A run along the southern coast...

Channel Ribs

Channel Ribs

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Cottontail (our new Galion 22) has had her sails checked, engine tweaked and the booze locker stocked. So we are now planning the run 'home' from Hayling to Ramsgate, probably late next week.

If anyone has any insight into the weather for then, please offer it up. Or indeed any tips at all. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Done this run several times, all our boats have been bought in the Solent area.
Last time we did Lymington to Ramsgate in one hit, overnight, 22 hours, but we were deliberately (a) avoiding marina fees in Lymington (ouch) and (b) wanting to get to Ramsgate before a forecast gale (which did turn up).
If you stop along the way, I much prefer Newhaven to Brighton, and Eastbourne is the last-chance saloon before Dover (or Folkestone in an emergency if you can dry out).
Each time the weather has been quiet and we've used the Looe Channel, trying to be there at LW, gone fairly close inshore at Beachy Head (no Wellworthy comments please), and once past Deal we've stayed in the Ramsgate Channel past the B2 buoy.
One tip - if you pass Dover rather than stop there, give Port Control a tinkle on the VHF when you're a mile or so SW of the western entrance. Just tell 'em you are passing by, they do really appreciate it and of course the ferry skippers will hear you too. They'll probably ask you to call again when you are past the harbour.
I'm sure you'll know about the tide timings along the way - try and arrive at Dungeness at around HW Dover, then you carry the new ebb tide all the way to Ramsgate.
 
I'd pretty much agree with that although I'd prefer a stop in Brighton to Newhaven (even though I'm based there) as there are all the amenities in Brighton marina, as well as the possibility of a really good night out if you go into town.

If the timings right and you can dry then Rye is a beautiful alternative to Folkestone, depending on which side of Dungeness you end up, and when you need to leave the following day. The entrance really isn't complicated with the right timing and a calmish sea, then you can wait at Rye harbour before mudhopping up to Rye itself as the tide fills.
 
http://ukie.accuweather.com/ukie/sailing...=1&partner= has 3 day sailing forecast but at the top of the page you can enter towns en route for a 15 day forecast. Plenty of wind in the right direction.

I did Gosport to Eastbourne one day and then to Ramsgate the next with the tide under all the time but that was May with more daylight hours. Good Thai restaurant in Eastbourne (Sovereign Yacht Harbour).
 
Newhaven is a building site at the moment, which you might want to consider. Generally I'd agree Newhaven over Brighton, but not right now. If you're not planning on going ashore it won't make a difference though.

Oh yes, and make sure you take the Looe Channel off Selsey if the weather's settled and best in daylight if it's your first time through.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions.

We are watching the weather closely, these mild spells we keep getting with the steady westerleys would suit us fine but if there is a risk of gales or a NE then we are going to postpone.

Having experienced the east-bound conveyor belt effect before we are concerned that the Galion is not going to make a good enough SOG to ride it all the way, but with a planned stop off in at least Eastbourne we should be able to catch most over two or so days.

Fingers crossed.
 
I did the reverse run - Medway to Hamble a few weeks back an broke the trip in Dover and Brighton, I was surprised by Brighton much better now than a few years back - plenty of places to eat close to the marina.

I don't think that your boat would make enough speed to carry the tide to R'gate in one hit - it can be done because I've done it, but you need to maintain about 9 knots SOG to carry the tide from the Owers to R'gate. The tidal gate/split is around the Royal Sov.

Watch out for very badly marked pots on the leg 15 Nm either side of the Royal Sov. Also listen in on Dover CG navigation broadcasts because if Lydd ranges are live firing you need to be a min of 3 Nm off as you pass them. We got caught there last time - came bowling round dungie and the boogers must have some powerful binocs because the range called us up by name and made us change course for france until we were at least 3 Nm off /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Have a good safe trip although the weather doesn't look to good.

Peter.
 
If you're stopping in Eastbourne just bear in mind you need to lock in and out which adds another half hour to a long day. Brighton or Newhaven you sail right in...
 
You can also anchor just north of the entrance marker buoy to Rye if you need to stop, which I did on the way back from Penzance when I brought Tiki to her new home, but not with any south in the wind, which it looks to be. The anchorage point is in C-Map and in the almanac if I remember correctly. And there is another anchorage east of Dungeness, as long as you do not mind glowing in the dark /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
The locking time is a good point, at this time of year half an hour in and out is a long time. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Hmmm

Mind you, stopping at Newhaven makes the next leg extra long.

If we leave early on Wednesday the tide should carry us for nearly eleven hours, enough time for Cottontail to clock up the fifty miles to Eastbourne; I would say.
 
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