Flying along at 8.5 knots

[henryf]

One of the great things about the Solent is an easy to remember tidal flow. In crude terms water flows Eastwards from LW -1hr Portsmouth.

HW - 1hr Portsmouth it heads West again.

That allows a mean man such as I to leave Cowes at tickover, wind behind us, travel with the elements using no more than 15 litres of diesel and arrive safely at Haslar an hour later. A bit of warmth from the sun, enough wind for the sailors to be happy but not so much that it bothered us.

Totally relaxed because everything of a navigational nature happened at a snails pace. Flybridge chiller negated the need to venture downstairs. What little traffic there is loves you because you're just pottering along wake free. Even yachtists waved at us

The only downside is looking out of the window this morning makes me think I'm in the wrong place. Clear blue skies and hardly a drop of wind... This work malarkey is a bit of a pain in the Chrysanthemums.

Sometimes you only need a handful of the 1,400 hp on tap.

Henry

 

[Andrew M]

A lovely little bit of useful knowledge, thanks Henry. As a newbie to coastal, tides, wind, charts etc I haven't got many of the nuances like that worked out yet so that is a real good one to remember, and appreciated from the same perspective as you mention with regards to not chucking too much fossil fuel in the D12s.

I love all that sort of stuff so please everybody , don't hold back with useful tips !

Andy

 

[benjenbav]

Another good one: at springs, high water on the Hamble is round about noon and midnight... Unless I've got that wrong. ?

 

[superheat6k]

If you know HW Portsmouth, the maximum variation anywhere in the Solent is not more than ~15 minutes, and this is less than time variations weather systems and prevailing winds can cause. HW Portsmouth refers to the first HW. In Southampton the second HW can be more pronounced and is sometimes referred to as the main HW as a result and is considerably out of phase as a result.

Benjenbav's comment re Springs HW Portsmouth at Midday & Midnight is also spot on.

If you are plugging the tide it tends to turn first at the edges.

The small boat channel at Portsmouth entrance is good to go for most boats if you can't see any of the sand at the base of the signal tower on Blockhouse side of the entrance.

 

[henryf]

Yes, the spring HW is a good guide, just remember that in the summer 12.00 noon is actually 1.00pm.

Using the inner Swashway I always reckon on 20-30cm less under my keel than the height of the tide. It's been the same for the Princess 42 and Princess 50 flybridge. I suspect it would be similar for most planing boats.

Whilst entering or leaving Portsmouth via the inner Swashway don't forget to have the red lateral post on your port side. You see lots of people entering the harbour with it on the wrong side. Also stick channel 11 on the VHF so you are aware of traffic and any incidents.

Henry

 

[paul salliss]

Exactly that Henry. We typically base our plan on this simple rule, we normally go where the tide takes us, and plan our return accordingly. If the wind is strong and a factor then perhaps an alteration but that's how we do it

 

[Andy Bav]

One of the great things about the Solent is an easy to remember tidal flow. In crude terms water flows Eastwards from LW -1hr Portsmouth.

HW - 1hr Portsmouth it heads West again.

That allows a mean man such as I to leave Cowes at tickover, wind behind us, travel with the elements using no more than 15 litres of diesel and arrive safely at Haslar an hour later. A bit of warmth from the sun, enough wind for the sailors to be happy but not so much that it bothered us.

Totally relaxed because everything of a navigational nature happened at a snails pace. Flybridge chiller negated the need to venture downstairs. What little traffic there is loves you because you're just pottering along wake free. Even yachtists waved at us

The only downside is looking out of the window this morning makes me think I'm in the wrong place. Clear blue skies and hardly a drop of wind... This work malarkey is a bit of a pain in the Chrysanthemums.

Sometimes you only need a handful of the 1,400 hp on tap.

Henry

Do I detect a closet sailor emerging... You'll be spilling recently made boiling hot tea next

 

[henryf]

I always have a scalding hot cup of tea on the ready for wake....

H.

 

[colhel]

As a raggie tidal streams are a very important part of passage planning using a tidal atlas and various boaty apps. A useful site is here http://montymariner.co.uk/ kept together by the Forumite "Ladyinbed". Click on *Tide Stream Chart* to show what is being discussed.