All points West

[themount2]

SWMBO and me became "dazed kippers" in June. So far we have a Gosport - Cherbourg - Gosport and about 450 miles (mainly Solent buoy hopping) on our logs. We only took up dinghy sailing in April 2002 so still quite green.

Plan for summer hols is Gosport to Scillies and back over a couple of weeks with plenty of stop overs along the way starting 23rd August. Boat is 34ft Bruce Roberts, fin keel sloop.

Pilotage & Navigation reasonably good but yet to experience any severe seas. Anything particular we should watch out for? Are there any dodgy areas? Is this a good time to go based on past weather history?
Cheers
Brian

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[Twister_Ken]

All the headlands can cause confused seas and tidal overfalls. On a benign day with the tide under you these look worse than they are (you are generally squirted through in only a few minutes anyway). Clip on and close the hatches to enjoy the ride.

But don't try this in anything more than a F4, or with the tide against you. Either hole up and wait for the tide to change or the wind to drop, or go outside the race.

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[Sybarite]

Get a good chart of Scilly (plus tide tables). It's a great place and reasonably easy to access but there are a few things to watch out for.

Also keep an eye on the weather forecast. There is always an area which is sheltered but you need to be aware of the effect of changing wind directions and have a back-up plan.

Don't leave St Mary's in a strong wind against tide situation like I did last time. Once is enough.

Enjoy it.

John

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[Joe_Cole]

Get yourself a copy of Mark Fishwicks book on the West Country. It covers most of the area you will be going through. Don't be worried if conditions aren't favourable to get to the Scillies, there's plenty to do along the Devon/Cornwall coast.

Have a good trip

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[tony_brighton]

The Scillies and back in a couple of weeks is really quite challenging time wise. With the prevailing SW winds you tend to find you are beating a lot of the way down there. So unless you are lucky with the weather and get some Easterlies which then turn to Westerlies it can be a long old trip. I'd love to get down there but never made it yet. Of course if you are serious about it you can push on down over a couple of days non-stop - but then you'd be missing out on some wonderful places along the way. Are you doing this for mileage or for fun?

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[bedouin]

I would not describe Gosport to Scillies and back in a fortnight as a leisurely cruise. In particular the pressure to get there, or to get back, may lead to you setting out in conditions where you would be better to stay in harbour. Why not just head West and see where you end up?

As far as the navigation is concerned - the series of headlands each present a challenge - Portland Bill is the most famous, and the worst, but there are others that can be as dangerous in the wrong conditions. A good pilot book is essential.

For that sort of "coast hopping" cruise you should not experience any severe weather provided that you listen to the forecasts and don't set out when the forecast is poor - you are never likely to be more than 6 hours from harbour anywhere along the coast.

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[Chris_Robb]

Agreed - its a long way - generally all to windward - much easier to go across the channel and do Brittany generally.

We have not yet made the scillies - we are based in Plymouth - so have no excuse! main problem is the weather - which must be settled - and even then you can have a considerable swell to cope with at anchor!

Everyone tells me thay are a must, however I think that if you are there in rainy weather, they will look correspondingly miserable. We were in the Isle de Glenan - very similar to the Scillies when the weather changed from Sunny to rain. The appeal of the place changed with it!

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[Twister_Ken]

Whoops

Should have added that although you can sail through most headland races on the S. Coast in the right conditions, DON'T try this at Portland. Either go inshore of the race, or about 5 miles offshore.

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[AndrewB]

Just returned from the Scillies, gorgeous as always, though much more crowded than I've ever seen before. Hugh Town, which we always avoid, was absolutely packed with Dutch and German boats.

Take note of the warning in the Shell Guide that the Scillies do require some measure of experience. There is no harbour or anchorage safe/comfortable in strong winds from all directions, and the area is challenging to navigate at night or in bad conditions.

The crossing from Penzance is for many people their first experience of true ocean swells and although in no way dangerous, the size may be unnerving in winds above F4 from the west.

Going westward from the Solent, the races where care is needed occur at Hurst Narrows, the Bridge (Needles), St Albans Head, Portland Bill/Shambles, Start Point, The Lizard and off Lands End. As others have said, Portland Bill can be dangerous, the others no more than uncomfortable in moderate conditions, specially in wind-over-tide situations. Pilot books and Macmillans give the appropriate strategies for rounding. Ideally your passage plan will be to pass all of these with a slack or favourable tide (slack only, for the inshore passage at Portland).

To reach the Scillies and back in a fortnight is quite ambitious. Typical comfortable day sails with the occasional lunch stop would be Gosport -> Swanage -> Weymouth -> Torbay -> Plymouth -> Falmouth -> Penzance -> Scillies. This is 7 days. Almost certainly you will need to put in longer, overnight passages to allow some time in the Scillies. But you could always leave the yacht in Falmouth at the end and bring it back later.


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[vyv_cox]

No wonder we didn't see you in Normandy. And I was keeping that beer cold for you!

Indeed, your schedule looks very optimistic for typical British summer conditions. If I was trying to make the Scillies in a week I would have at least one overnight passage in mind, if only to make up for the inevitable day lost to bad weather. My only Scillies visit was made from North Wales, probably a shorter distance than from The Solent and with fewer critical tidal headlands en route. From memory, we lost a couple of nights on the outward journey and maybe one on the return. Two years earlier we only got to Milford Haven and spent a week in Neyland Marina!

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[themount2]

Thanks to all for taking the trouble with this excellent advice.

General consensus seems to be we are pushing it in a fortnight. Prime reason is a relaxing holiday rather than miles so we shall opt for Andrews "relaxed day sails" and see how far we get before we have to head home. We have the option of leaving the boat and train home so there is a lot of choice on timings etc.

When this forum sticks to sailing issues it really is brilliant. When it doesn't I'd rather be argiung the issues of the day in a Pub!!

Thanks again
Brian

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[duncan]

no do you consider 'which pub?' to be a sailing issue or an issue of the day?

call us up if you make Studland (Banks Arms) or Swanage (Red Lion or Ship) on your voyages - or hail any vessel flying the forum burgee!

Have a good trip

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[themount2]

Which Pub is definitely a sailing issue - that's why we do it isn't it or am I missing something?
What's this about a forum Burgee? Does such a thing exist?

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[whisper]

Well strictly you need to be a motorboater to be granted the privilege of owning one. However, I'm sure that the requisite £12 will buy you into "the club"

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[BrendanS]

Lots of raggies already have them - perfectly OK



<hr width=100% size=1>Err, let me know if Depsol enters the forum, I'll go and hide

 

[duncan]

here is a selection showing what they look like

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[whisper]

NO, NO,NO, that's the wrong approach altogether. You have to make them sound rare and special. Otherwise any old tow rag will be allowed to join our illustrious association. Come to think of it that's happened already hasn't it. OK I give up.

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[BrendanS]

Ooops! Good point.

Well, we can kick a few out, and impose some restrictions on who Haydn sends them to from now on

<hr width=100% size=1>Err, let me know if Depsol enters the forum, I'll go and hide

 

[duncan]

that would be anyone that doesn't send a cheque or fails to include a SAE or return address...........see, the systems already in place and works - don't mess with it!../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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