First trip

[JonoSlatter]

Anyone care to make any suggestions - I'm making my first trip in first boat from Hayling Island to Poole.

I've started planning the route, tides etc. Intending to sail to Cowes, stop over and then start for Poole the next day.

Just wondering if anyone might be able to point up a few mistakes I might be in danger of making! Or suggest any pointers for a good route to take.

Thanks.

J

 

[SimonD]

Personally, I would break the trip at Yarmouth (or Lymington) as it is (a) about the half way point and (b) makes it easier to time your arrival at Hurst. The latter is important as it is advisable to pass Hurst at around slack water.

I would then leave the Solent via the north channel, ie out through Hurst and turn sharp right then sharp left at the North Channel buoy. This is (a) generally calmer water than the Needles channel and (b) a slightly shorter distance to Poole.

Approaching Poole, I would use the main channel (keep to the left) rather than the north channel. The latter is scarily close to the beach if it's your first time. However, the main channel is generally choppy thanks to the profusion of power boats and you need to keep your collision avoidance wits about you. Only a relatively brief moment of excitement though. Also best not to fight the ebb out of Poole and keep an eye on the ferry.

A nice trip - good luck.

Simon

PS If you don't actually want to go into Poole (expensive) I can recommend a night at anchor in Studland (provided there is no east in the wind)

 

[jamesjermain]

Key tidal gates are Chichester Bar, Hurst Narrows to the Needles Bridge and Poole Harbour entrance.

The first two should be tackled on the ebb and the last on the flood going west and vice versa but avoid the ebb like the plague in strong southerlies over Chi Bar and the Bridge (by the Needles).

In good conditions leave Chi harbour with the ebb - approx HW Portsmouth + a few minutes. You will then have plenty of time to carry the tide all the way to Cowes. Leave Cowes an hour before high waster Portsmouth to carry the tide through the Western Solent and clear into Christchurch Bay. You will tehn be able to pick up the flood through Poole entrance.

Make sure you go between Nomansland and Horse Sand Forts (don't try the inshore passage first time). Similarly, as a first timer,stick to the Needles Channel and southern approach to Poole Harbour entrance. Once you have done this a couple of times you can try the slightly trickier North Channel out of the Solent and the narrow inshore passage into Poole.

Do watch out for the cross tides as you cross the Bridge at the Needles. It can be ferocious so keep an eye on your back bearing and the Needles Channel buoys. On the ebb, the tide rip over the Bridge is very uncomfortable in southerly Force 5 and deadly in Force 6 or more.

Keep a sharp eye out for ferries - particularly the high speed ferry as you approach Poole Harbour - they sneek up behind you in no time. The current is strong in the narrow harbour entrance so have your engine running even if you are sailing. Keep clear of the chain ferry.

Personally I dislike both Poole Town Quay and the new marina. Take your courage in your hands, particularly at high water or a rising tide, and take the Wytch Channel north of Brownsea to the western end of the Island where you can still anchor in relative peace and quite - certainly mid-week and early or late season.

Despite my doom and gloom, in good weather it's an easy and very pleasant passage - enjoy it.

JJ

 

[david_e]

Fraid can't offer any advice, never sailed there, but would be most interested to hear how you got on with your purchase?

 

[jacksaid]

Previous responses have said most of it. Cowes or Yarmouth or Lymington are OK for an overnight. The tidal gates are important. If it is your first time you may want to do it on Neaps rather than springs, especially if the wind is a bit fresher. I disagree with one of the earlier respondents and I would always go for the North Channel from Hurst Narrows rather than the Needles channel and the same for the return. The North Channel is easy and the tide has much less effect. Also as you cross Christchurch ledge keep a sharp look out for pot buoys. There are many of them and some are very poorly marked. You can set a course from the North Channel Starbd hand buoy straight for the beginning of the Swatchway into Poole harbour entrance. This is about a mile south of the entrance by Studland Bay.
Do your chartwork and make a passage plan.
Happy to check your passage plan if you want.

 

[stephenk]

I do not have much experience of Chichester but have recently had practical experience of Hurst and Poole. On my first look at the North Channel off Hurst the tide was on mid ebb and the wind was SW. An incredible sight and the broken water stretched right across the channel. It looked very dangerous for a yacht and it certainly prevented my first exit from the Solent. The next time after a bit of advice I went thru at slack water at the end of LW and admittedly there was little wind but it was a walk in the park so advice about Slack water is well worth heeding.
As for Poole when the tide is mid ebb it is difficult to make much headway in a small motor yacht so is best avoided.
Good trip

 

[andy_wilson]

Poole moorings

As I won't be visiting for a year or two, try Poole Yacht Club, just past the ferry terminal.

They always managed to find us a space (32 feet max I think). The fairways are narrow so practice close manouvers first.

It's worth the walk into town just to see the empty berths in the unfeasably expensive Town Quay Haven.

 

[Grehan]

Solent > Poole

This has been our first season making that passage.

First time, from Southsea, we stopped over at Hurst, behind the beach. Watch the tidal height/flow very carefully. We just missed grounding on the way in and the way out, and someone who came in not 5 mins after us did end up with a very worrying few hours at an acute angle of lean. But Hurst is quite a distinctive place - much more than Lymington/Yarmouth - and worth some effort.

