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Subject: Re: [world-cruising] How To Determine If Yacht is Blue Water Worthy
From: Philip Ouvry (ranch.flamingo@XXX.XXX)
Date: Wed Jan 22 2003 - 15:22:20 EST
This thread is raising some interesting points. We have heard of the loss of the Beneteau Oceanis which is a broad-beamed shallow-draught boat designed for Mediterranean and blue water sailing. The Beneteau First series has a fairly wide beam and a fin keel which makes it more suitable for ocean passages. However they are both light boats and difficult to handle in rough conditions.
A broad-beamed boat with a shallow-draught tends to float quite well upside down!
I have been musing a little with Dr Sheldon Bacon at the Institute of Oceanography at Southampton, Professor Patrick Holmes of Imperial College, London, and Peter Bruce who has written several new editions of Adlard Coles's Heavy Weather Sailing on the subject of rogue waves as caused by abnormal weather conditions in regions where the depth of water changes rapidly.
In the Bay of Biscay within a distance of 50 miles the Continental Shelf goes from a depth of 4000 metres to 150 metres. The Shelf goes in a north-south direction which means with the east-west movement of tides it is in effect a monumental wave generator. Sailing directions from 150 years ago recommend that ships avoid this area. Nowadays with powerful engines and sophisticated weather forecasting, this advice is generally ignored. Yet the Spanish Rescue Centre at La Coruna say that every year at least two small craft are reported lost without trace crossing the Bay.
The west coast of North America and, to the east, the area to the north of Cape Hatteras are regions with a poor weather record, significant changes of water depth and strong ocean currents. Rogue waves can easily develop and, in such conditions, almost any small craft would find it difficult to survive.
However with careful examination of Jimmy Cornell's books and other similar publications, these areas can be avoided particularly at the times of the year when conditions are at their worst.
I would appreciate any comments on the regions of the oceans to be avoided because of these conditions.
Happy sailing to all.
Philip Ouvry
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