Beer Sailing Club

Small, friendly and efficient - Jim Saltonstall spotlights this club in Lyme Bay

Wind Direction

Northerly: Shifty, more so in the windward mark area as you would expect, also big changes in velocity. Also, as you approach the windward mark, it depends exactly where it is in relation to the two valleys already mentioned as to what the wind will do in both direction and strength. As the wind comes down the valleys it hits the water and fans out like a cat's paw, so be aware of where the mark is in relation to the valley so as to be ready for the header or the lift into the mark on either tack. Check it out pre-start if possible.

Valleys apart, do not forget the big picture whilst beating towards a weather shore, in the starting/leeward mark area the wind oscillations are less frequent and over a narrower arc, as you progress up the beat, they become more frequent and over a wider arc.

Do not get to either layline for the windward mark too early, you could so easily find yourself easing sheets to get to the windward mark. I have seen on too many occasions ferrets bang a corner on one beat and come out smelling of roses, do the same on the next beat and be down the pan and round the 'S' bend.

Remember also, that as you progress up the beat and close the shore line, the first wind sheer from land onto water is to the right in the northern hemisphere, so be ready for lifts on starboard tack as you close the shore. Key to success is knowing which is the lifting tack out of the start and being on it so that you are in sync with the shifts progressing up the beat; likewise as you start each subsequent beat. The sea state with the wind from the north is flat in the vicinity of the windward mark with a short chop down in the leeward mark area.

North east: With the wind now coming from the north east, it pays to go left up the beat for the wind. The reason for this being, that as you approach the shore on starboard tack if the course is close enough to the shore, you get headers on starboard as the wind comes off the land onto the water, with lifts on port tack. Note: the tide could alter this race strategy theory as we will see later. Sea state with the ebb tide is still relatively flat, much more chop when the tide is flooding.

East: Now with the wind in the east, launching and recovery is more exciting as the wind is directly onshore, many hands make light work; the same when the wind is from the south-east. With the easterly wind, it pays to go left up the beat for the wind as there is more pressure on the left with the wind convergence area, this is only noticeable though if the course allows you to get within half a mile of the land on the port side of the track, otherwise you will not get into this band of convergence. The tide can also alter race strategy decisions as we will see later.

South-east: Choppy/ rough water when the wind comes out of the south east, as Beer Head creates quite a backwash off the land. Once you get offshore and clear of the land there is less wind than you think offshore, there always feels like a lot of wind whilst you are stood on top of the cliff by the clubhouse, giving you a false impression of the wind speed at sea. The south-east wind is more stable in both its direction and strength, the main factor deciding which way to go up the beat being the tide, which we will look at shortly. The same applies when the wind comes more from the south and the south-west.

West: Now with the wind in the west, the favoured side of the course for the wind is the port side for more pressure, that is if the course is placed within half a mile of the land. If the course is further out to sea, then you will not feel the divergence area on the right hand side of the track, with the pressure being the same across the race course. The other factor with the wind in the west is the effect of Beer Head. Here again, if the course is close enough to the headland, the westerly wind is deflected around it, lifting you on port tack when you are on its eastern side and lifting you on starboard tack if you are to the south of it. The sea state with the westerly wind is relatively smooth swell/waves with the flood tide, much choppier with the ebb tide.

North-west: Shifty again, use the shifts, look for the deflection of wind around Beer Head if the windward mark is near it, also the possibility of less wind up on the starboard layline if it is near the shore that is within half a mile, we have known there to be less wind but lifts on starboard tack near the shore. It all depends on how close the race committee puts the course to the land. If it is more than half a mile offshore, then you will not reach this area of less wind on the starboard side near the starboard layline.

Sea Breeze

Clear blue skies in the morning, a light north-west wind, little or no gradient wind, are the classic signs for the sea breeze developing later in the morning. As the cumulus clouds develop, with the land getting hotter, so the circulation begins, with the breeze coming in initially from approx 160 degrees, then following the sun as the day gets older, ending up at around 240 degrees. Protect the starboard side of the track as the afternoon goes on.

Tide

The tide on the flood runs from west to east, creating a back eddy behind Beer Head, rotating clockwise around the bay. On the ebb, the tide rotates anti-clockwise around the bay running from east to west offshore. This also creates rough conditions off Beer Head when against the prevailing westerly winds. You must know exactly what the tide is doing so as to assist you in deciding which way to go up the beat. Knowing when you can lee bow the tide is important so that you allow for your lay lines at both the windward and leeward marks.

Beer is an excellent venue, where many sailors have enjoyed really good sailing conditions, as well as superb hospitality from the locals.

Tourist information - 01297 21660