Crossing from Dartmouth to weymouth or poole weds any tips ?

I'd go straight to Poole cos getting the timing right for the inshore passage is awkward at the end of a long leg and if you go outside by the time you go round the Shambles you'd almost have been in Poole anyway!
 
I have only crossed the bay twice during our summer hols so I am no expert. Both times the weather was great, sea state smooth or not much worse. I found the bit east of Portland Bill uncomfortable, Tried heading into Weymouth on the way back and found that chopy too. I called on the mobile and they had no space so went on to Poole. It seems quite a long way in to Weymouth so I would check they have space before making the treck in.

I stayed about 8 miles off Portland Bill, but still found it a bit chopy to the east as were the next headlands, It didn't really get comfortable until just south of Poole.

So from my experience It needs to be a good day for the bad bit to be acceptable. When I say bad bits, they were not that bad really, but after a couple of hours crossing the bay you dont really want a workout at the end of it.

This is what the synoptic looks like for Wednesday,

Have a nice trip.

D

synop3.gif
 
Read "Inshore along the Dorset Coast" by Peter Bruce and follow his instructions to the letter and you will not have any trouble with the inshore passage around the bill. What is more it being springs you will be whisked around the east coast of Portland at speeds in excess of nine knots over the ground.

If you don't want to go into Weymouth, pick up a mooring in Portland Harbour or anchor just outside the moorings.
 
I would forget about Weymouth it is a time losing diversion rather than a help. Pass 4mls off the Bill (more if bad weather) and aim to be at the Bill with a favourable east going tide with enough of it left (say 4hrs?) to reach Poole. Tides in Lyme Bay are much slacker but they run hard off the Bill, Off St Albans Head and all the way along to Poole pretty well. I would pass inshore along from St Albans to Anvil then Peveril and on to Poole but we are locals, others might prefer to stay offshore outside of St Albans Race. Be aware that inshore there is a back eddy tide along from Anvil to St Albans for nearly 2hrs before the main tide in the Channel turns westwards, so going inshore at this time might lose the favorable tide if headed east.
 
Did the reverse (Poole - Dartmouth) as leg 2 of our delivery trip. Very easy sail (although we did have nice weather and force 3 nor-easterlies!)

Easy to do - just give the Bill a good off'ing.

Word of caution though - Poole has some very expensive marinas (we tied up in one - can't recall which off hand) and got charged £55 for one night (37 foot) excluding electric!!

Jonny
 
In my experience Portland inshore passage is not that bad for a 30 ft plus seaworthy yacht, in the sort of weather you want to be out in. In seriously bad weather go 8 miles south and avoid entirely though.

If you do WANT to go into Weymouth take the inshore route, stay about 100 yards offshore around Portland. Aim for well north of the Bill as you cross Lyme Bay, aiming to close the land a good mile north of the point as the tides can run S-going very strongly here - look at Reeds or any pilot book for tidal chartlets Shut forehatch etc, and watch out for lobster pots half-pulled underwater by the tide.

I have done this quite a few times, including in slightly dodgy weather and not always at the perfect slack water state of tide recommended by the books.

If you have any doubts commit to going offshore early - I like to be 7-8 miles off if just going up or down channel.
 
Good advice from John Wilson. The general recommendation for timing (from Peter Bruce's book) when heading East is to take the inshore passage between 2 hours before HW Portland to 4 hours after HW Portland. I have done this a few times in a 26ft yacht and usually aim for slack water which is around 1½ hours before HW Portland. Unfortunately, the term 'slack' is not totally appropriate for Portland Bill as there are currents flowing most of the time! As John says, aim well North of the Bill as you approach as its like joining a conveyor belt from the side. It's very easy to be swept down into the race if you aim too far South.

You will need to keep clear of the coast between Lulworth Cove and St Alban’s Head as the Lulworth ranges are now active after the summer break. It sounded like heavy machine gun fire today.
 
watch out for pots when you're leaving Dartmouth in the dark! I've found either radar or a good moon useful!
 
Wouldn't recommend using a huge torch as you'll lose your night vision and they really don't pick up that much when used on the surface of the water.

Suggest you head out a mile or so to leave most of the pots inshore of you.

It's been very windy here today (Exmouth) probably a good F5-6 NNW so if it stays like that it could get a bit lumpy offshore. Also now on springs so you really don't want wind against tide, but I guess that it's not so important in a saily boat!

Have a safe trip.
 
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