Wave Heights & RCD Design Categories

Many people ask how far from shore they can use a category X boat. There is no link between RCD design category and distance from shore. The wind force and wave height are the only parameters used to assess a boat against RCD.

As a point of interest, the following graphs show conditions in English Channel at various times of the year as a function of RCD Design Category. This clearly shows that in Spring and Summer, when most recreational boaters are on the water, category A conditions do not exist and category B is exceptionally rare. One could conclude that a category C boat will do for most boaters in the English Channel.