Hello All

[OceanQuest]

Hi,
I am a new member and would like to introduce myself. I started sailing in dinghies at the age of 11 (I'm now 58!) and moved onto sailing cruisers as a sort of natural progression as I got older.

Originally from the UK I now wander about on my current boat, a Jaguar 25, earning money to pay my way by doing odd jobs. Usually sailing orientated, but when needs be...

At first I thought that a 26 foot yacht was too small to go far, but hey, you could sail around the world in a bath tub if you are brave (or crazy?) enough.

[Celestialsailor]

Welcome to the forum. I agree wholeheartedly about boats. I have often said that you could throw a bottle 20 miles outside of San Francisco and it would eventually find a beach in Mexico somewhere. Being out cruising this year, I have seen everything just short of Papier mache` out there. I get a chuckle with all the hoopla of how big should my new Benehuntalina be.
I admire your approach to sailing. You have a lot to teach people here.

[OceanQuest]

Thanks for the welcome Celestialsailor - and thanks for the kind words too!

I suppose sailing is relative. My home base is Cardiff on the Bristol Channel - and on some small scale charts where the Bristol Channel is just a small area I've seen it marked as 'unsailable'.

This obviously isn't true, but you have to be very, very careful. The Bristol Channel has either the second or third highest tidal range in the world (depending on where you look) at around 15m (49ft) and it progressively narrows as you travel due East until it eventually becomes the River Severn. With that volume of water trying to squeeze into a narrowing channel Spring Tides result in a wave running up the River Severn which has reached 2.8m (9.2ft) and people actually surf on. Visitors come from around the world just to see it.

The tidal current in the Channel can reach 10kts (my hull speed is 6.2kts!) so careful voyage timing and planning is required to avoid sailing or motoring backwards. Added to that there are moving sand and mud banks everywhere, so don't be surprised if you run aground on mid to low tide where the charts show open water!

After that, sailing just about anywhere else is a doddle!

[Patman]

Hello and welcome OceanQuest. I did not start sailing (sailboats) until my mid 40's so you'll find all types. I've now been to the BVI and back and CF can be a wealth of both info and entertainment.

[Neo]

Originally Posted by Patman

Hello and welcome OceanQuest. I did not start sailing (sailboats) until my mid 40's so you'll find all types. I've now been to the BVI and back and CF can be a wealth of both info and entertainment.

Ditto and welcome aboard, OceanQuest.

[SkiprJohn]

Originally Posted by OceanQuest

Thanks for the welcome Celestialsailor - and thanks for the kind words too!

I suppose sailing is relative. My home base is Cardiff on the Bristol Channel - and on some small scale charts where the Bristol Channel is just a small area I've seen it marked as 'unsailable'.

This obviously isn't true, but you have to be very, very careful. The Bristol Channel has either the second or third highest tidal range in the world (depending on where you look) at around 15m (49ft) and it progressively narrows as you travel due East until it eventually becomes the River Severn. With that volume of water trying to squeeze into a narrowing channel Spring Tides result in a wave running up the River Severn which has reached 2.8m (9.2ft) and people actually surf on. Visitors come from around the world just to see it.

The tidal current in the Channel can reach 10kts (my hull speed is 6.2kts!) so careful voyage timing and planning is required to avoid sailing or motoring backwards. Added to that there are moving sand and mud banks everywhere, so don't be surprised if you run aground on mid to low tide where the charts show open water!

After that, sailing just about anywhere else is a doddle!

Aloha and welcome aboard!
That type of sailing is definitely a challange. It sounds like timing is everything. Tides here in the islands are about 3 feet.
kind regards,