First time out

Adrian

Adrian

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 Jun 2001
Messages
841
Location
Me Midlands, Boat Port Grimaud SOF
www.kydproducts.co.uk
I’ve recently moved my boat (Hanse 312) from Windermere to Hamble Point Marina, weather permitting this weekend will be the first time out in to the Solent, even thought I’m fairly confident with my boat handling, I’m a little nervous about my first time out, especially the flow of the tide through the marina, am I being over cautious? is there a good time to leave/return on the tide? Ive got tide tables and tidal flow charts but they’re on the boat!

I suppose I’m just after a little reassurance!
 
Tide

It does run hard through there.

Just wait for some slack water and go then - then no probs.

If you do need to leave your berth with the tide coming from aft then make sure you reverse all the way out into the channel. Do not attempt to reverse to the other side of the aisle and then select forward - you will be swept onto the boats downtide of you as sure as eggs is eggs.

This is very embarrassing.

Magic
 
Re: Tide

...and as soon as possible perfect the art of ferrygliding into your berth.
 
Hi Adrian, Slack water is always a good time to play around and, unless I'm mistaken, high water is hovering around midday this weekend. Whether an ebb or flood is best for oyu will depend whether you are on the up or down stream side of the main pontoon. Just relax and don't be nervous about asking for help, there will be loads of folks about, probably your new neighbours.
 
Clearly departing and arriving at slack water will be what you are most used to.

I'll assume you are berthed nose inwards.

If you depart with the tide sweeping you off your berth, this can be helpful - just cast off and drift out - until you find it is tight to turn and exit your run of the marina without heading dangerously close to the boats moored opposite. Not such a problem as you can control this easily with power and steering. Conversly, if the tide is pushing you onto your berth, backing out is one thing, but make sure you give yourself enough space to get into forward, get steerage way and apply helm to escape before being swept onto your neighbours.

For the above reasons, no point leaving at maximum flow if you can avoid it.

For return, berthing head to wind and stream is always easiest as you can gently nose your way in, the elements bring you to a halt. If you have to berth with them behind you make sure you make full use of the width of chanel available to you, and be aware of what prop-walk (if you have any) will do to your carefully aimed manouver.
 
Just allways be aware of which way the tide is running and have a plan in your head before you attempt to berth or leave the berth.put out loads of fenders.even the very experienced cock it up now and then lots of fenders both sides reduces a bump to embarrasment but no claim forms. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Been at Hamble Point for a number of years now. The berths more shore side can be relatively tide free but those towards midstream can have the tide running through them hard. As others have said its easiest at slack water and even if your berth is shore side you have to enter the aisle with a cross tide.

Excuse me if I am teaching my grandmother to suck eggs but the golden rule is no speed through the water no rudder! When you are berthing against the tide it easier but downtide can be a pig as if the tide is running say 3kts to maintain steerage you need say 1.5kts it means you are approaching your berth at 4.5 kts - can be scary!

If you feel unsure try to get some friends on board as crew. Depart at slack but use the pontoons in the river to practice berthing both against the tide and with the tide. Then add in the wind factor! Lots of fenders and take it as slowly as you can while still retaining control. Again sorry if you know it but if you want to practice ferry gliding go upriver to Mercury where there will be less traffic. Pick a time where there is a strong current and point into the current, try to adjust the throttle so that the boat is effectively stationary over the ground. Angle the boat slightly across the tide and try to keep along a line crossing the river while ferry gliding first to one side then the other. Then try to ferry glide making slight progress forwards then repeat but going slightly astern.

If you dont feel confident about either ferry gliding or berthing I woukld practice the ferry gliding 1st!

We had our 1st boat with Hamble School of Yachting (HSY)and my 1st berting at Mercury Marina was downtide with what seemed like 3kts running! I ended up going astern enough for a HSY instructor to jump on board. He then took 3 attempts to berth the boat in a narrow slot - not their normal large pen! I felt like the man who had won the jackpot bought a supercar and couldn't drive. The instructor insisted he didn't take 3 attempts to make me feel good and we ended up going out one evening for a series of pontoon bashing. While I now feel reasonable about my ability I still get incedibly nervous and dry mouthed EVERY time we berth.

If you are in the Solent beware of Bucklers Hard as there is a cross tide and Cowes Yacht Haven North Basin can have some interesting currents!

Trust this helps and if you do want an evening of pontoon bashing and need crew PM me.
 
Thanks Sailfree, I'm on currently on a temporary berth on I pontoon towards the end, but will be moving round to my permanent berth on J, also towards the end, at least I wont have anything behind me but a mud bank, not sure if that’s good or bad! (I have got a lifting keel) I’ll see how I get on at the weekend but might take you up on the crewing if I cock it up!
 
[ QUOTE ]
When you are berthing against the tide it easier but downtide can be a pig as if the tide is running say 3kts to maintain steerage you need say 1.5kts it means you are approaching your berth at 4.5 kts - can be scary!

[/ QUOTE ]
I'd reckon in this case to turn INTO the tide at say 2-3 knots, that way you can go backwards into your berth at about 0.5 knots in a completely controlled manner taking as long over it as you like.
 
Agreed was using that to illustrate the point that its speed through water that give you steerage way and sometimes in a cross wind you need to do it fast but with thinking cap on and brain engaged your way is best! In my case I am requested to berth bow first to ensure privacy in the cockpit for next charters but I am half way along the pontoon so less tide.

Feathering prop stops the boat from 6kts in its own length helps.
 
Not wanting to teach my grandmother to suck eggs etc., but it may be helpful to Adrian - going in bows first with a tidal stream from behind is a nightmare scenario because you not only have to stop the boat, but have to be making 3 knots (or whatever) astern through the water just to stand in the same place. If one tries to go in bows first while maintaining forward steerage way, not only is one likely to hit the pontoon at 4 knots before you can blink, but even if you manage to slow the boat down and get her going astern in time, the boat will pass through a few seconds while she is doing 0 knots through the water (but still 3 knots over the ground) and the rudder is therefore not working because no steerage way. At this point, if you haven't already hit the pontoon/other boats, prop walk will take over and start to twist the boat sideways. So by the time you've built up way astern, the stern is pointing in the wrong direction.

We all have to do this once in our careers, and hope that the resulting damage isn't too expensive and not too many people are watching, but if one HAS to go in bows first, this is best done by ferry-gliding backwards, so all the way along the pontoons one is making steerage way backwards, against the tide.

I'm sure you know all this, Sailfree, but thought spelling it out might save Adrian a nasty bump.

Anyone got better suggestions?
 
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