sailing on the sea

   Hi, 
I always sailed inland but this year I am going to the topper nationals at North Berwick, I was jsut wandering if anyone could give me any advice on sea sailing and point out any differences so that I have an idea tof some things to look out for up there.

Thanks Isaac   

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doeywizard Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 16 Jun 10 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 150	Post Options Post Reply Quote doeywizard Report Post Quote Reply Topic: sailing on the sea Posted: 25 Jul 11 at 3:08pm
	Hi, I always sailed inland but this year I am going to the topper nationals at North Berwick, I was jsut wandering if anyone could give me any advice on sea sailing and point out any differences so that I have an idea tof some things to look out for up there. Thanks Isaac
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JimC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6662	Post Options Post Reply Quote JimC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jul 11 at 3:20pm
	Make sure you wash out your wetsuit throughly with fresh water before leaving the venue or it will be very nasty when you get home...

Contender 541 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 05 Dec 05 Location: Burton on Trent Online Status: Offline Posts: 1402	Post Options Post Reply Quote Contender 541 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jul 11 at 3:30pm
	The water is lumpy and tastes of salt I agree with Jim about rinsing your wetsuit, make sure to rinse the boat too Carry a large bottle of fresh water with you (even if it is just to rinse your mouth out) Sunscreen is a must Dont be afraid of the waves - you will go over them not through Keep an eye open for everyone around you - they hide behind the bigger waves Keep an eye open for everyone around you - more serious consequences if someone gets separated from a capsized boat
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SoggyBadger Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 26 Oct 10 Location: The Wild Wood Online Status: Offline Posts: 552	Post Options Post Reply Quote SoggyBadger Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jul 11 at 3:41pm
	I think you mean wondering not wandering. Don't be fooled by how warm it may appear on land. It'll be significantly colder on the sea, especially the North Sea.
	Best wishes from deep in the woods SB

Jack Sparrow Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 08 Feb 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2965	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jack Sparrow Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jul 11 at 3:51pm
	TIDE App LINK that might help you plan your race stratergy Edited by Jack Sparrow - 25 Jul 11 at 4:10pm
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G.R.F. Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 4028	Post Options Post Reply Quote G.R.F. Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jul 11 at 4:05pm
	Yes it is chilly up there, (the water temperature) even in summer. As to the differences, it's not as easy to spot shifts and they don't oscillate as fast, there is tide up there and it does make a significant difference to your boat speed, both over the water and over the ground beneath the water, so pay attention to what it's doing. Depending where you sail they do get big tidal ranges up there. Depending how far out you go it's also more difficult to get transits and judge lay lines. The waves. They can also be useful or not, depending on their shape which changes depending on which area of the tidal flow they might be in. Then there are little waves on top of big waves if they set the course offshore. Nothing to worry about but in iffy conditions you can get sea sick. To counter this focus on the horizon, or other boats, don't focus on what's going on within your boat. Worse scenario is no wind and big waves, it's the North Sea, it happens quite often, again nothing to worry about but it is a weird feeling everybody moving up and down a lot. Watch out for suntan, keep yourself covered up or factor 90everything and take a bottle of water out with you, if the b**tards are anything like the sods in Poole wanting you to race every race back to back it could get quite horrid. That's all I can quickly think about for now, no doubt others will weigh in with more common sense stuff.. There are books about sailing in tide, there are also eejiots who don't get it, but are nonetheless good sailors for other reasons trying to debunk tidal lee bow issues, they are wrong. So read up everything you can about sailing in tide then make your own judgement according to how life plays out for you. Edited by G.R.F. - 25 Jul 11 at 4:11pm
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Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jul 11 at 4:09pm
	My downfall on the sea is that I still try to sail like I'm on a small lake. Pinching will kill you, especially in waves - you have to keep the boat moving. Try and tack on the top of a wave not in a trough. Best advice though is to watch the upwind and downwind Boat Whisperer DVD's, which go into a lot of detail about sailing in waves.
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ASok Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 26 Sep 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 739	Post Options Post Reply Quote ASok Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jul 11 at 5:02pm
	Top tip - enjoy it!!! Sea breezes when its warm, waves, tides and maybe the odd bit of sealife if you are lucky. I saw a seal in Southampton Water the other week! Why would you want to sail anywhere else?!?! If you new to an area I'd suggest you speak to a local and get some tips on tides and obstructions. There may be features under the water that you'll want to know about! On the tides watch laylines. Don't expect to bang a corner and get there. Some areas are a nightmare and you can lose or gain loads of places from people mis-judging their lines. Make mental notes of flow past marks or other static objects as you sail around. It will give you a good feel for direction and speed.

winging it Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 22 Mar 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3958	Post Options Post Reply Quote winging it Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jul 11 at 5:08pm
	Perhaps a topper oreintated response: the time to be aware of the tide is at the start - is it going to carry you over the line, or drag you away from it? Look at a buoy to see which way the tide is flowing, and sit lying to for a moment or so to see how quickly it is flowing. the next time it will affect you is when you're trying to get round a mark, especially the windward mark. Worht htis out then work out how it will affect when you call your layline - you don't want the tide to push you onto the mark, nor do you want to overstand. Do make sure you know when slack water is, and when the tide is going to turn. Do be aware that North Berwick is actually at the mouth of the Firth of Forth - an estuary. Watch out because this means the flow will be strong when the tide is going out with the flow from the river, but also slowed down/chopped up when the tide is trying to flow in against the river. Also be careful of wind against tide - this can make things choppy and you will need to sail fairly free to counteract it especially in a flat bowed boat like a topper. Head up slightly as you sail up the face of a wave, bear away down the other side of it. You need to be sailing at an angle to the waves, rather than pointing straight at them - again especially important in a topper. Remember a good pump as you come down the wave, but steer so that you don't crash into the back of the wave in front. Ask the locals about how best to tackle the day's conditions, make sure you have fun.
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didlydon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 15 Oct 08 Location: Margate England Online Status: Offline Posts: 280	Post Options Post Reply Quote didlydon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Aug 11 at 1:55pm
	Another thing about sea sailing & tide is to realise that the tide runs strongest the further you get from the shore, so depending on wind strength & the course it may well benefit you staying closer inshore to stay out of a tide heading you, but conversly, going a bit further out if the tide is with you. As has been said before watch out being swept down onto a mark in strong tide - or not even being able to make it if the damn breeze goes completely just before you get there!!! frustrating! Yes, be sure to have fun & plaster on kids factor 30! Oh yes, sunglasses are a must for me if she shows herself..... Good luck.
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