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Old 12-01-2016, 01:05   #1
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Weird Water?

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Originally Posted by MarkJ View Post
The gulf stream really is an interesting blob of water. 4 times I have crossed it now and each time the water is just "weird".
I was struck by this quote I read on a different thread elsewhere because I am always amazed at how different different parts of the sea can feel considering there is not a lot to visually distinguish one spot from another.

Water and sky are always changing but pretty much look the same where ever you go. So how can it feel so different? How can water be weird?

The weirdest water I have encountered would be the Nantuket Shoals. My memory of crossing them holds fast in my head. Reading MarkJ's above comment and reflecting on my own experiences has me thinking there must be some other weird water out there. Where is it?
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Old 12-01-2016, 01:25   #2
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Re: Weird Water?

We crossed the Bay of Biscay and saw some "weird" water. It was as we crossed the continental shelf in a dead calm. Even though the water was thousands of feet deep it looked like your picture, as if we were about to cross over a bank with overfalls.


See these a lot on the south coast of the UK but don't expect to see them in the ocean!


There were loads of dolphins and whales around so good feeding spot.


Can imagine in a storm not a good place to be.
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Old 12-01-2016, 04:20   #3
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Re: Weird Water?

I've seen a couple of Fata Morgana off the coast of Guadeloupe. Very weird! It looks like breaking waves ahead..
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Old 12-01-2016, 04:37   #4
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Re: Weird Water?

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Originally Posted by monte View Post
I've seen a couple of Fata Morgana off the coast of Guadeloupe. Very weird! It looks like breaking waves ahead..
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Monte...

I have to be honest... and say that would definitely get my attention !
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Old 12-01-2016, 04:54   #5
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Re: Weird Water?

Indeed it does! Both occasions it appeared to be a few miles (maybe 7) ahead, and lasted 30-40 minutes and gradually disappeared as we approached it. It looked the same with bare eyes as well as binoculars (a bit scarier through binoc's )
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Old 12-01-2016, 04:59   #6
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Re: Weird Water?

In terms of predicting what you might encounter, it seems that current/tide, adjacent temperature differences, shoaling ect create their own local conditions. Add in atmospheric pressure changes and the result is chaotic. Wind and waves are out of synch along with standing waves that amplify moving waves. All these are common in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Even after a lifetime of sailing there, my internal predictions of conditions are frequently mostly wrong. Usually I expect good sailing and get none. Sometimes you get more than you want.
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Old 12-01-2016, 05:13   #7
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Re: Weird Water?

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Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor View Post
Monte...

I have to be honest... and say that would definitely get my attention !
Have a coupla mai-tais and it'll probably go away
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Old 12-01-2016, 05:36   #8
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Re: Weird Water?

Quote:
Originally Posted by monte View Post
I've seen a couple of Fata Morgana off the coast of Guadeloupe. Very weird! It looks like breaking waves ahead..
Attachment 116599
Monte, you should post this photo to the Wikipedia page. Much better than the current examples shown.

Totally cool. Totally weird.
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Old 12-01-2016, 05:40   #9
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Re: Weird Water?

Saw a thread not too long ago where a guy was describing night flying lessons, they were at 10'000' and he could feel turbulence as they crossed a small river.

That may or may not have any relevance to this discussion but it made me think of it and how small things can make a difference in weather and water patterns.
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Old 12-01-2016, 05:40   #10
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Re: Weird Water?

That's not my photo. I borrowed it from the interweb but same same but different to what we saw. Actually ours also included what appeared to be ships on the horizon, appearing and disappearing between the swell. My estimate at the time was the swell was 10m +
As we drew closer the ships morphed into local open fishing boats in a 2' swell..
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Old 12-01-2016, 05:49   #11
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Re: Weird Water?

I get a weird water experience any morning after eating asparagus....
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Old 12-01-2016, 06:41   #12
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Re: Weird Water?

We sail in Fishers Island Sound. I'll never forget the first time we went through the Race. As we approached, the water looked like a silver ribbon slicing through blue. I wish I had taken a picture, but I was a newbie sailor and after hearing about "The Race, The Race" for so long, I was too nervous.
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Old 12-01-2016, 07:56   #13
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Re: Weird Water?

Middle Ground in Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts can get a bit strange. even without the locals and bluefish.
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Old 12-01-2016, 10:31   #14
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Re: Weird Water?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Delancey View Post
I was struck by this quote I read on a different thread elsewhere because I am always amazed at how different different parts of the sea can feel considering there is not a lot to visually distinguish one spot from another.

Water and sky are always changing but pretty much look the same where ever you go. So how can it feel so different? How can water be weird?

The weirdest water I have encountered would be the Nantuket Shoals. My memory of crossing them holds fast in my head. Reading MarkJ's above comment and reflecting on my own experiences has me thinking there must be some other weird water out there. Where is it?
That photo looks like Admiralty Inlet right in front of our house during a big flood tide. We have seen around ten knots closing speed when two boats meet on opposite sides of the rips when both boats are not moving through the water.
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