Heavy Weather Observations
Lately I've been down on the calm-ness of the wind around here and my being trapped ashore. But this week with full moon and an official change to winter, the weather has deteriorated as a result of a large Low pressure system many miles ESE in the Tasman Sea.
In respond to weather warnings over the radio I went to a headland overlooking the surf break where I spent much of my childhood to young adult years. In fact I was quite underwhelmed, the swell was just 6' and the 15-20knot wind was dutifully following from behind. As "rough" seas go, it all looked pretty orderly (a well sailed Hinemoa would cope), but there were occasional breaking wave tops.
Fast forward 24 hours and the contrast was alarming. Wave height had ramped up appreciably, say 10 to 15 feet, but due to a subtle change in wind direction, it was no sea for a happy sailor. The swell was maintaining its previous direction (SE), the wind was now from the S and the interaction between swell and "chop" (actually more of a secondary swell), was causing peaking breakers to spring up all over. There were literally spouting 10 to 15 feet in the air. It was a great demonstration of the seas described in sailing books about storm in the Southern Ocean or the Atlantic. The first period of storm being quite tough but manageable, then the wind changes direction and dangerous unpredictable breakers threaten to roll the boat over, in some cases succeeding.
The following morning I learn of another menace for the sail or that existed from the beginnings of this storm. At about 03:00 on the first day of the storm a Liberian registered container ship sailing "30 miles offshore" from Newcastle lost more than 80 40 metre containers overboard. The present warnings to boaters indicate that those containers presenting a hazard will be submerged ...disgorging their contents.
None of this tale mentions palm trees and cocktails.
In respond to weather warnings over the radio I went to a headland overlooking the surf break where I spent much of my childhood to young adult years. In fact I was quite underwhelmed, the swell was just 6' and the 15-20knot wind was dutifully following from behind. As "rough" seas go, it all looked pretty orderly (a well sailed Hinemoa would cope), but there were occasional breaking wave tops.
Fast forward 24 hours and the contrast was alarming. Wave height had ramped up appreciably, say 10 to 15 feet, but due to a subtle change in wind direction, it was no sea for a happy sailor. The swell was maintaining its previous direction (SE), the wind was now from the S and the interaction between swell and "chop" (actually more of a secondary swell), was causing peaking breakers to spring up all over. There were literally spouting 10 to 15 feet in the air. It was a great demonstration of the seas described in sailing books about storm in the Southern Ocean or the Atlantic. The first period of storm being quite tough but manageable, then the wind changes direction and dangerous unpredictable breakers threaten to roll the boat over, in some cases succeeding.
The following morning I learn of another menace for the sail or that existed from the beginnings of this storm. At about 03:00 on the first day of the storm a Liberian registered container ship sailing "30 miles offshore" from Newcastle lost more than 80 40 metre containers overboard. The present warnings to boaters indicate that those containers presenting a hazard will be submerged ...disgorging their contents.
None of this tale mentions palm trees and cocktails.
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