channel passage in a snapdragon 26

[dwgoldsack]

dear sirs following my question about road transport for my snpdragon 26 i have now made the decision to sail it down to the helford river in cornwall in a few weeks time .my first trip in her will be from walton-on the-naze to faversham where my brother has a thames sailing barge can anyone give me a few tips as to the average speed a snapdragon will make and which marinas are priced to accomadate a lowly commercial fisherman only used to the cornish waters

 

[highandry]

Can't help you with the boat speed mate, but you can get into Rye with enough tide and lay against the quay (dries) down at Rye Harbour by the Harbour Masters office, which is cheaper than Marinas at Eastbourne, Newhaven and Brighton. After that, get yer wallet out for the solent marinas. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif When I go West I run up into Poole Bay and anchor in Studland Bay which saves taking out a mortgage for a marina berth in Poole Harbour. Brixham Harbour Commissioners jetty is much cheaper than the marina berths too. Someone else who knows the Solent might come on and give you info which might help. Have a good trip.

 

[VicS]

Speedwise I think a passage plan based on anything over 4 knots would be optimistic.

Have details, charts / pilotage notes for everywhere en-route that you might conceivably want to visit including harbour and marina phone numbers and VHF details.

I would plan to use the major deep water harbours so that your entry and exits can be timed to suit tidal streams rather than tidal heights or weather conditions. you can always visit some of the smaller and cheaper places if conditions and timescale allow.

There are no marinas priced to accommodate lowly commercial Cornish fishermen.
I reckon you'll have to go the long way round (but you can always make the short cut across Scotland via the Caledonian canal etc)

You might find some useful info to keep costs down around the Solent on The Tightwad Sailors website

You may also find some useful info on yacht anchorages on the Sailing and cruising resources tab of The Woodbridge Cruising Club website

A bit dated but you might also find some useful info in The UK harbours directory

Consider the possibility of visiting France on the way. It's no further to make long tacks across the channel and back than it is to make short tacks within a few miles of the south coast. Think of all that cheap wine, good food and sexy French women.

Watch out for shipping. Remember that, like Cornish fishing boats, big ships have right of way over little yachts but they travel much faster and can weigh many thousands of tonnes.

 

[johnalison]

It should be possible to do your trip for next to nothing after a bit of research. I might include the club pontoon in Brixham (cheap), anchoring in the Solent, according to the weather, and anchoring in Dover outer harbour (free). You can rely on plenty of tide going east; as much as ten hours in the eastern Channel.

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
You can rely on plenty of tide going east;

[/ QUOTE ] but he is going west!

 

[wotayottie]

On your own - 30 miles per day will be enough. Two up or even three - do 24 hour stints and achieve 100 miles between stops. You'll do well to average more than 4.5kn over 12 hours.

Low cost = anchor. You'll save money by keeping away from the pubs and you will have the satisfaction of waving two digits at the marinas. Mind you, in a lot of marinas you have to go to the office to pay - if the staff are too idle to come down onto the pontoon, they cant moan if you're too idle to go to the office. All depends on whether a/ you're coming back b/ you've got the name painted in big letters on your boat c/ you teach Sunday school.

 

[paulburton44]

If your passage plan is for short legs using the tides then passage plan average 5knots.....

If you are doing long 24hour legs then 4 knots is your best plan.

What engine has she got....?

 

[Stemar]

There are a few sensibly priced places in the Solent. Ryde is reasonable (£10 for my Snappy 24 last year, but is tidal, with a little sandbank just before the entrance to catch latecomers in full view (Haven't done it - more by good luck than good judgement - but seen it done!)

I don't do marinas, so check this, but I believe Shepherds Wharf in Cowes is Council run, so only needs a single mortgage rather than the second one you'll need elsewhere.

Hardway Sailing Club will relieve you of a tenner for a night on their drying pontoon, and Thursday, Friday & weekends probably has the cheapest bar in the Solent. They're halfway up Portsmouth harbour on the west side.

For a freeby, you can anchor in Osbourne Bay, but it gets rolly. Alternatively, got up the Medina to the Folly and pick up an empty buoy or anchor opposite Island Harbour marina. You might dry out, but that won't bother a bilge keeler too much.

Both Portsmouth and Cowes have strong tides, especially spring ebbs. Unless you've got plenty of grunt, fighting them can be, err, character building!

 

[DJE]

If you can take the ground and climb a ladder drop in to see us at Hill Head Sailing Club in the middle of the Solent. Time your arrival to allow for a drying heigh of 2.5m above datum and avoid strong South Westerlies. I wager our bar is as cheap as Hardway's.

 

[Mudisox]

Crossing Lyme bay is always a bit of a slog. After anchoring in Portland Hbr, take the inshore route around the Bill[i.e pt out fenders, you go so close], and consider anchoring off Sidmouth for a break that has two beach protection walls with 3m of water behind them. Really good if the normal Westerlies/SW winds are the norm.

 

[MarkGrubb]

Osborne bay, just East of Cowes, is a good Solent anchorage. From Osborne to Portland harbour will make a nice leg, and only 30ish miles. If weather permits, be sure to visit Lulworth cove for a late lunch.

Yarmouth in the Solent is usually fairly reasonable and you can pick up a mooring in front. I've friends with a Elizabethan 23 who anchor between the moorings and breakwater, so pay nothing.

 

[MacMan]

We did a trip from Titchmarsh to the Solent finishing last weekend. One tip for your cheap nights is to anchor behind Folkstone breakwater for one of your stops. It was a bit rolly but we slept fine for their one night and it was surprisingly peaceful. (It's a massive but now dis-used ferry breakwater).

There was some low swell and we do have a 33 foot cat which means we can anchor in conditions which might be more uncomfortable in smaller mono's but in settled conditions you might be OK. Some pics and narrative will be on my blog when we get round to it. ;-)

We stopped at

Titchmarsh
Ramsgate
Dover
Folkstone (free as above)
Eastbourne
Chichester (free anchoring off East Head if the HM isn't about)
Southampton