Brighton to Ocean Village passing Selsey Bill at low water?

[oGaryo]

Looking like this weekend to bring the boat over to OV from Brighton..

Weather looking good at the moment and I'm just starting to put together my passage plan. From what I've ascertained so far, it's Selsey Bill that's the thing for me to focus on in terms of hazards, passing through the Boulder and Street beacons keeping the Mixon well to the stbd. Question is, is it ok to pass through Selsy Bill at low tide as high tide is at silly o'clock in the morning or after dark in the evening. I presume the sea state will whip up in the area with a tide running and sods law, the wind against it.

Any Selsey experts that can advise please. My gut feel is it's better to stay well clear and head for Owers and South Pullar beacons rather than chancing Looe in an unfamiliar boat and surroundings.

 

[[2068]]

If the conditions are that bad that the looe channel is not viable, then probably best booking a restaurant in Brighton instead. There's plenty of depth around there even at low tide so long as you hit the gate (Street / Boulder) on a course of 270'.

Going further South via Owers / Pullar, you have to go a long way further offshore, and it feels like you're going halfway to France for no particularly good reason.

And anyway, the main thing to look out for is the pots on the approach. Last time I was there, there were hundreds of the buggers

 

[andy59]

IMHO Gary , tuesday will be the best day this week , to far away to know what the weekend will be like .
Looks nice today as well have a look !
http://www.drakesofbrighton.com/live-beach-cam.html
( subject to work commitments of course )

 

[lisilou]

I'd go with whichever route you're most comfortable with Gary and my forecast says rain sat and sun but pretty good between now and then.
L

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

If the conditions are that bad that the looe channel is not viable, then probably best booking a restaurant in Brighton instead. There's plenty of depth around there even at low tide so long as you hit the gate (Street / Boulder) on a course of 270'.

Going further South via Owers / Pullar, you have to go a long way further offshore, and it feels like you're going halfway to France for no particularly good reason.

And anyway, the main thing to look out for is the pots on the approach. Last time I was there, there were hundreds of the buggers

I'm with FP on this. Assuming fair winds I'd leave Brighton on the last of the ebb to hit the Looe at lw slack; it take about an hour to get from Brighton to the eastern end of the channel; it's then dead west through the channel til you hit Street and Boulder. Lots of pots in the channel. If the wind is annoyingly sw like it usually is, I'd actually prefer wind w tide even though the tide is against you; again I'd aim for slack in the channel but keep your eyes peeled for the pots, they get towed under as you get close to hw.

I definitely wouldn't go the long way round - no need. And if you find yourself weathererd into Brighton for the night give me a shout, I'll buy you a beer.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[jfm]

If the wind is annoyingly sw like it usually is, I'd actually prefer wind w tide even though the tide is against you;

+1. No brainer in fast mobo. A few knots of foul tide with flat sea is muuuuch nicer than the current helping you but having to bashing into short steep waves

 

[Elessar]

+1. No brainer in fast mobo. A few knots of foul tide with flat sea is muuuuch nicer than the current helping you but having to bashing into short steep waves

yep. Last time I did this trip was in a RIB with twin D6s tweaked to 400 hp each. As we came out of littlehampton timing was dictated and it was windy. Took a right pounding that we wouldn't have if we'd timed it better. I didn't get above about 12-14 knots for much of the trip, simply horrid.

Soton water saw 60 mind you.

 

[SpottyDog5]

Heres a passage plan :
Come out of marina- turn right - have a beer

When you see the Island, aim at it - have another beer

Before you hit the Island, go right a bit and look for chimney aim at it- beer time.

Before you hit the chimney, turn right aim at the Land Rovers - you know whats next....

Before you hit the Land Rovers call Seastart, they will escort you in to OV. Give the man a beer.

Simple this boating lark.

Oh forgot a bit, about 10 minutes before you hit the Island, look right and be sure to wave at Seajet...

 

[oGaryo]

thanks guys, so, assuming windfinder is more accurate than Lisa's corns
Friday and Saturday aren't looking bad at present sea state wise which is good as there's no chance of time off work this week slack water's at 13:20 mid way between neaps and springs so reckon I'll pootle round for some go juice at 11:30 and be on our way for 12pm to get to the Looe channel at around low tide.

Hoping to have Dunstable Steve on board and possibly another so plenty of video opportunity to be had

Hope the rain holds off as the canopy front screen is one of the snags that needs sorting, it'll have to be off the boat whilst underway as it's salt damaged making visibility poor.

Jimmy, sounds like a plan to get a beer in, got to phone Steve but may be down Friday night to prep the boat for Saturday

 

[oGaryo]

Heres a passage plan :
Come out of marina- turn right - have a beer

When you see the Island, aim at it - have another beer

Before you hit the Island, go right a bit and look for chimney aim at it- beer time.

Before you hit the chimney, turn right aim at the Land Rovers - you know whats next....

Before you hit the Land Rovers call Seastart, they will escort you in to OV. Give the man a beer.

Simple this boating lark.

Oh forgot a bit, about 10 minutes before you hit the Island, look right and be sure to wave at Seajet...

fancy coming out to play, sounds like fun does that

 

[Elessar]

Heres a passage plan :
Come out of marina- turn right - have a beer

When you see the Island, aim at it - have another beer

Before you hit the Island, go right a bit and look for chimney aim at it- beer time.

Before you hit the chimney, turn right aim at the Land Rovers - you know whats next....

Before you hit the Land Rovers call Seastart, they will escort you in to OV. Give the man a beer.

Simple this boating lark.

Oh forgot a bit, about 10 minutes before you hit the Island, look right and be sure to wave at Seajet...

Glad you didn't turn right at the transit vans......

 

[Elessar]

Hope the rain holds off as the canopy front screen is one of the snags that needs sorting, it'll have to be off the boat whilst underway as it's salt damaged making visibility poor.

and what's wrong with the helm seat? Sit down and you can see through the windscreen.........

 

[oGaryo]

and what's wrong with the helm seat? Sit down and you can see through the windscreen.........

pots

 

[Elessar]

pots

you can still see those through the windscreen. On coupes you have no choice.

If I took the boat (my ex, sealine sportboat) out early and couldn;t be arsed to de fog either the canopies or windscreen, then a 4" undo of the zip allow you to see out when standing. Getting cold and wet??? Nooooooo!

 

[SpottyDog5]

Glad you didn't turn right at the transit vans......

I think they are now to be considered as "seasonal marks" that should not be used for navigation.

 

[oGaryo]

Getting cold and wet??? Nooooooo!

Lightweight

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Jimmy, sounds like a plan to get a beer in, got to phone Steve but may be down Friday night to prep the boat for Saturday

Great stuff. I'll ping you my number now.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[SpottyDog5]

fancy coming out to play, sounds like fun does that

Would have love to join "the jolly boys boating adventure" but I'm away, did I mention I'm off to Vegas on Friday ?

 

[rafiki_]

Sorry to miss out Gary, sounds like a blast! Stuck in Seoul at the moment, then onto Nagoya. Now, where would I rather be................? ............

 

[oGaryo]

Would have love to join "the jolly boys boating adventure" but I'm away, did I mention I'm off to Vegas on Friday ?

you did mate, enjoy and look forward to catching up on your return... with the leg out of the storm trooper outfit? got to be getting close to being fully back on your feet?