First time passage from Weymouth to Dartmouth

[Babylon]

Plan to properly stick our necks out of the Solent for the first time this August, heading west first to Poole then Weymouth with a day or so at each, then - if conditions are suitable - to make for Dartmouth. We've got two full weeks (the second half of August) available.

Boat can average 4-0 to 4.5kts cruising under sail and or power, only 27ft LOA but heavy long-keeler so relatively seakindly if conditions kick up.

Crew constraints are:
1. Four year old son - likely to get bored, disruptive and fractious if too long at sea;
2. SWMBO - untrained, total experience to date is two summers crewing for me on relatively short trips by day within the Solent;
3. Me - skippering by day only in Solent for two years (some night hours as crew for others over the last few years, incl four channel crossings); tend to largely single-hand the boat while SWMBO looks after the kid.

My question is this: is a 45 NM coastal passage in a small boat with an inexperienced family crew appropriate? We cannot do it in a single tide, and - even though we wouldn't set off unless we had plenty of south in the wind - would I find myself becoming exhausted by being the only semi-experienced person to stand watches (despite having an autohelm) as well as skipper? What about getting back?

I have suggested to SWMBO that I deliver the boat to Dartmouth with a more experienced mate and meet her and the kid there, but she's keen to do it herself.

If we do decide to attempt this, what sort of crew/navigational strategy should I adopt?

 

[fireball]

If SWMBO is keen then go for it - as you say, as long as there is plenty of South in the wind (or perhaps east - but I think we've had that 4 now) ...

See if you can sort out things for 4 yo to do during passage ...

Have you spent the time you expect for the passage on the boat in the solent (ie not getting off) even if not underway ...?

Don't be afraid to use the donka ...

 

[Babylon]

[ QUOTE ]
Have you spent the time you expect for the passage on the boat in the solent (ie not getting off) even if not underway ...?

Don't be afraid to use the donka ...

[/ QUOTE ]
Very good point. Aside from being asleep overnight, we've never been boat-bound together for longer than a few hours - eg Hamble to Bembridge - and she's not a big boat (no forepeak) so there's only two spaces available: one above and one below!

 

[matt1]

Shouldn't be a problem, especially if you are conservative about the kind of forecast you will accept. How about calling in at Lyme Regis or West Bay. We did the trip from Weymouth to Lyme Regis in our Hunter Ranger 245 with two young children and it was well worth it. Lyme Regis is heaven to beach loving kids and well worth the passage time. With a nice heavy long keeler you could dry out agains the wall. The harbourmaster is very welcoming. I forget the distances but Lyme R is further than half way, since the diagonal course into the Bay adds some distance, so it's not the most efficient way to get to Dartmouth. From memory I think it's 20 something miles from the Bill.

 

[Danny]

I would think that, so long as you don't take any unnecessary chances with the weather, the only problem is likely to be keeping your son amused. Is he prone to seasickness? If so you may find one or two of those CDs of kids' stories might be more useful than 'head down' activities like colouring books, etc. A portable DVD player with suitable ammo might be worth considering as well.

Maybe a nice big home-made sketch chart of Lyme Bay with your approximate track drawn on it so that he can use this to regularly mark off your progress will keep him 'on board' and interested.

 

[LadyInBed]

I did Weymouth - Dartmouth with the family (non sailing wife and two girls 8 & 6) for our first Summer holiday on our 22ft boat.
No autohelm or VHF that year and in the days before DECCA and GPS, when I needed the loo we went in circles!
Second year Weymouth - Dartmouth - Salcombe but with autohelm and VHF.
Third year Cherbourg (told wife that we were going to Solent). She twigged about ten miles out /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
So, what I am saying is, if you think you are up to it, go for it. If the family feel uncomfortable, turn back, divert or if you get to Dartmouth and they don't fancy the return, it is a lovely train ride.
Remember, that they will take there level of anxiety from you, so if you are confident, they will be as well.

 

[Skyva_2]

All good advice above. Do whatever it takes to keep son amused, even towing a plastic yellow duck can work!
A few weeks ago we had dolphins playing round the boat off Berry Head, that would keep him happy.

Get the timing right round Portland Bill, there are lots of previous posts on the subject, and go really close in to shore when passing it. Some say you should be able to toss a bread roll ashore; and watch for the many lobster pots in the vicinity. And more of them off Dartmouth.

 

[Twister_Ken]

If you really want to cut the passage into bite-sized chunks, consider stopping at Bridport and - as Matt1 suggests - at Lyme.

 

[lw395]

If you can't lay Dartmouth, overnight in Brixham, then Dartmouth is a nice sail on the tide next day.

