Traveltalkonline.com Forums


BVI Cruise Schedule TTOL Sponsors BVI Travel Calendar
Forum Statistics
Forums39
Topics38,430
Posts310,040
Members26,538
Most Online2,218
Jan 21st, 2020
Top Posters(30 Days)
RonDon 115
pat 43
jazzgal 41
Todd 40
Member Spotlight
pony600
pony600
CT
Posts: 1,297
Joined: June 2008
Show All Member Profiles 
Today's Birthdays
ecco, OceanDrop, vincent
Who's Online Now
44 registered members (camview, pbd007, snman31, Fitzhughlaw, lcote, richard4th, Donaegada, SXMScubaman, Matt W, MrEZgoin, LauraJim, JandIrene, MKGrey, Swifty, Fran, foreversxm, RickBlaine, mark37, Wahnfried, nevar37, ChuckG, BHK, Cincinnati_Kid, SeaLady29, pandpfromcanada, socamon, CaribbeanCanadians, sailingbob, polaris, 706jim, KenW, marisol, 12 invisible), 893 guests, and 65 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Understanding Wave Period #240913
11/29/2020 03:34 AM
11/29/2020 03:34 AM
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 21
San Diego
B
beeradley Offline OP
Traveler
beeradley  Offline OP
Traveler
B
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 21
San Diego
Hello. Our first time chartering the USVI will be next week. From our research we see that a north swell can make things pretty rough in certain anchorages/moorings. We have been trying to familiarize ourselves with the info on windguru but I’m a bit lost on “wave period” and what that might mean for us.

Bottom line is we would love to know what places to steer clear of in STT and STJ when a north swell is happening and also know how to recognize when this swell event in coming (wave period?)

Thank you in advance.

BVI Sponsors
Re: Understanding Wave Period [Re: beeradley] #240925
11/29/2020 08:36 AM
11/29/2020 08:36 AM
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 71
C
cyclingdoc Offline
Traveler
cyclingdoc  Offline
Traveler
C
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 71
You want to look at swell rather then wave. Swell is larger ocean effect. Waves are the more acute wind influenced effect. Waves are more wind based and aren’t really bothersome at most anchorages. Swell can be very bothersome when is rocking your boat all around.

In a big north swell avoid Honeymoon, Caneel, etc on St John. Maho and Francis are good. In south swell avoid most southern anchorages. Everything feels worse on a mono vs cat.

Instead of windguru, check windy.com

(Just my opinions and observations)

Last edited by cyclingdoc; 11/29/2020 08:36 AM.
Re: Understanding Wave Period [Re: beeradley] #240926
11/29/2020 08:53 AM
11/29/2020 08:53 AM
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 23
A
Andiamo Offline
Traveler
Andiamo  Offline
Traveler
A
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 23
Wave period refers to the amount of time it takes for the peak of one wave to pass a given point before the peak of the following wave peak reaches the same point. Used to look at the swell/wave period back when we surfed more. Think of it like this - you’re out in the ocean on your board and a wave just passes over you, you have 15 seconds until the next wave peaks at your same spot and it’s a smooth, calm wait. Likewise if you only had 5-8 seconds it’s going to seem much more ‘choppy’ and the waves are likely more disorganized vs the smooth swell of the 20 second period.

In a sense the shorter the wave period the conditions. Longer wave period should seem smoother (although the chances of the waves being larger when breaking on the shore is greater). Something to consider when planning on taking the dingy into the beach.

Re: Understanding Wave Period [Re: beeradley] #240931
11/29/2020 10:19 AM
11/29/2020 10:19 AM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347
USVI
LocalSailor Offline
Traveler
LocalSailor  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347
USVI
I use this buoy report to gauge the N. Swell in real time

https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/show_plot...uom=E&time_diff=0&time_label=GMT

Re: Understanding Wave Period [Re: beeradley] #240946
11/29/2020 11:22 AM
11/29/2020 11:22 AM
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 21
San Diego
B
beeradley Offline OP
Traveler
beeradley  Offline OP
Traveler
B
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 21
San Diego
Ok awesome. Windy.com is very helpful. Very easy to see the direction of the swell and I see it’s shifting literally every day. My follow up question is how big of a swell should start to concern me for any given anchorage/mooring?

