Dover to Southampton

[Will]

I've got to deliver a friend's newly acquired classic tsmy from dover to the solent next week ish, and altho' i've been past this bit of coast on several occasions, I've never had to stop! This thing being a stinky motor thing of a venerable age, with no rag capability, I'd like a few boltholes in hand. Any local knowledge, advice etc greatly appreciated. Seems to me Brighton, or erm.. well Brighton??

 

[Twister_Ken]

Well, unless the beasty draws a lot, there's also Folkestone, Rye, Eastbourne, Newhaven, Shoreham, Littlehampton, Chichester, Langstone and Portsmouth harbours, plus the 'amble. And that's just looking out of the right hand window.

 

[AndrewB]

... none of which ....

between Dover an Chichester, is safe to enter in a really serious blow (except Newhaven).

But if you're starting from Dover, no problem, just take a look out of the Western Entrance before deciding to go. It doesn't get any worse than that.

 

[BarryD]

Forgive a stinkpotter in your arena - but we've done some of this trip only last weekend in a old (but new to me boat). I'd be glad to let you have the waypoints that were worked out. We left Ramsgate last Saturday morning aiming for Chichester but were beaten by the weather (and my stomach) as we neared Eastbourne.

The weather types were predicting a 2/3 Easterly and it developed into a 4/5 Southerly. Against wind and tide my little 25' struggled, places to watch for are apparantly Dungeness, Beachey Head and Selsey Bill.

We intend to finish the last leg this weekend. ON the Motob Boat forum is a "comical" write up of trip so far <G>

 

[Will]

Barry, that'd be appreciated. Never too proud to take into account wot somebody else has just done, specially on a bit of unfamiliar coast...

Cheers, Will

 

[brianhumber]

Assuming you will not set out into a real blow there is
Eastbourne ( just been dredged I went in at low water springs in 45' yacht in Sept )
Newhaven ( all weather)
Brighton ( watch SEs)
Shoreham ( not at LW )
Littlehampton ( only 2/3 hours +- HW best at HW-1)
Anchor off Selsey LB station if its SW/W/NW/N
take some spare fuel filters and gen up on the fuel system re how to change them if you think the tanks could be dirty and have a good trip.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Oh, by the way,

Dropping a hook behind Dungeness is quite pucker in strong westerlies, as long as you are sure the wind is not going to back.

 

[kimhollamby]

wind against tide

Avoid wind against tide in the Dover Strait area if you can. The comment about Dover Western is in keeping with the fact that several would-be world girdlers have got as far as the White Cliffs and not gone any further. Always a bit bumpy thereabouts, but waves get steep in quite modest wind strengths when wind and tide opposed.

If lucky enough to get a wind that allows you to run direct tracks between headlands you'll be okay by default but watch for firing range west of Dungeness if needing to tack inshore; rumour has it range safety has been bored of late and trying to see off anything remotely near his patch. Goes without saying you also need to stay inside of TSS which is not that far offshore in Dover area.

Eastbourne/Newhaven/Brighton three easiest boltholes. You can usually round Dungeness close in without pain but useful to give Beachy Head a decent offing.

 

[Guest]

Newhaven is much easier to enter than Brighton in strong S or SE winds. Also worth noting the "Looe Gate" passage just off Selsey if there is no chop which shortens passage and also gives option of dropping into Chichester harbour (Sparkes is just inside entrance to port) should you so wish. Good luck.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Dirty Diesel

Your bigest risk will be dirty diesel. Do take extra filters, and make sure you know how to drain water off the filters - which you should check regulary.
BUT
It is far better to check the tanks if at all possible. Don't be fooled if there are drain taps, that this will get rid of the dregs, They won't - the fittings inside with probably allow at leat 1 inch of water to accumulate.

My own first delivery from Holland in bad weather resulted in silence half way back! Pumping out the bottom of the tanks would only have taken 1 hour at the most.

With out a stick and rag, you should treat this very seriously indeed.