Lyme 1-3 AUG 2014.
The Lyme Trip was abandon due to weather. After a lovely week a depression came in starting on Friday with wind speeds of around 12 mph South West. This was enough to whip up the race at the bill to a rough state. This cannot be avoided by trying to go earlier as the tide is flowing southerly at the Bill even before the Tide changes westerly because of the eddy. I watched a 30' boat come down to round the Bill at around 14:10. We had planned for 14:00. It was pounding and when they got to the Bill their bow was under water quite a lot.
They were on engine with no sails set as they were nose to wind. Once passed they were still being pushed around and rolling as they were heading westward towards Start Point. After about 20 minutes they got their sails up and started tacking. Would be a long trip for them across Lyme Bay.
Saturday early it was raining and winds increased to around 15 to 20mph SSW. It would have been miserable at Lyme and we would have been exposed at Anchor.
Conclusion: Decision not to go was justified. Although Heatwave would have got around the Bill it would have been rough and the trip to Lyme not very pleasant. So if wind conditions are above 10 mph against Tide it would be better to take the Outer course around the Bill but would add 1.5 to 2 hours on trip so allowance should be made to get to Lyme before it gets dark.
The Lyme Trip was abandon due to weather. After a lovely week a depression came in starting on Friday with wind speeds of around 12 mph South West. This was enough to whip up the race at the bill to a rough state. This cannot be avoided by trying to go earlier as the tide is flowing southerly at the Bill even before the Tide changes westerly because of the eddy. I watched a 30' boat come down to round the Bill at around 14:10. We had planned for 14:00. It was pounding and when they got to the Bill their bow was under water quite a lot.
They were on engine with no sails set as they were nose to wind. Once passed they were still being pushed around and rolling as they were heading westward towards Start Point. After about 20 minutes they got their sails up and started tacking. Would be a long trip for them across Lyme Bay.
Saturday early it was raining and winds increased to around 15 to 20mph SSW. It would have been miserable at Lyme and we would have been exposed at Anchor.
Conclusion: Decision not to go was justified. Although Heatwave would have got around the Bill it would have been rough and the trip to Lyme not very pleasant. So if wind conditions are above 10 mph against Tide it would be better to take the Outer course around the Bill but would add 1.5 to 2 hours on trip so allowance should be made to get to Lyme before it gets dark.
