First Timer - W solent exit to Poole

[2013PrincessV39]

Hi All,

Using this years almanac, cruising guides, internet and all other sources available to me at present, I have yet to get a passage plan I am confident in for exiting the Solent and crossing Christchurch Bay to Poole.

The crossing is for this summer and therefore I have the option to try things out, but I was wondering what most solent boaters do for this trip. Just cross in open safe deep water or keep in close to the coast? My draught is on 1m, so is doing following the channel all the way out and crossing the open water overkill?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Tranona]

Easiest way is through the North Channel rather than out to the Needles. This avoids the often lumpy water off the Needles and is shorter. Plenty of water, but the tide runs hard and it can be a bit bumpy just off Hurst but quickly through. Best to go with an ebb tide even in a power boat. Aim for North Haven buoy then a straight line to Poole Fairway, or in good conditions you can use East Looe to enter Poole. Expect a bit of lumpy water over Christchurch Ledge and watch out for lobster pots.

 

[alant]

Hi All,

Using this years almanac, cruising guides, internet and all other sources available to me at present, I have yet to get a passage plan I am confident in for exiting the Solent and crossing Christchurch Bay to Poole.

The crossing is for this summer and therefore I have the option to try things out, but I was wondering what most solent boaters do for this trip. Just cross in open safe deep water or keep in close to the coast? My draught is on 1m, so is doing following the channel all the way out and crossing the open water overkill?

Thanks for any advice.

Read the pilotage in Reeds.
Check weather carefully & don't attempt the bridge in a strong breeze, otherwise, if its your first time, sailing past the Needles, is not to be missed. Usually start from Sconce, as ebb starts & get favourable tide all the way down to No 1 Bar buoy off Poole. Going thru the Needles, also give an option of a long port tack past Hengistbury Head.
Great trip for a newbie, so enjoy.

 

[Tranona]

Read the pilotage in Reeds.
Check weather carefully & don't attempt the bridge in a strong breeze, otherwise, if its your first time, sailing past the Needles, is not to be missed. Usually start from Sconce, as ebb starts & get favourable tide all the way down to No 1 Bar buoy off Poole. Going thru the Needles, also give an option of a long port tack past Hengistbury Head.
Great trip for a newbie, so enjoy.

Not sure how one tacks a Princess V 39. North Channel as I suggested much more appropriate for a MOBO.

 

[alant]

Not sure how one tacks a Princess V 39. North Channel as I suggested much more appropriate for a MOBO.

I believe you simply turn the wheel clockwise.
Cannot understand, why the North Channel is more suitable than the Needles Channel, other than the fact that he will see me wave, as he passes my house.

 

[epervier]

2nd the look for the pot markers, they are small and if it's windy with a high tide they tend to go below the surface a lot.

 

[Oscar24]

If you take the North channel keep your speed down and keep a good lookout for swimmers of the beach @ Sandbanks!
Ive been amazed to see people happly swimming 200yds offshore, that and the pot markers which seem to be randomly scattered about.
Not the place you want to get a rope caught around a prop.

 

[alant]

If you take the North channel keep your speed down and keep a good lookout for swimmers of the beach @ Sandbanks!
Ive been amazed to see people happly swimming 200yds offshore, that and the pot markers which seem to be randomly scattered about.
Not the place you want to get a rope caught around a prop.

Good advice, but North Channel is off Milford, not off Sandbanks!

 

[Oscar24]

Good advice, but North Channel is off Milford, not off Sandbanks!

opps, sorry my mistake.
Got the North Channel mixed up with the East Looe channel

 

[Tranona]

I believe you simply turn the wheel clockwise.
Cannot understand, why the North Channel is more suitable than the Needles Channel, other than the fact that he will see me wave, as he passes my house.

Shorter, more comfortable and still virtually a straight line to Poole from North Haven to either Bar Buoy or East Looe.

 

[2013PrincessV39]

How would one deal with the Christchurch Ledge if taking the inshore route?

