"Jeff Morris" wrote in message
...
Sorry Ozzy, I acknowledged several posts back that the Channel was a
special
situation. I said: "... you sail in an area with particularly heavy
commercial
traffic, plus a strong current that often opposes the wind."

I also do large chunks of sailing in areas devoid of commercial traffic.


I was surprised by one forecast that listed the wave height for most of
the
Channel as being under a meter for the next few days - I assumed it would
almost
always be rougher than that. BTW, I don't think Donal keeps his boat in
the
Channel.

The wave height is often less than 1m. That doesn't mean that the hatches
can be left open. Waves are not uniform in height. On the small lake in
Ireland that I go trout fishing on, the locals say that every 7th wave will
be twice as big as the rest.

A similiar thing seems to happen at sea.... especially after a wind shift.
It is often possible to pick out yesterday's waves travelling at 90 degrees
to today's wind/waves. Every so often these two wave patterns will combine
to produce a much bigger wave. I assume that this effect must be observable
in any strecth of open water. That is one of the reasons that I think that
you must sail in extremely sheltered waters.




This isn't about what is appropriate for a Channel crossing, or the
Sydney-Hobart race. Donal has declared that all sailboats must always
stay
sealed up, regardless of the boat or the situation. It just isn't so.

In my experience, it is necessary to seal up before leaving the berth. Even
on calm days, you get the odd rogue wave that appears from nowhere.

In the protected waters of the Solent, on an absolutely flat calm day, you
get the occasional big "slapper". I'm fairly sure that they are caused by
the wakes of big ships bouncing (reflecting) off one shore and crossing the
Solent for a second time.

Regards


Donal
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