Confused myself trying to plan the classic Weymouth to Portland crossing

[Ian MacAulay]

With so much to read on the crossing ive read too much and now more confused. The times of leaving on Dover HW do not permit for this Tuesday so I started to look in to best times.

Im now thinking to just head south and avoid Portland Bill altogether so I can leave at anytime.

The winds are low and weather looking good plus we are in a 45ft motorboat so should we head south or just go straight through at a particular time. I was not too keen last year on the inshore route with all the pots.


Kind regards


Ian

 

[Montemar]

Portland Bill : Monty Mariner

 

[Ian MacAulay]

That's what I mainly read and confused me even more, I may just go wide and avoid it al together

 

[LittleSister]

Where are you going to, classically?

 

[volvopaul]

With so much to read on the crossing ive read too much and now more confused. The times of leaving on Dover HW do not permit for this Tuesday so I started to look in to best times.

Im now thinking to just head south and avoid Portland Bill altogether so I can leave at anytime.

The winds are low and weather looking good plus we are in a 45ft motorboat so should we head south or just go straight through at a particular time. I was not too keen last year on the inshore route with all the pots.


Kind regards


Ian

I’ve passed in a 31 ft boat a few times , as long as the wind is low just pass tight into the bill , keep your eyes open for the pots .

 

[Andrew M]

We've been round Portland several times now and always feel somewhat nervous and plan ,plan, plan the rounding. Firstly we've nearly always gone through using the inshore route and by timing it correctly and only going round in suitable conditions we've never had any problem. We do keep the 2 of us on high pot alert but haven't had any issues yet. But I would def not take any chances if anything sounds marginal.

If yo do have any reservations then yes you can just go well south and miss it altogether,

A couple of bits of advice are :

Only do it if the weather and conditions are adding up to a decent rounding, don't be at all gung ho with it, you'll find plenty about how viscious it can be .

If you're stopping in Weymouth en route and are there overnight then ask the Harbour Master for his view on times of when is best to go, He will know what you should expect for any given set of times/tides/conditions.
Also once you do set off, call the guys up in the National CoastWatch look out, they have always been really helpful in letting me know just what the conditions are like at that time and if it sounds good to go.

Do it properly, plan it, take and heed advice and you'll be fine.

 

[Montemar]

We give it a wide berth! No heroics here.

 

[Hot Property]

I used the inshore route travelling West and offshore route travelling East with little fuss last year. About to do it again at end of the month. Call up the NCI chaps on Ch 65. They offer good advice and will keep an eye on you. Boat is 23 ft long.....

 

[Boathook]

With so much to read on the crossing ive read too much and now more confused. The times of leaving on Dover HW do not permit for this Tuesday so I started to look in to best times.

Im now thinking to just head south and avoid Portland Bill altogether so I can leave at anytime.

The winds are low and weather looking good plus we are in a 45ft motorboat so should we head south or just go straight through at a particular time. I was not too keen last year on the inshore route with all the pots.


Kind regards


Ian

If you are leaving from the Hamble I would just leave any time and keep 5 miles plus south of Portland. If you are in Weymouth, the harbour guide used to give good advice as to when to leave so that you get the first of the ebb to take you up and round Portland but that is the inshore route. Doing the offshore route from Weymouth is a lot of extra miles.

 

[Switch]

I've done this many times (the last was a few weeks ago). It needs treating with respect but don't over think it you'll only worry yourself. I always plan to be at the bill for slack water (I always go the inside route). If I'm going west I also plan to have wind and tide together across Lyme Bay. In calm settled weather it really is a non event.

 

[longjohnsilver]

I've done this many times (the last was a few weeks ago). It needs treating with respect but don't over think it you'll only worry yourself. I always plan to be at the bill for slack water (I always go the inside route). If I'm going west I also plan to have wind and tide together across Lyme Bay. In calm settled weather it really is a non event.

Agreed, and at slack the pots markers will all be visible. I’ve always enjoyed going round the Bill, seeing those huge slabs of rock just a stones throw away is quite something. And I’ve dived it in the past, interesting underwater too.