Thank you

 

[powerskipper]

Hi All,

Using this years almanac, cruising guides, internet and all other sources available to me at present, I have yet to get a passage plan I am confident in for exiting the Solent and crossing Christchurch Bay to Poole.

The crossing is for this summer and therefore I have the option to try things out, but I was wondering what most solent boaters do for this trip. Just cross in open safe deep water or keep in close to the coast? My draught is on 1m, so is doing following the channel all the way out and crossing the open water overkill?

Thanks for any advice.

use channel close in shore at Hurst to north head green buoy, keep it on your port side, there is a wreck in chart updates somewhere the other side of it. Look for the land ahead and to the far LEFT [ corrected girly moment] and head for it. this keeps you off the christchurch ledge and where most of the pots are, when you can see Old Harry rock, head for them and you will see the outer channel marks for Poole, enter channel, do not cut corner as can be shallow there.

 

[powerskipper]

How would one deal with the Christchurch Ledge if taking the inshore route?

Thank you

head for the over 5 m depth area on christchurch ledge, the inner channel is well marked once you find them, keep to the channel but be careful if low water as its shallow.

 

[2013PrincessV39]

use channel close in shore at Hurst to north head green buoy, keep it on your port side, there is a wreck in chart updates somewhere the other side of it. Look for the land ahead and to the far right and head for it. this keeps you off the christchurch ledge and where most of the pots are, when you can see Old Harry rock, head for them and you will see the outer channel marks for Poole, enter channel, do not cut corner as can be shallow there.

Up to north head I'm with you, but then there is a large gap between north head and Poole and I'm not quite clear on which land you had meant to be " far right"?

It is this gap I am most concerned about.

 

[nicho]

I believe you simply turn the wheel clockwise.
Cannot understand, why the North Channel is more suitable than the Needles Channel, other than the fact that he will see me wave, as he passes my house.

Must say I always used the North Channel afterpicking up a very large rope in the Needles Channel and wrecking all four props. I was told that there is likely to be far less rubbish in the water by staying North. Really adds little time in a mobo.

 

[nicho]

use channel close in shore at Hurst to north head green buoy, keep it on your port side, there is a wreck in chart updates somewhere the other side of it. Look for the land ahead and to the far right and head for it. this keeps you off the christchurch ledge and where most of the pots are, when you can see Old Harry rock, head for them and you will see the outer channel marks for Poole, enter channel, do not cut corner as can be shallow there.

......and there's a girl that knows....!

 

[powerskipper]

Up to north head I'm with you, but then there is a large gap between north head and Poole and I'm not quite clear on which land you had meant to be " far right"?

It is this gap I am most concerned about.

bugger should have been far left.....land mass, thats swanage keep it on you bow or just off starboard bow until old harry seen.

you would keep it on your right hand side if running the coast. girly moment..

 

[alant]

Up to north head I'm with you, but then there is a large gap between north head and Poole and I'm not quite clear on which land you had meant to be " far right"?

It is this gap I am most concerned about.

Look toward the Purbecks & you should see a pair of hills shaped like mammaries.
Just aim for the cleft & No1 Bar Buoy, will be on the nose.

 

[Tranona]

How would one deal with the Christchurch Ledge if taking the inshore route?

Thank you

You can go a bit further south to pass Christchurch Ledge buoy to starboard which keeps you clear the ledge, but in good weather not really necessary.

 

[lionelz]

Hi All,

Using this years almanac, cruising guides, internet and all other sources available to me at present, I have yet to get a passage plan I am confident in for exiting the Solent and crossing Christchurch Bay to Poole.

The crossing is for this summer and therefore I have the option to try things out, but I was wondering what most solent boaters do for this trip. Just cross in open safe deep water or keep in close to the coast? My draught is on 1m, so is doing following the channel all the way out and crossing the open water overkill?

Thanks for any advice.

Done this yesterday for first time in a my new boat also a 1m draft from Poole to Solent, I went straight across at 19 knots to green channel marker at the north channel Just watch out for lobster pots near Poole also ensure you go to the Buoy No 1 at Poole or you may ground on banks depending on tides etc.