Re: Understanding Wave Period [Re: cyclingdoc] #240960
11/29/2020 03:23 PM
11/29/2020 03:23 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
S
sail445 Offline
Traveler
sail445  Offline
Traveler
S
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
Originally Posted by cyclingdoc
You want to look at swell rather then wave. Swell is larger ocean effect. Waves are the more acute wind influenced effect. Waves are more wind based and aren’t really bothersome at most anchorages. Swell can be very bothersome when is rocking your boat all around.

In a big north swell avoid Honeymoon, Caneel, etc on St John. Maho and Francis are good. In south swell avoid most southern anchorages. Everything feels worse on a mono vs cat.

Instead of windguru, check windy.com

(Just my opinions and observations)

In a big north swell Honeymoon and Caneel would be a better anchorage than all the bays from Hawksnest to Francis Bay.
Water lemon Cay on the east side will be calm along with all the anchorages on the south shore.

Re: Understanding Wave Period [Re: sail445] #240989
11/29/2020 09:23 PM
11/29/2020 09:23 PM
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 71
C
cyclingdoc Offline
Traveler
cyclingdoc  Offline
Traveler
C
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 71

This is interesting because I find the exact opposite. Maho good in a moderate north swell. Caneel is terrible. None are good in a big swell.

Intriguing. Great discussion.

How about Magens in a big north swell?

Anyone else with input, observations?

Re: Understanding Wave Period [Re: beeradley] #241001
11/30/2020 01:15 AM
11/30/2020 01:15 AM
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 21
San Diego
B
beeradley Offline OP
Traveler
beeradley  Offline OP
Traveler
B
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 21
San Diego
Can someone describe what a “big” north swell might look like in swell height? When is it too small to even worry about from any direction?

Re: Understanding Wave Period [Re: beeradley] #241016
11/30/2020 08:48 AM
11/30/2020 08:48 AM
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 71
C
cyclingdoc Offline
Traveler
cyclingdoc  Offline
Traveler
C
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 71
Originally Posted by beeradley
Can someone describe what a “big” north swell might look like in swell height? When is it too small to even worry about from any direction?


It’s relative sailor to sailor. I don’t like caneel in any swell over 1 meter. That’s fine in maho. In my mind in the USVI “Big” swell is 1.3-2 meters. This is daily stuff, not talking storms nearby, etc. The swell isn’t as bad if the wind stays up overnight but when the wind settles to only a few knots the swell just rolls the boat all over. Most of the time swell is under 1m.

I base much of this knowing that you can just plan your trip differently knowing the conditions. If I’m sitting in caneel knowing i could be comfortable 40 minutes away in maho I would much prefer to be there.

Last edited by cyclingdoc; 11/30/2020 08:50 AM.
Re: Understanding Wave Period [Re: cyclingdoc] #241027
11/30/2020 10:43 AM
11/30/2020 10:43 AM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
S
sail445 Offline
Traveler
sail445  Offline
Traveler
S
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
With a north swell Caneel/Honeymoon is protected somewhat by the cays to to the north whereas hawksnest to Francis Bay are pretty much wide open.
If you have a 1 meter swell your boat will be rocking and rolling all night long.

Re: Understanding Wave Period [Re: cyclingdoc] #241048
11/30/2020 02:51 PM
11/30/2020 02:51 PM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347
USVI
LocalSailor Offline
Traveler
LocalSailor  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347
USVI
Originally Posted by cyclingdoc

.

How about Magens in a big north swell?

Anyone else with input, observations?


A big N. Swell, -storm offshore cause - makes Magens Bay very rolly -- not common but does happen.
USE *****
https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/show_plot...uom=E&time_diff=0&time_label=GMT


Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.6.1