Bad case of the wind!!!

[bunty]

Could someone give me the relation of wind direction, strength and it's subsequent bearing on sea state. It may seem like a very straight forward question but I would like someone to back up my thoughts.
Last Tuesday I phoned Belfat coastguard before leaving home to fish the incoming evening tide at Newcastle (Co Down) I was told the winds were to be force 3-4 with sea state as slight with South Westerly winds. When I headed out from the slip the seas were definately not slight but 3-4 foot swells with white horses all over the show. I was concerned as I am a beginner to sea-fishing so I returned straight away to harbour. :(
I was told by my old Father in Law never to fish in a southerly wind. Could someone please explain. I have fished off the Antrim coast in stronger westerly/ northerly winds without a major problem. Good advice would save me a lot of wasted time drivng etc. I fish mainly off the South Down coast.

Thanks

Bunty

[bigfish]

http://www.metoffice.com/education/secondary/students/beaufort.html

[MarieK]

Its all to do with being in the shelter of the shore, off the antrim coast if the wind is a northerly or NW then its off the shore if you stay close then the sea doesnt get a chance to get rough, if you ventured further out you would find it just as rough.

Usually in a SW Newcastle shouldnt be too bad I think the wind may have swung round to a more southerly or else got stronger. You also have to consider how shallow the area is, shallower means the waves stand up a bit more.

I think when the coastguard say the sea state is slight they may mean for shipping, not us!!

You made the right call coming in, apart from anything else there is little enjoyment being thrown about the boat.

Mariek

[bassbites]

Hi Bunty

It might have had something to do with the tide states as well as wind direction. the sea can seem fine when the wind blows from one direction if the tide is going the same way if the tide changes direction the sea state can change too becoming the boiling mass you witnessed.