Christchurch to Portsmouth

[MissIsle]

We are moving round from Christchurch to our home port of Portsmouth for the first time in a couple of weeks. Can anyone offer any advice about timing, in particular leaving past Mudeford Key, & then using the North Chanel round Hurst & into Lymington. It seems we may have to kill a good couple of hours between leaving Mudeford & approaching the Solent. We draw about 2'6" & will motorsail at about 3kn.

 

[Shibumi]

Keep England on the left, tack when you see the seagulls' knees.

(Sorry, it's an old one, but have a free bump on me).

Steve

 

[johnwest]

Just ensure that you pass thro the Hurst narrows with a flood tide. With a speed through the water of only 3k you will have to work the tides.

j

 

[Seajet]

And knowing both Christchurch entrance ( exit ) and Hurst Narrows, DO make sure it's fine weather and going to stay that way, don't even think about it if not perfect conditions and forecast, no schedule is that important; in the right weather it will be a very pleasant trip.

It will pay to keep fairly close to Hurst but not Too close; check out 'The Trap' sand spit, though with your draft you'd have to be close.

 

[Robin]

It has been years since we had shallow enough draught for Christchurch and the entrance changes regularly. IMO you will need enough depth to get out as soon as possible on the rising tide, but yet be able to get out through The Run against the flood with your limited speed. You will not be able to make Portsmouth on one tide, but you must get through Hurst via the North Channel on the flood. Hurst Spit shallow will not be a problem at near HW as you will be. Once through Hurst you need to wait out a tide anchored behind Hurst or in Yarmouth or Lymington, or better still stop overnight and move on next day.

There are some Christchurch folk on here who might be able to advise better and I think Glashen is one so a PM with your question might help.

 

[alant]

And knowing both Christchurch entrance ( exit ) and Hurst Narrows, DO make sure it's fine weather and going to stay that way, don't even think about it if not perfect conditions and forecast, no schedule is that important; in the right weather it will be a very pleasant trip.

It will pay to keep fairly close to Hurst but not Too close; check out 'The Trap' sand spit, though with your draft you'd have to be close.

Get out of Christchurch Harbour when tide ok & anchor off the beach huts until tide flooding toward Hurst, keeping North of North Head buoy - wave to me as you pass Milford beach.

You should be able to get as far as Newtown at least.

 

[sternsheet]

Agree with seajet. Christchurch entrance (exit) can be 'orrible in a blow. It's very shallow and there's a very narrow (shifting) channel marked with small buoys, but there can be 'orrid great breaking seas either side of it until you are clear. I've shot out of there in a 6 and wouldn't want to do it too often.

 

[l'escargot]

Get out of Christchurch Harbour when tide ok & anchor off the beach huts until tide flooding toward Hurst, keeping North of North Head buoy - wave to me as you pass Milford beach.

You should be able to get as far as Newtown at least.

Is about the best advice - after leaving Mudeford you won't have time to get through Hurst before the ebb.

I have also crossed at Hurst and sat out a tide in Totland Bay then you have all the flood to get to Portsmouth if you head through Hurst just before low water.

Christchurch Sailing Club give good instructions, pilotage and tide times for getting in/out at Mudeford.

http://www.christchurchsailingclub.co.uk/visiting.htm

It is usually the second high water which gives the most water at the entrance which is why the ebb is well established at Hurst by the time you get out.

 

[Boathook]

I don't think that the entrance will be bouyed until April which will be a problem for you. The fishermen put down a few bouys for their own use and you would need to see them at low water to decide which side the channel is. All this means leaving at high water and then bashing the ebb as you head to Hurst. You will then have the start of the flood at Hurst and hopefully get to Portsmouth. I also think that 3 knots is a bit slow even for Christchurch Bay.

 

[Poignard]

I would do what AlanT suggests, i.e. leave at a suitable, time then anchor to await a fair tide (and have a good sleep!)

 

[MissIsle]

I'm being pretty pessimistic at 3 knots, it's a new boat to me but has a good engine so 5 knots is probably well within reach. I am actually thinking of leaving Christchurch on the 9th of April, I hope the channel will be bouyed by then, the tides are still on neaps & I should reach Lymington on a tide. I could leave a week earlier on the 2nd, but it would mean an early start to run the tide past Mudeford, then amusing my self in Christchurch bay for a few hours until I had the tide with me to pass Hurst. I would run Lymington to Portsmouth on day 2 which gives me 6 hours of flood tide to carry me there without having to use the engine with a bit of luck.

