Chi Entrance

[Stemar]

The tides seem akward for heading west in the Solent this weekend, so I was thinking of Chichester harbour, but sensible times to leave for Portsmouth on Sunday mean I'll be punching the tide on the way out of the harbour. Is this likely to be a serious party pooper?

I can do a comfortable 5kts under power, 6 if I have to for a few minutes.

 

[Judders]

It runs pretty strong at times, but it's consistent and there are plenty of marks to give you an indication. It's not the seat of the pants job that Langstone Harbour entrance gives you, but if you are doing it in a wind over tide situation, a sense of humour is an advantage.

 

[fireball]

Won't be an issue this weekend - nice n easy

We don't usually bother looking at the tide stream in and out the harbour - last season we quite often left on a Friday evening for a sail round to Gosport or into Bembridge.
If the tide is strong against you then tuck into the side - you can get quite close to the beech on HI without running aground - just keep an eyeout on the depth gauge ... not sure if there is still a little spit just south of the HI Lifeboat house. Very close to safe water though - 6' out will see an extra 6' depth!

 

[Evadne]

Winds look light for this weekend, so the swell problem shouldn't arise. I also think (not having a tide table to hand) that you're looking at neaps. This means sufficient water at LW and 3kts rather than 6kts if my limited experience is anything to go by, the worst of the tide being in the latter 3 hours of the flood rather than the first,as you'd expect. I'd not do it but if you can manage 5kts for a few hours then I'd have said, go for it.
"Chuggin" (Colin) is a local who virtually lives on the beach and has at least a century of experience, I'd suggest you PM him if you want more specific advice, but if you're still concerned then the best strategy is to go and have a look on the day.

 

[Evadne]

We came in almost dead on LW last Thursday, about 1.4m (LW Porstsmouth). Couldn't see the expected spits on the west bank, or even the shallow bits on the landward end of the bar, but despite the lack of other yachts to mark the channel /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif the channel was follow-able by noting the calmer bits among the white horses - I wouldn't have called them breakers, although we under jib only and one or two tried to pick up her tail and surge her to windward.

 

[tome]

Shouldn't cause you any problems at all. We normally aim to leave northney 2 hours before hw portsmouth which gives us an hour to get up the harbour against the flood and then catch the full w going tide up the solent

So we'd leave 4.30 ish Sunday

 

[VicS]

Its not a big tide on Sun pm 4.3 at 1809 hrs so I dont see any problem. The flood tide is no where near as strong as an ebb tide anyway. I'd leave late afternoon with the object of carrying the early west going tide to Portsmouth and entering before the ebb gets going in Portsmouth entrance. Say being at Chi bar about 2hrs before HW. A little earlier perhaps on the basis that the earlier you start the earlier you get there. Thats what I try to do when going west from Chichester anytime. If you leave much later any advantage you gain in Chi entrance will be more than lost entering Portsmouth against the ebb.

Force 4 westerly winds forecast for both days. Fine weather as well especially on Saturday.

You'll use the passage through the barrier both ways? So go out to seaward a touch off Langstone, dont be fooled into thinking that the safewater mark is out clear of all the sands.

Whereabouts in Chichester are going thinking of spending the night?

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
It runs pretty strong at times

[/ QUOTE ] On a spring ebb! and Ive done that in a 19 footer, towing a rescued windsurfer, with a 5hp outboard for power.

 

[Malcb]

As everyones said, no problem this weekend. I rarely think about what is happening at Chi unless there is a Springs or a F5-7. Then I check direction and tides more carefully. Mind you I have managed to come in at 1 knot SOG /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, but at least that;s better than -1 knot /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Another poster referred to Chuggin, haven't seen any posts from him since December, has anything happened or has he changed his name on here?