Crossing Lime Bay

[DickB]

Tell me folks, if you were crossing Lime Bay going to Brixham or Torquay from 6 miles south of Selsey Bill, and the wind was strong (say F6) and on the nose, which way would you tack, morw to the north towards the coast or down to the south away from the coast?

I am going that way in a couple of weeks for the first trip... I have been a bit of a coastal hugger up to now ...

Thanks

 

[AIDY]

do you mean portland bill not selsey bill

 

[Jean]

With a F6 on the nose off Portland (and accepting that it may not get better during the crossing), I'd prefer to to go into Weymouth until weather improves. I'm hoping to cross the bay early this week, but currently looking like not enough wind rather than too much.

 

[snowleopard]

As the old joke goes...I wouldn't start from there. I'd wait for a better weather window before setting out for a long beat. Especially across Lyme bay where there's not much in the way of shelter.

 

[Guest]

Good question.

I've made this crossing several times but got it very wrong this year in early July and now surely must have the record for the slowest passage from Studland to Portland leaving at 9pm from the former and arriving at Portland at 8pm the next day. The embarrassing bit is that I was heading for Dartmouth !

I was promised a SW but had a strongish NW all the way on top of a spring tide. In future with a NW wind I shall aim for Portland or Weymouth as suggested above and wait for a better forecast. If the wind is SW then Brixham or Dartmouth are perfectly feasible. Just bear in mind that with a F6 you can probably expect roughish seas and a fairly unpleasant crossing.

 

[charles_reed]

Re: Crossing Lyme Bay

I'd certainly keep well out from Portland under those conditions.

However, unless a matter of life and death or racing, I wouldn't bother.

Just wait till the conditions are less unfriendly, it's one hell of a long way and even using the solent (which allows calm-water tacking through 70degrees) it would be an interminably long, uncomfortable haul in anything under 60'.

 

[LadyInBed]

Assuming that you mean Portland Bill, you pick an interesting start point. If this Westerly 6 had been building on the previous leg of the passage, I believe you wouldn’t get to 6 miles off PB, you would have realised that another 12 hours or so in those conditions would be most uncomfortable, and set a course nicely off the wind for Weymouth. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Enjoy Weymouth, refuel at a non rip-off price then set off when the has moderated so you can enjoy the scenery of PB from the inner passage.

To answer your question, once round the Bill I would then tack to the North as the current sets that way after HW Dover round along the coast.

 

[Cornishman]

Don't forget to lee bow the tidal stream whenever you can

 

[KRG]

I've crossed it a few times to Dartmouth and would agree with other posts that F6 on the nose could be a very uncomfortable trip and I would certainly keep well clear of Portland. Personally i would go for the safety of deep water. Watch out for naval exercises, I was buzzed by a mini sub once. When you get there tho it's a great area to sail.

 

[Seagreen]

Well, for getting back home to Exmouth, and if I were starting from Portland, it would really REALLY depend on the forecast.

My first inclination would be to stay put, or stay in Weymouth, and mutter about the weather from the pub.

If the forecast was going to veer northerly in the next six to eight hours, I'd aim to go south on the fag end of the flood till the tide turned and then chance a more westerly couse with the young ebb. If, however, the wind was going to back southerly, the reverse would be true, but always getting round the Race and Shambles while the wind and tide were acting together. You'd need a good 18 to 24 hours to cross Lyme bay in those conditions anyway. The only real shelter is West Bay, which is difficult in any real southerly unless you want to dry out.

It all depend on how much faith you put in the forecast. A long nasty beat either way. If in doubt, stay put.
Mac

 

[Peppermint]

Re: It depends on whether

you need to go. If I was delivering I'm afraid it would be a bit of mainsail and on with the diesel. If I was cruising I'd be tempted to wait for a better day.

In general, crossing the bay while tacking, if the wind is right on the nose, is a tactically neutral excercise. You can't get inshore to gain a foul tide advantage without sailing a longer distance than you need to. All as you can do is plug on and wait for a wind shift to favour one tack. It's important to get the tide right at the Bill. That will give you a good start.

If you have waited out the weather in Weymouth don't expect the sea to die down because the wind moderates. You can end up in the unenviable position of having a nasty residual chop without the breeze to drive you through it.

 

[williamr]

If we're in a hurry we motor.

Otherwise we put in a long tack to Brittany.

Rob

 

[Twister_Ken]

At least if you're crossing Lime bay, you won't have to worry about scurvy.

 

[DickB]

Thanks everyone, we have just got to Weymouth, and on Tuesday hope to cross Lime Bay. Apologies for the wrong Bill (as they say..) Off to Brixham hopefully on Tuesday.

Since time is not an issue, I will wait it out if the weather is foul, but I take the point about residual sea running. We had a stunning sail from the Needles to Weymouth on Saturday. A NW about F4 and cruised with the tide at around 8 knots all the way. Just a bit of engine to get in at the last section.

Rafted out on the town quay 7 deep with a bunch of really friendly folk from all over the place. Nice place Weymouth, all fish & chips, beer and yachts... Create fun. So I am picking up a new crew for next week and away we go...

Thanks for the advice

Dick