2015 Bournemouth Air Festival

[Dorset Dan]

Anyone going or been in previous years? First year with a boat for us kept in Poole so planning to make the most of it.

Looks like weather will be reasonable towards the weekend but I guess anything other than a flat and calm day could make it uncomfortable for an extended time aboard.

I have a newly fitted 40m anchor chain / warp so hopefully can anchor somewhere with a little space around me, I don't fancy being the boat that starts drifting and causing mayhem if I can help it!! :ambivalence:

 

[lisilou]

Been a few times and hoping to go this thursday and yeh, if the sun shines, it's great. Pack a picnic, head off early and pick your spot. Don't expect it to be flat calm with all the traffic tho...it will be rolly.
P.S. I always pop a couple of Stugeron a couple of hours before hand to counter any queasiness that might creep up on me.
L

 

[wipe_out]

Went last year for the first time and it's an awesome experience.. Even if the water is calm the number of boat moving around and the wakes will soon make it a bit rock and roll.. Doesn't matter though, just lay out where you can and watch the planes come over close enough that it feels like you can almost touch them..

 

[Bazzer]

Anyone going or been in previous years? First year with a boat for us kept in Poole so planning to make the most of it.

Looks like weather will be reasonable towards the weekend but I guess anything other than a flat and calm day could make it uncomfortable for an extended time aboard.

I have a newly fitted 40m anchor chain / warp so hopefully can anchor somewhere with a little space around me, I don't fancy being the boat that starts drifting and causing mayhem if I can help it!! :ambivalence:

Hello Dan

we are going on thursday and friday, we normally anchor out near the big warships, its deep but with plenty of chain you will be fine and it does mean you dont generally have loads of boats around you.

 

[z1ppy]

We are looking to go in the rib on Saturday. before i get flamed, i haven't done a passage plan yet as i need to sort other things first and the weather will change a dozen times between now and then....

The general thought seems to be that it will be lumpy regardless of weather and seems the water is pretty deep to anchor so need plenty of chain. (which is something we don't really have)

So the question then is, are we likely to be able to tuck ourselves in somewhere reasonably shallow or shall we look to find a friend in a bigger boat to hang off?!

 

[colingr]

We are looking to go in the rib on Saturday. before i get flamed, i haven't done a passage plan yet as i need to sort other things first and the weather will change a dozen times between now and then....

The general thought seems to be that it will be lumpy regardless of weather and seems the water is pretty deep to anchor so need plenty of chain. (which is something we don't really have)

So the question then is, are we likely to be able to tuck ourselves in somewhere reasonably shallow or shall we look to find a friend in a bigger boat to hang off?!

East of Boscombe pier gives a pretty good view and is not too deep. Got some fantastic pics there the year before last.

 

[dpb]

Shallow anchoring just off or to the west of Bournemouth Pier.
More in the action than Boscombe.
Can go as shallow as you like!

 

[superheat6k]

The centre mark for the planes is a white mark on the cliffs mid way between the piers. If you get there before 12 AM not too busy and you can sit right on the line of the prohibited zone, and there will be patrol boats telling you where that is.

Once the pick is down take a panoramic photo showing all the boats nearby when you arrived, then if it becomes necessary you can show who was there first - last time we went was 2013. We got there at 11.30 with nearest boat > 200 yards away, by 2PM it was a virtual raft, always with someone who doesn't know how to set an anchor annoying everyone else.

Being on the edge of the prohibited zone stops too many boats milling around as they get told off if they enter the zone.

After a few hours we swung gently about 50 metres to the east and found ourselves sitting virtually in the cockpit of a 22' yacht, with my davits nearly removing his forestay. He got very shirty when I suggested he let out more cable, so I then politely explained he was not there when I arrived, and I was too hemmed in to move a 40' boat safely, and it was his responsibility (and forestay at risk) if he did not move. He let out some more rode.

Swinging circle issues might arise due to different scopes being set down. The tide will be gentle as we are on neaps, and the tide off Bournemouth is never that hard, so 3 x depth at highest tide point for chain rode IMHO is quite OK. Leave plenty of fenders out just in case someone does drift down on you, and then offer them a beer - their embarrassment is far more effective than shouting.

 

[Andrew M]

We're going, with some friends on board for the weekend, leaving Lymington nice and early on Sat morning and hoping to anchor up for the day and then return mid afternoon, Sunday's looking not too clever at the moment so that might be just pottering about to Yarmouth etc.

Andy

 

[oldgit]

No Lancaster unfortunately at the moment.And think the Vulcan has also now finally run out of hours.

 

[z1ppy]

Weather for Saturday looking not so great now. Rain coming in from early afternoon.

Taxi for the med please......

 

[Andrew M]

Weather for Saturday looking not so great now. Rain coming in from early afternoon..

Oh bugger ! And the wind is picking up earlier as well, we'll still go but will keep an eye out for how it comes in through the afternoon. At least it should still be warmish so I don't mind too much if it's raining coming back, I'll still happily sit up on the fly getting a bit wet.

Never seen the air show before so really looking forward to it.

 

[z1ppy]

Oh bugger ! And the wind is picking up earlier as well, we'll still go but will keep an eye out for how it comes in through the afternoon. At least it should still be warmish so I don't mind too much if it's raining coming back, I'll still happily sit up on the fly getting a bit wet.

Never seen the air show before so really looking forward to it.

Might stop at ancasta on the way and trade our boat in for something more practical for UK boating!

 

[colingr]

Might stop at ancasta on the way and trade our boat in for something more practical for UK boating!

What, like a camper van !

We were going Sunday but that is going to be a wash out, now tomorrow is looking unlikely as well. Hey ho

 

[DPH]

Just arrived and anchored of West pier. Seem to be the first here!

 

[henryf]

We were hoping to go yesterday but had to abandon.

Today looks more promising but unfortunately we have other commitments. It's a great day out if you can attend.

Make sure you tune into the radio commentary which is superb.

Henry

 

[grumpy_o_g]

This was alongside Poole Quay this evening and Tenacious (a JST Tall SHip) was alongside the commercial port. Thought we were going the wrong way at first.