On a slightly contrasting note, doesn't the Fastnet Race take
place today? Only force 8 to 9 in the English Channel ! I
assume this race, too, will need to be abandoned, especially
in light of the 1979 disaster.

Nigel

During 1979 the wind reached F10 with a swell between 20' and 30' Currently the area from Land's End, Sevenstones to Scilly is reporting around F6 the sea is choppy, but the swell is actually quite small (around 6' - 8' at Sevenstones)

Even at Sennen, facing into the wind 1 mile from Land's End it's not particularly rough, the swimming area is not red flagged (which is a not uncommon occurence in a 'normal' summer but has yet to happen this year) in fact it's busy in the ground swell.

Sennen Harbour http://www.sennen-cove.com/harbourcam.htm
The surf beach http://www.streamdays.com/camera/vie..._beach_surfcam (they may red flag it at high tide)

So conditions are very different to 1979, but these days who knows..

In Mount's Bay at Newlyn they were advised to cancel the 2pm raft race, and wisely ignored the advice. With no real swell and the wind a F4 offshore it was flat, the inshore lifeboat was creating a wake for the rafts in order to increase the excitement level. It was also sunny and around 20C

I've just got back & might upload some pics lately.

Basically a blustery but perfectly pleasant day down here, maximum gust at my station 32mph.

Graham
Penzance