Fantasie 19
Well-Known Member
Unless you take the inner channel through the barrier....?? Not sure why you would if going to Southampton - but sometimes, just for fun, I take it when travelling west...
Last edited:
Crossing in front of Portsmouth Harbour ?
- Thread starter Boo2
- Start date
Unless you take the inner channel through the barrier....?? Not sure why you would if going to Southampton - but sometimes, just for fun, I take it when travelling west...
prv
Well-Known Member
You mean the Boat Passage practically on the beach? I think that's unlikely for two reasons, one being depth at anything but high tide, and the other being that it's not really on a sensible course from Chichester to Southampton. You'd have to go south of the East Winner off Langstone, then jink north for the Boat Passage, then come back south again to clear Southsea and Gilkicker. Why bother? The Dolphin passage is a far more likely choice.
If you did take the Boat Passage for some reason (perhaps tacking and keeping out of an east-going tide), you still wouldn't end up north of No4 buoy unless you turned north at Southsea castle and hugged the shore up to the funfair - and that really isn't any kind of a sensible course for Chichester to Southampton.
Pete
lw395
Well-Known Member
One might possibly end up doing that to avoid crossing ahead of a string of incoming ferries or something.
The harbour entrance is a place where the phrase 'surely nobody would want to do that?' knows few limits.
People race in the area and not going inside 4 bar is in the SIs for good reason.
Seajet
...
Fantasie19's point is a good one though, I and most here tend to discount it but I have used it - about once just to see what it was like - but there's no counting what people may do, and it may be useful for tide dodging or the unlikely event of ogling crumpet on the beach...
agurney
Well-Known Member
prv
Well-Known Member
On a weekday in October it was probably fairly quiet compared to a summer weekend
Pete
laika
Well-Known Member
Which is of course why we love it.
And come on...who doesn't think hovercraft are cool.
Fantasie 19
Well-Known Member
+1! Also the Spinnaker Tower, Fort Blockhouse, Victory, Warrior.. I may be slightly biased but I reckon it's one of the better harbours to arrive in ..
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
You're welcome to it. I came into Portsmouth last Friday on the Cap Finistere and it was like the M25.
Ferry, hovercraft, yacht, police launch, pilot boat, you name it and it was there .. I don't fancy trying to cross in front of that lot. Give me rain and midges any time
You chose a quiet sort of day.
VicS
Well-Known Member
Hopefully none of those will be using the small boat channel though.
Roger52
Well-Known Member
We were on the Isle of Wight ferry you can see behind Cap Finistere. She slowed right down to let Cap proceed down the main channel. There's clearly a well established pecking order. Anyone using Portsmouth will know that you have to keep a good lookout for the IOW ferries but they have to make way in turn for other traffic.
Seajet
...
I think most locals will agree, it's actually a doddle and one often doesn't even need to alter course or speed, just be aware and on the ball as to what's around and what may appear...
TonyBuckley
Well-Known Member
My ground is Portsmouth. I don't find it very busy even in high Summer. So yes a doddle.
However a friend insists that Hamilton bank does not exist. It does. I've seen fairly small boats pulled off it!
The sub-marine barrier is well marked.
And there is no problem crossing the harbour entrance with a good lookout. Above No.4 there is little to cross.
The ferries below No.4 are easy to dodge too.
Seajet
...
Tony,
for a while I had a 3rd floor flat on Southsea seafront ( Mary Rose Court ) - there was always something to watch.
I once saw Ted Hood's ( TV co' squilionaire ex hubby of Jane Fonda ) maxi yacht ' Nirvana ' approaching under engine in an odd place; I never learned what happened, maybe steering failure, but she trundled straight aground well out of the channel ( which got my attention to start with ) right by Southsea Castle, much motoring and faffing about before getting off a while later.
I'd imagine her skipper & crew would be red hot, so probably real sod's law in the most public place possible !
for a while I had a 3rd floor flat on Southsea seafront ( Mary Rose Court ) - there was always something to watch.
I once saw Ted Hood's ( TV co' squilionaire ex hubby of Jane Fonda ) maxi yacht ' Nirvana ' approaching under engine in an odd place; I never learned what happened, maybe steering failure, but she trundled straight aground well out of the channel ( which got my attention to start with ) right by Southsea Castle, much motoring and faffing about before getting off a while later.
I'd imagine her skipper & crew would be red hot, so probably real sod's law in the most public place possible !
TonyBuckley
Well-Known Member
There is always something worth watching
. And I have been that boat being watched and screwing up a couple of times.PhillM
Well-Known Member
Well yes, but last time I came out of pompey, I could have sworn the hovercraft was going to disect me. I was directly between him and his southsea home. I was heading north to no4 bouy and he passed about half an inch astern.
I did wonder if I should alter course but me doing 4kn, there wasn't anywhere to go. He did have a nice yellow flashing light. Knowing I was to hold my course wasn't much comfort.
Seajet
...
PhillM,
I wouldn't mind betting it worked out fine with a good distance between you and him though ?
I have never, ever had any hassle from the hovercraft pilots, they're always the epitome of professionalism & courtesy - despite their craft being way more difficult to handle.
Car ferry types on the other hand, all seem to think I've been playing with their wife !
I wouldn't mind betting it worked out fine with a good distance between you and him though ?
I have never, ever had any hassle from the hovercraft pilots, they're always the epitome of professionalism & courtesy - despite their craft being way more difficult to handle.
Car ferry types on the other hand, all seem to think I've been playing with their wife !