Chichester Bar - Don't Cut The Corner!

There is a channel of sorts just south of beach - it's probably about 20-30m wide and likely to be usable at HW - I have no idea what the exit west is like as I've never tried that passage when not in a dinghy!
 
To clarify the incident mentioned; it was not the Zoe-Anne incident and I believe was earlier than 1999,more like 1990. The incident was reported in the Yachting press in Yachts and Yachting and I think YM. The owner came from Leicester, and the casualty that died was a teacher.
I had seen the boat in Cowes the same day and left before he did, for the Hamble in a reasonable breeze, so was surprised to hear of the perhaps avoidable tragedy.
I have been to Chichester twice, once on a yacht delivery to the Marina there, and the second time just to Itchenor to sail there and back to the Hamble. As far as I recall the wind wasF 3-4 each time and no problem, but have no plans to return there in the near future.

ianat182
 
So at 2 hours before HW, and a strong Northerly, it would be wind against tide.

I have spent an extra day a couple of times to avoid Chichester bar - since 1978 !

Both when I had a Carter 30 which didn't like following waves, no rudder authority thanks to the full length skeg stalling it.

Once I was with a rather faint-hearted chum who was new to sailing and was seasick, then it came up to a F6 so I thought we'd be better off sitting it out in Portsmouth, the other was with an ex-colleague who was in special forces and knew no fear but also knew nothing about sailing, so I elected to stay in Portsmouth that time too despite his undoubted capabilities, in a F7.

However Chichester bar should not be demonised, it's a complete doddle in any normal conditions !
 
ianat182 said:
To clarify the incident mentioned; it was not the Zoe-Anne incident and I believe was earlier than 1999,more like 1990.

ianat182
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From the RNLI journal of the time:

9th October 1988, 32ft yacht broached & knocked down, propellor fouled, two crew washed overboard. SW 7-8, ebb tide, breaking seas 10-15ft high.


To correct an earlier post, the medal didn't go to the coxswain, but to a crewmember who went into the water to support the unconscious casualty.
 
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Juan Twothree said:
From the RNLI journal of the time:

9th October 1988, 32ft yacht Dingaling broached & knocked down, propellor fouled, two crew washed overboard. SW 7-8, ebb tide, breaking seas 10-15ft high.


To correct an earlier post, the medal didn't go to the coxswain, but to a crewmember who went into the water to support the unconscious casualty.
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This is sort of post that makes me stick with Scuttlebutt.
 
Chi Bar-expect the unexpected, good & bad!

galadriel said:
That is tragic that a life was lost. To enter the harbour in a F5 is not so much of a challenge to threaten life, in normal conditions. However if that were a F5 southerly at 3/4 spring ebb, then there could well be conditions that could make the passage dangerous. But entering in a F5, I forget how many times I have done so.
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You can get a drubbing(or is that a soaking) just by being 40 mins late leaving on a tide in SSWF4-we did once.
Wind against tide on the Bar can produce some quite unexpected conditions, and I hate that cross current across the mouth between the Beacon and the new Eastoke bouy- it makes keeping a steady line when inbound hard.

Chimet is an absolute boon in deciding whether to leave the harbour, or spend another day elsewhere before returning. Much better than personal reconaissance!

It's Copulating Porcupines time once the ebb starts with any S-SSW in it, and the wave periodicity gets under 10s according to my SWMBO.
 
F7-8 would be very nasty indeed, a whole different ball game to the F5 originaly stated; I'd suggest no boat should attempt Chichester entrance in such conditions, better to stay offshore or head back into the Solent.
 
I'd suggest no boat should attempt Chichester entrance in such conditions, better to stay offshore or head back into the Solent.
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Rather a sweeping statement - shame cos I was hoping to attempt something like that in a ZapCat ... but I guess it's not really suitable ...
 
I don't know how to bookmark this thread for future reference but WOW I am glad I read it, you really do need to be prepared for sailing in this area (especially with the family in a Drascombe Longboat! :eek: I am sticking to the harbour with the kids). I am used to Falmouth coastal sailing where if the conditions and forecast look OK you can just go!

The busiest place to sail in the country seems to be one of the most unfortunate - how many time do you hear really experienced sailors saying that the channel and the Solent are one of the most dangerous places to sail around the world! They come back from a circumnavigation and they are worried about stuffing it all up on the last leg!
 
fireball said:
Rather a sweeping statement - shame cos I was hoping to attempt something like that in a ZapCat ... but I guess it's not really suitable ...
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Sweeping perhaps yes but very sensible and measured based on my expereince. I have on three occasions abandoned passage when conditions across the bar have presented particular risks to personal and vessel safety. On one occasion the bar which looked ok on first sight but was quickly evident was impossible to transit and whilst I aborted my attempt later heard shouts for assistance from another vessel who had 'braved' the bar.

There are no bonus points for frightening or making the crew unwell, adding a tide or a day to your journey is no great problem the sign of a good skipper is one that ensures safety of his crew and is alive to tell you about their expereinces and share them laterly.

The bar is not dangerous in itself, but you must respect or understand the weather / tidal conditions.
 
I have on several occasions, brought both large and small boats into the harbour in 'adverse' conditions (up to F6) - I only did so because I had crew that I knew I could rely on and who trusted me as well as a good boat.
I have never abandoned a passage across the bar - I would consider an abandonment to be "approached and aborted" - I've just not approached in conditions I wouldn't want to cross it in!

My comment about it being a sweeping statement is because it is just that ... a sweeping statement that can hold no weight ..
F7-8 and an ebb tide would be too much for my large boat and I wouldn't be in the bay in the small one in those winds anyway, but I'd have no worries about bringing a suitably engined & sized RIB through in those conditions - also Zapcats are positively designed for those sorts of waves - although you'd need a good helm to do it justice!
 
Zagato,

Please, please don't get freaked out by this or any or the other "horror" stories. It really, really isn't that bad. Just stick to the rules, the main one being avoid a big spring ebb and a strong breeze (F4+) with any south in it, and you'll be absolutely fine. The channel is well marked and hundreds of boats big and small go in and out of there every weekend without incident.

HISC send their Mirror fleet out into the Bay in all sorts of weather so I'm pretty sure you'd be OK in your Longboat.

Here's a bit of footage of a kid in an Oppi having fun there too!! ;)


 
Zagato said:
Begs the question why do you need to spend 250K + on a big yacht?
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Cos - an Oppy only seats one ... anything over 8 stone and you're too heavy for it ... you can't go down below and make a cuppa and it's a bit tricky sleeping two up in it whilst in Cowes Yacht Haven ;)

Oh - and where do you put the Wifi Antenna?!
 
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