However, I guess we should point out that you should never take the inshore route if it is your 'lee shore' ....... if poo hits the fan and you are dead in the water, then you will have very little thinking time and will have to act fast ......... 1st thing you should do is drop an anchor and let out a warp of 3 to 5 times depth, then you can sit back and work out a plan of action.

Dead in the water can be many things .......... but on an inside track on a small boat you are liable to pick up pot and net ropes ............... always keep a smart visual on headway and always have a rope knife handy (mine is on my LJ) .............

Going from Shaldon to Babbacombe bay using the shore line track is like an obstacle course at the moment ! .......... I tend to stay at least 0.5nm off shore .......

Osceola · 17 July 2018, 12:32

What wind speed is too high for a 3.2 Avon,please

jeffstevens763@g · 17 July 2018, 13:27

your boat is cat C rated upto 2m beaufort force 5 6-8 ft/2m wind speed 19-24 mph but i can tell its very uncomfy for long periods and then you have wind against tide /overfalls to consider. personally i dont push it and go out in 3/4 occasionally i go in rougher if the wind is off the land and i can get in the lee of cliffs. but your boat will be there long after you have had enough.OMO