 

[Babylon]

Thanks people - all really good advice.

As we'll be starting off our cruise with two shorter passages first - Needles to Poole, Poole to Weymouth, with a day ashore at each - I'll be in a better position to then assess whether we're up to bigger passages yet as a crew. The idea of proceding by shorter day passages, putting into Lyme etc, is a really good suggestion, making for a more leisurely and exploratory cruise closer inshore. Then (if) we can make Brixham and on to Dartmouth as our furthermost destination this year, we can head back toward the Solent in the second week.

If weather conditions aren't suitable for pushing on, or if there's any other risk of upsetting my wife and son's carefully-built foundations thus far, then we'll simply congratulate ourselves on the extent of our firstwestwards foray and return to complete our first summer cruise back in the Solent, without loss of face, and better-prepared for a fuller West Country cruise next year.

PS My son doesn't seem to get seasick, just bored if left alone for too long a period, so a portable DVD player is probably a really good idea. I'll also try to involve him in accessible ways in what we're doing - tying knots (even if his are still just incoherent balls of string) and drawing our track on simplified coastline charts on A3 paper to which he can add dolphin stickers, little sketches of seahorses, massive shoals of cod, herring, etc. Beaches are also good.

 

[jac]

As other have said the big problem will be your 4 year old.

One option (if you really feel like being brave) would be to try the passage across lyme bay at night so that he sleeps through it - I think you said 4.5 knots cruising so you're looking at 10 hours. Wear your son out the day before - Get your wife to take him for something strenuous whilst you have a doze the previous afternoon, then when he's in bed and asleep, set off. You should be able to leave whilst there's still enough light to see and you'll be arriving in dartmuff after dawn so will be able to see to get in. ( although it's well lit - i arrived there once at 1am no moon and the ambient light from the street lights etc is more than enough to do anything on deck)

Once round the bill, there's precious little to hit if i remember correctly and without digging out he charts so the passage across should be relatively stress free.

Your wife can keep you company for a while or stand a watch but she should really get her head down whilst she can as when you get to the otehr side you'll be tired (even if your wife takes a watch) and your son will want someone to occupy him.

If that is the plan - try a bit of night sailing as a family first - even just a couple of hours in the solent where you know it just to settle the nerves - something like cowes to gosport - you're not trying to demonstrate anything other than prove to your selves that you can do it and if your sone won;t sleep or you get sick / lost / divorced then better to find out in the solent in a F3 in a 2 hour sail home at say 9pm rather than in the middle of lime bay at 4am

 

[longjohnsilver]

I used to keep a boat at Lyme Regis and still visit regularly, one of my favourite places to arrive by boat. There are visitors buoys outside the harbour which are fine in offshore winds, ie anything from the North and reasonably protected in light winds from the E and W, but F3 max. As others have sid you can get inside the harbour and lie against a wall but it's noisier and you'll have a ladder to climb, not so easy with a young child.

West Bay is ok but not a favourite place of mine, my other suggestion would be to anchor off Beer if the conditions are right. Nose in to the middle of the beach about 50 yards off the small landing pontoon put out for the grockle boats. My all time favourite anchorage, well protected from the north and west. To wake up there on a sunny morning is just sheer bliss.

You'll also love Dartmouth, no problem finding somewhere to moor unless you get there during regatta week! Have a great holiday.

 

[Skyva_2]

If you do approach at night watch for the temporary pontoon in middle of the river off the Town Quay.

 

[lw395]

I've overnighted on the moorings outside Lyme. The wind decided to disobey the forecast and turned ssw at about 3AM. By 5AM we were driven mad by the motion on the buoy and set off into the sunrise toward Portland. Dorset is very beautiful at this time of day, but we were too tired to appreciate it! We were a little out in our timing the approach to the race (we'd planned an afternoon departure I think, it was ages ago) and I got very wet changing down jib and reefing, but we got to Weymouth for a latish lunch without any real worries!

 

[LadyInBed]

On your passage to Weymouth, try to pop into Lulworth cove, even if it is just in for a quick circuit and out again.
If the weather is good, you may be tempted to spend the night there.
The ice creams up the hill in the round-a-bout are great!

 

[robbieg]

Second the portable DVD-rig a lee cloth/ sea berth-put books, the DVDS (and psp/ds etc if old enough) in and stock the goodie box. If he is interested in the boat great-mine isn't particularly but enjoys turning on the instruments, starting the engine etc but he enjoys being in the sea berth and chilling out. If he is happy SWMBO is happy and I am therefore happy :grin: