Eastbourne to Cowes-Tides?

[Mings74]

Hi all,
Hoping to Sail Eastbourne to Cowes in the near future, have never been there before or been on such a long trip. I make it about 65 miles and I normally work on a passage planning speed of 5 knots in my UFO 31.
Normally I'm going East or West along the coast for less than six hours and therefore able to make full use of the tide.
If the Cowes journey is 12 hours, when should I leave tidally?. Is it best to have the first six hours with me, or the last?. I understand Selsey Bill and the inner owers option or outer route may effect when I want to arrive there.
Any thoughts or advice gladly sought. Cheers Ming

 

[dt4134]

The weakest tide is after you round Beachy Head and before you get to the Owers so that's a good time to choose to have the flood tide against you.

The tide through the Looe Channel turns earlier than South of the Owers. The channel isn't as daunting as it might seem as long as you have reasonable visibility and the wind & seas are OK.

So, depending on other factors of course, have the tide with you round Beachy Head, take the hit after that, then catch the start of the W going tide to take you through the Looe Channel and on to Cowes.

 

[Aeolus_IV]

When heading west from Eastbourne I often use the "night before" to hop down to Brighton on a favourable tide and use a free night up. The journey from Brighton to Cowes is then much easier.

However, the way back is simply done in one hit from Cowes to Eastbourne.

Jeff.