Everyone has said someting of interest. My observations based on your great comments.
Sunchaser said: Per chance strong winds (westerly's?) cross opposing the normal GC swells. See this effect in the Pacific and remember it well from East Coast sail boat racing days in decreasing winds when approaching the GC.
The GS is pretty much southerly at this point, the wind had been blowing from the east for many, many days and then had switched around to the SE 24 hours earlier. It is was also a bit weaker and weakening, while backing back around to the ESE.
PSNEELD Wrote: Maybe they were just the right size and frequency that as you went up and down over them and rolled a little...the crest momentarily looked like it was coming at you because your speeds were close enough the crest wasn't going away as fast as your roll?
I think this is exactly what was happening, as I could see a little white cap on the southerly waves, but noting on these Northeasterly ones. I think it was an illusion and with Dauntless rolling so much, the waves looked bigger than it probably was.
Also, I would not have gone with northernly winds against the current. The winds were actually decreasing as the day went on.
AC Said:While wave height and wind direction are always factors in crossing like this, to me, wave period is the most important. Timing a couple of crests from the video made it seem like the period was about 6 seconds making that a rougher passage than I would have wanted. At about 9 seconds your world changes a lot. At 11 seconds, even 5 foot swells become harder to feel.
and BandB said: My guess looking at it was that your wave height in feet and your period in seconds were about the same. Anytime the period is not at least 2 greater than the height, conditions can get mixed especially depending on wind conditions. ...I enjoy your blog but one thing I've noticed in the weather information you're getting and posting. You're only talking about wave height. Period is very important. I'd recommend getting weather information that includes period. 6' with a 9 second period versus 6' and 5 seconds are very different seas.
Yes, I will pay more attention to the period. Since i get most of my weather info from me, I will start reporting on the period too. Clearly it does make a big difference and I really like that rule of thumb of the height versus the period.
and Yes, the period was at 6 seconds. That seemed to be the predominant period for much of my time in the Bahamas. While the ride could have been better, I also spent 12 hours heading into similair conditions, at liek 3 to 4 knots.
Steve Said: I can't tell, come on, next time shoot from the flybridge or out on the bow pulpit! Now that's really funny and then Dauntless would have arrived in FL without me
John Said: I'm also curious about your calculations and why did you include 180'. I would think if you were trying to say the waves were 160 degrees from zero (zero being the bow of your boat) and you were taking them 40 degrees they would be hitting you at 120 degrees or from your starboard quarter stern? Did I get this correct? Again not sure why the addition of 180 degrees. Appreciate the answer. thanks
I was trying to be transparent, but on PSNEELD figured it out,
Since I was mixing winds (from where they come) and hearing (direction i'm going) I added the 180 to make them the same. Said another way, waves from 160°, are going 160+180= 340; my heading of 300 is about 40° off of that, so 160+180-40=300°. I will try to be more clear.
I have learned something form each of you. Thanks so much.