 

[Boathook]

I'm being pretty pessimistic at 3 knots, it's a new boat to me but has a good engine so 5 knots is probably well within reach. I am actually thinking of leaving Christchurch on the 9th of April, I hope the channel will be bouyed by then, the tides are still on neaps & I should reach Lymington on a tide. I could leave a week earlier on the 2nd, but it would mean an early start to run the tide past Mudeford, then amusing my self in Christchurch bay for a few hours until I had the tide with me to pass Hurst. I would run Lymington to Portsmouth on day 2 which gives me 6 hours of flood tide to carry me there without having to use the engine with a bit of luck.

9th April LW 0840, 1st HW 1355, 2nd HW 1715. All BST. I would leave at 1300 and get the tide up towards Hurst and then bash the tide through Hurst and go to Lymington. The full ebb should not be running by the time you get to Hurst.

 

[Seajet]

Boathook,

a rather good bit of local knowledge !

Missisle,

I trust you'll be confirming the buoys are in with the HM etc...

If you can make 5 knots it would make a huge difference, if we knew the boat and engine it would help a lot; however you seem to be getting a good plan together.

 

[prv]

3 knots seems remarkably slow - even Dylan's slug apparently does 4 . What sort of boat?

Obviously it's daft to punch against the tide out past Hurst if you don't have to, but if it's that or nothing (or a very long wait) then it can be done. I've sailed my fat little 24 footer in over it, and although it did take a while (inching over the ground) I was still going forwards and didn't feel the need to start the engine.

I'm sure some boats won't be able to do it, but most can.

Best avoided if possible, nevertheless.

Pete

 

[alant]

Why fight it?

9th April LW 0840, 1st HW 1355, 2nd HW 1715. All BST. I would leave at 1300 and get the tide up towards Hurst and then bash the tide through Hurst and go to Lymington. The full ebb should not be running by the time you get to Hurst.

"Bash the tide thru Hurst"?

Seems like you will be bashing tide the whole trip from Christchurch.

From Christchurch to Hurst, HW Dover is 1355 UT, so you would have tide against you from about 1325 UT onward.

HW Christchurch 30mins before HW Portsmouth @ about 1257 UT.

On 9th April, HW Portsmouth is 1427 UT.
Tide at Hurst will be against you from about 1300 UT onward.

OK its neaps, but will not be in your favour at Hurst until 1830 UT, when you will have a chance to get up past Newtown, into Cowes or around the corner in Osborne Bay.

You might consider leaving before the previous HW (0206 UT) @ getting to Hurst at about 0630 UT, when the flood starts there.

 

[Boathook]

"Bash the tide thru Hurst"?

Seems like you will be bashing tide the whole trip from Christchurch.

From Christchurch to Hurst, HW Dover is 1355 UT, so you would have tide against you from about 1325 UT onward.

HW Christchurch 30mins before HW Portsmouth @ about 1257 UT.

On 9th April, HW Portsmouth is 1427 UT.
Tide at Hurst will be against you from about 1300 UT onward.

OK its neaps, but will not be in your favour at Hurst until 1830 UT, when you will have a chance to get up past Newtown, into Cowes or around the corner in Osborne Bay.

You might consider leaving before the previous HW (0206 UT) @ getting to Hurst at about 0630 UT, when the flood starts there.

The tide in Christchurch bay only becomes a problem towards North Head bouy. Being nearly neaps there will only be about 3/4 knot against you at most.

 

[Boathook]

Boathook,

a rather good bit of local knowledge !

Missisle,

I trust you'll be confirming the buoys are in with the HM etc...

If you can make 5 knots it would make a huge difference, if we knew the boat and engine it would help a lot; however you seem to be getting a good plan together.

The buoys will be out, though if a southerly gale comes in they may be in the wrong position for a while! This does apply to other times of the year as well. Generally they are put out Easter or 1st April, which ever comes first and I see this year being no different. I should add that they are removed late October early November but it does vary with the weather.

 

[Seajet]

I wasn't sure wether to mention this, but as the OP is going at neaps and seems more experienced than first appeared; I was on shore at Christchurch entrance once, watching even speedboats having a struggle against a flat-out spring ebb.

It was almost the sort of thing you see on Youtube; then, I kid you not, a big scaffolding plank which had been carried by the ebb hit the confusion in the eddies etc, and was thrown several feet into the air !

I can't repeat the exact thought which went through my mind, but the second word was 'ME !'

 

[alant]

The tide in Christchurch bay only becomes a problem towards North Head bouy. Being nearly neaps there will only be about 3/4 knot against you at most.

Not when going thru Hurst & with a 3 kt boat speed, this + 0.75 against on way toward Hurst, will be significant & makes little sense!.

 

[MissIsle]

It's a 22' sloop with a 2006 Yanmar GM10.
I like the sound of leaving on the 1st HT & pushing round into Lymington. We have a bilge keel & only draw 2'3" so I don't need to stray out too far into the flow to find enough water.
To wait until the tide turns would put us into Lymington in the dark which, if I'm being honest, I want to avoid in a new boat.