First time out of Chichester Marina on my own without instructor.!!!

[Nosealegsyet]

So the day as come, and with a bit of luck on Sunday I'm taking my family out on the boat for the first time. Ive had several own boat tuitions, and my RYA instructor says im capable now of taking the boat out on my own.
However I haven't been out of the harbour as close quarter manoeuvring is what we have been practising, in the main, with the lock. We will be doing distance another time.

Where would you guys recommend I can take my family for half a day or a day on Sunday. Any tips are more than welcome, I still don't now how to use the Simrad Chartplotter that's built into the boat, but I understand Navionics which is on my iPad.Im hoping that will be sufficient.I think I can drop anchor also.

Thanks, Karen

 

[Poignard]

You'll be fine.

If you don't feel quite ready to leave the harbour, how about up to Emsworth and pick up a visitor buoy for a lunch stop? Or anchor at East Head for a swim?

 

[Wansworth]

You'll be fine.

If you don't feel quite ready to leave the harbour, how about up to Emsworth and pick up a visitor buoy for a lunch stop? Or anchor at East Head for a swim?

There’s a visitor pontoon at Emsworth

 

[Sneds]

Whatever you do good luck and enjoy

 

[philipdawsonladds]

If you want to get out of the harbour just be prepared for the usual bumpy ride out over the bar - a short trip to Premier Gosport is straightforward and FREE as a Chichester berth holder

 

[Frederick911]

Sounds like you have got the skills so next is confidence to leave the harbour and go for it. The bar can be lumpy at times but this Sunday the weather looks decent, head over to priory bay iow, drop the anchor, have lunch and a swim. You and the family will love it. We will be there !

 

[Switch]

The more you use your boat the more your confidence will grow. The more your confidence grows the more you’ll enjoy it.

 

[kashurst]

the hard part is getting in an out. check your tides and weather first, you will be fine.

 

[stuartwineberg]

So the day as come, and with a bit of luck on Sunday I'm taking my family out on the boat for the first time. Ive had several own boat tuitions, and my RYA instructor says im capable now of taking the boat out on my own.
However I haven't been out of the harbour as close quarter manoeuvring is what we have been practising, in the main, with the lock. We will be doing distance another time.

Where would you guys recommend I can take my family for half a day or a day on Sunday. Any tips are more than welcome, I still don't now how to use the Simrad Chartplotter that's built into the boat, but I understand Navionics which is on my iPad.Im hoping that will be sufficient.I think I can drop anchor also.

Thanks, Karen

Watch out for the myriad dinghies who exert their precedence over power quite strongly

 

[Nosealegsyet]

Thanks guys , when I look at the Navionics it overwhelms me, all the different stuff it has going on . Thats something else I have to get used to, thanks for all your replies

 

[paradave]

Thanks guys , when I look at the Navionics it overwhelms me, all the different stuff it has going on . Thats something else I have to get used to, thanks for all your replies

As long as the depth is OK, most of it is just info that you can decide you need to be aware of or not.

I kept a boat in Chi for a while and it's MUCH easier once you're out of the busy harbour! I'd also suggest motoring over to the IoW (Priory Bay is a good spot as previously mentioned) - it'll do wonders for your confidence and you'll have an amazing day. If it was today, I'd escort you!

 

[philipdawsonladds]

As someone else said - biggest issues are getting in and out of the marina then avoiding all of those dinghies, especially at the weekend

 

[wombat88]

Good luck, being retired I no longer sail at weekends but you should be aware by now that Sundays are really quite busy.

In your position I would think about going out early on free flow 07.30 ish which should avoid any dinghy races and come back around low water 14. 17 when again there are not many dinghies racing about or people wanting to lock through., assuming you have shallow draft. This would leave plenty of time for poking your nose out of the harbour, East Head anchoring, early lunch etc etc

Learning to judge what others might suddenly decide to do is something that comes with experience. This it the bit that can ruffle feathers.

But then I am an increasingly risk averse old git. Do what you think is right!

 

[Wansworth]

Maybe atrial run on week day,as mentioned dinghy and keelboats tend to think they own the water

 

[wombat88]

Maybe atrial run on week day,as mentioned dinghy and keelboats tend to think they own the water

I was going to suggest this but some of these young people still have things called jobs...

 

[Wansworth]

In the evening

 

[wombat88]

Yes, weekday evenings can be very pleasant, some racing going on around h/w but not much.

Locking back into the marina on a Saturday or Sunday evening can involve a very long queue. Obviously best to aim for free flow.

 

[Nosealegsyet]

hi guys, im sure I will get the hang of all this.thankso much for your help and support

 

[paradave]

You’ll soon be flying solo.
I had a fantastic day on my own today, navigating lock, anchoring and berthing - wouldn’t have thought it possible a couple ofyears ago. Zoomed over to the IoW and had lunch and a swim, superb.

 

[Nosealegsyet]

I was going to suggest this but some of these young people still have things called jobs...

not this 60 year old, lol