In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Captain Beeky <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes > >On 8, Jul 2007, at 9:55, Martin Phillips wrote: > >> From Chateau Phillips up on top of the hill the wind seemed a bit >> windy >> (around force 4?) for a trip down to Portishead - wouldn't have >> contemplated it. It was probably no stronger than that prevailing for >> last year's trip to Lydney, so probably not bad for the short crossing. >> Similar conditions this morning for the return. > >The 2 cruisers on Friday set off in an alleged F4 blowing straight >through the open gates of the tidal basin. They were bobbing about >whilst still tied to the pontoons and had to confront some swell as >they pushed out between the breakwaters some 25 minutes before high >water.
It was *much* more than a force 4 round here on Friday - more like gale-force here up on the hill. There was the evidence of lots of bits of trees on the road to prove it! I reckon someone was being a bit optimistic about the windspeed! I would have though the only advantage of "crabbing" across as you mentioned would be that you would be taking the waves head-on. There must be something to be said for that, but it would depend on the wind direction, and probably leave you out in the middle for longer. The route for last year's crossing had the advantage of getting through the lumpy stuff as quickly as possible and getting into the calm water on the Welsh bank to sort oneself out. Wassail! -- Martin E Phillips http://www.g4cio.demon.co.uk Homebrewing, black pudding, boats, morris dancing, ham radio and more! The Gloucester-Sharpness canal web page http://www.glos-sharpness.org.uk