Out into Christchurch Bay, we planned carefully (Channel Pilot and Almanac both give clear sound advice) to catch the tide right and avoid the Trap. Northern channel was just fine but I would reiterate advice further on to watch out for pot buoys (loads and loads of them) off (keep well off) the ledge.
All in all (we've now done both routes) the northern has much to recommend it. Keeping one's wits about one is necessary with both.

Similarly, and provided . . . , the northern channel into Poole is fine and saves distance - provided you keep pretty close-in to avoid the bar. Again, the pilot books are sound.

Do keep an eye open for (a) the big and fast Conders (b) the huge Truckline ferry and (c) the lunatic jetskiers. Most stinkies and raggies we've encountered are quite well-behaved.

First time (we fell into this one) Poole looks (a) chaotically busy and then (b) enormous. Both are a bit misleading. Away from the immediate vicinity of the entrance it's not too crowded (well, most days but not all) (it can be very secluded) but there's considerably less sailing depth or room than it appears. Keep fully on top of your channels, tides, chartwork and pilotage. Very easy to have loads of water around and very little (no) depth. For some reason or another I have two Poole charts and - horror! - keep one up in the cockpit when on the move. Sorry folks.

We've just overnighted at Parkstone YC - seemed like a nice enough place. Not enough foolhardiness to try Town Quay or the new (Dolphin?) marina. IMHO Poole's a place for shallow drafts and anchoring/mooring - not pontooning.

Good luck and keep us all posted!

 

[fjweaver]

I'm doing the same first time this weekend. Staying in Lymington tomorrow night (from Hamble) and leaving early for Poole on Sat. morning. Just booked berth in both places about £20 each (8.1 mtrs) - not too bad shared between 3.
Good luck might see you on the way

 

[cleo]

James Jermain's suggestions are - as always - reliable and sound. I trust t'others responded in similar vein.

I'd suggest only a couple of further considerations :

Prepare, from inspection of the charts and pilot book, a short list of stop-points or anchorages should you find it convenient to 'wait for the tide' a little while. It's allowed! Even enjoyable! And if the weather does not co-operate.......
Consider just outside Yarmouth IOW, and just inside Hurst Spit. Other Solent old hands will have their own special preferences, and no doubt will tell you through here. OK!

Keep clear of the edges. 'Solent Tides' and 'Solent Hazards' are two booklets that should be on your boat's bookshelf - invaluable. The lengthy Poole Approach Channel is important, and the position of its shallow edges should be identified and followed with great care. Try not to 'cut the corner' - you're likely to try it only once! Consider anchoring for a while in the west of Studland Bay, if you're a bit early.

Also consider asking those around you. Most yachties do know what they're about, and most will be pleased to respond positively. Just use your common sense about 'who'. If in doubt, stop, look and think.

As for anchoring, there's nothing to it. Just do what centuries of small boat seamen did - anchor out of the fast tidestream and traffic, and use plenty of chain. It's not much use in the locker!

Oh! And let us know, through here, how you got on.






bilbo

 

[JonoSlatter]

Well I took the plunge yesterday and paid my money.

I got a reduction - not as much as I would have liked - but I think she's a good honest boat and a good starter boat for a dinghy sailor.

Now...all I have to do is get her back to Poole in one piece. So I'm armed with my new charts and the replies I have received and am planning to make the trip next weekend.

Thanks for your help.

Regards,


Jono

 

[david_e]

If it is an honest boat then you have made a fair appraisal. Don't worry about the price, it's only skinflints like me that wan't every last shilling off! Good luck with your delivery trip, you could put a post on here and ask if someone will go with you or if they know a professional who will do it cheaply and you will learn alot from them and they will also give the boat a good look over and let you know what needs sorting out. (if anything)

Good luck.

 

[JonoSlatter]

Well,

I completed with the broker yesterday (Opal on Hayling Island) - and after making the trip from Bath - discovered that the broker had failed to check he had the key...

No key...yard office (where she lies) closed on Sunday. ..

So armed with a new padlock and a hacksaw supplied by the broker we attempted to break in. No chance. Enlisted the help of a kind man who just happened to have a pair of bolt breakers....

Not the start we had hoped for. But really pleased with boat, but slightly concerned about the trip to Poole, so may take your advice and try to find a skipper.

Regards,

Jono

 

[JeremyF]

What did you buy, Jono?. Was it the First 26? Did you manage to get the price down due to high moisture content?

<font color=blue>Jeremy Flynn/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif
Dawn Chorus</font color=blue>

 

[JonoSlatter]

Yeap - bought the First 26. Yes got a reduction - not huge amount but some. It was good to get on the boat yesterday....now all we have to do is get her back to Poole!

Thanks for your help.

Jono

 

[david_e]

Re: First TIP

Never use a hacksaw without covering the surrounding fall out area. The invisible filings burn into the gelcoat then go rusty and are a pig to get off!! If you have used it already give a mega good clean next time you see her. This is from personal experience with my benny.