Dover - Brighton passage planning

[neil1967]

We are intending to sail from Ipswich to Portsmouth next week for our first voyage of any distance on our relatively newly acquired 40' yacht. Weather's looking good at the moment! The tides look reasonably straightforward from Ipswich to Dover, but I would be grateful for any advice on the leg from Dover to Brighton. Working on 5kts, it will take us around 12 hours so we will have a foul tide for around half the trip. It will be neaps. Are we best stemming the tide initially and then having a fair tide around Beachy Head, or vice versa?

Thanks

Neil

 

[Aurai]

Leaving Dover

Hi

Best guidance from our recent trip to Brighton from Dover, though we set off for Eastbourne. Is to look closely at tidal charts and see that strongest tides are outside Dover and they are a lot less outside Brighton, and less if you keep inshore!

Suggesting that you make sure to ride the favourable tide outside Dover. We left Dover two hours before the tide changed.

All the best.

Aurai

 

[Habebty]

Going west I do Ipswich Dover Brighton, Gosport. It will be slow past Dungeness to Eastbourne.
Coming back I do Gosport, Eastbourne, Shotley/Ipswich, or if weather pants, a stop at Ramsgate.
I have done Eastbourne to Shotley in 15 hours with a good tide and breeze.

Worst place for dangerous pot markers is the Goodwin Fork and Looe Channel.
Keep well off Dover Harbour at least a mile. Look out for the range boat at Dungeness, if going into Eastbourne look out for pot markers that are nearly always on the direct course into Eastbourne. check your depth at Brighton Marina, I got stuck on the bottom for an hour in the visitors berth.
Use the Looe channel if weather good - tide should be with you.