Having done many deliveries up the WA coast over the decades, I have observed (and been adversely affected by) the ocean surface current. Old timers warn that it is generated by the daily strong NW summer wind pattern. We have experienced this effect during many trips, heading north. For the record, the Astoria to Neah Bay part takes me approximately. 26 hours. Give or take.
While it does potentially add to the "sleigh ride" running down the coast returning homeward to the Columbia River mouth, it does seems to vary in strength. Likely this depends on how many hours of continuous wind is happening, to drag the surface along.
I also have also seen the winds die down, sometimes totally, by midnight. The seas diminish and one appreciates added extra layers and insulated boots while sitting in the cold and damp cockpit. Brrrr.
Anyhow, I was just reading that the effect is often expressed by a weather experts to be about .4 Knot of surface current for every 10 knots of wind. (Some mariners even crediting it with a full knot of current for every 10 knots of continuous wind.)
When the typical summer wind starts in the morning and increases to *25 Kts by mid-late afternoon, it's a factor to deal with when figuring your ETA and watching your SOG, while the boat repeatedly thumps into 4 footers all afternoon. I am describing coastal passage off the Washington coast, often about 20 miles out, and waters not much over 100 ft.
* Some may wonder why we are not sailing, but unless racing in one of annual offshore races, I would rather skip adding extra hours to a delivery trip requiring tacking into the adverse current, steep seas and strong winds.
The mindset is more of having appreciation for the diesel engine and getting up to the right turn into the Straight of Juan De Fuca. Calmer waters and vacation fun await...
Idle pondering -- do sailors in other areas, like maybe the Great Lakes, deal with this effect routinely?
While it does potentially add to the "sleigh ride" running down the coast returning homeward to the Columbia River mouth, it does seems to vary in strength. Likely this depends on how many hours of continuous wind is happening, to drag the surface along.
I also have also seen the winds die down, sometimes totally, by midnight. The seas diminish and one appreciates added extra layers and insulated boots while sitting in the cold and damp cockpit. Brrrr.
Anyhow, I was just reading that the effect is often expressed by a weather experts to be about .4 Knot of surface current for every 10 knots of wind. (Some mariners even crediting it with a full knot of current for every 10 knots of continuous wind.)
When the typical summer wind starts in the morning and increases to *25 Kts by mid-late afternoon, it's a factor to deal with when figuring your ETA and watching your SOG, while the boat repeatedly thumps into 4 footers all afternoon. I am describing coastal passage off the Washington coast, often about 20 miles out, and waters not much over 100 ft.
* Some may wonder why we are not sailing, but unless racing in one of annual offshore races, I would rather skip adding extra hours to a delivery trip requiring tacking into the adverse current, steep seas and strong winds.
The mindset is more of having appreciation for the diesel engine and getting up to the right turn into the Straight of Juan De Fuca. Calmer waters and vacation fun await...
Idle pondering -- do sailors in other areas, like maybe the Great Lakes, deal with this effect routinely?
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