Harbour Speed limits in the solent

DAKA

DAKA

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 Jan 2005
Messages
9,255
Location
Nomadic
Visit site
I've just printed this 'easy to see at a glance' leaflet off and laminated it for keeping on the flybridge .

PDF download if anyone is interested

http://www.yarmouth-harbour.co.uk/media/uploads/solent-speed-limits---wash-and-slow-leaflet-a5.pdf

Great news, Chichester fairway from bar beacon isn't restricted :cool:

Beaulieu River @ 5knots from the estuary looks a bit tedious , does anyone know if it is policed anyway ?

10/10 for Portsmouth and Langstone for keeping sensible 10knot limits :)

Keyhaven, Yarmouth and Newport HMs share the party pooper awards @ 4 knots.

Not sure if they equally apply to raggies or not, probably not :rolleyes:
 
It's not strictly accurate.
Lymington has two speed limits. 6 knots outside and 4 knots for the inner bit. However the 4 knots is not compulsory but 'recommended'.

"The speed limit is 6 knots with an advisory limit of 4 knots upstream of the wave screens near the entrance to the Lymington Yacht Haven."
 
Talulah said:
It's not strictly accurate.
Lymington has two speed limits. 6 knots outside and 4 knots for the inner bit. However the 4 knots is not compulsory but 'recommended'.

"The speed limit is 6 knots with an advisory limit of 4 knots upstream of the wave screens near the entrance to the Lymington Yacht Haven."
Click to expand...

I didnt know it was advisory , thats worth knowing thanks , very occasionally dinghies infringe and an occasional 6 knots spurt would be enough to avoid them.:)

I printed the map as a visitor it is difficult to know when to slow down, most speed restrictions are signposted well within the harbour when it is too late if the restriction applied 1000 yds (1/2 mile) earlier.
 
Yarmouth also has two speed limits - 6 knots in the fairway and 4 knots in the inner harbour.

"Vessels must adhere to the speed limits, 4 knots over the ground maximum within the inner harbour (ie from the harbour entrance to the bridge and all of the river south of the bridge), and 6 knots over the ground maximum elsewhere within the harbour limits."

I think all limits are through the water....
 
AdeOlly said:
Yarmouth also has two speed limits - 6 knots in the fairway and 4 knots in the inner harbour.

"Vessels must adhere to the speed limits, 4 knots over the ground maximum within the inner harbour (ie from the harbour entrance to the bridge and all of the river south of the bridge), and 6 knots over the ground maximum elsewhere within the harbour limits."

I think all limits are through the water....
Click to expand...

To be fair, I cant imagine wanting to do an awful lot more than 4 knots through Yarmouth harbour anyway!!
 
AdeOlly said:
"Vessels must adhere to the speed limits, 4 knots over the ground maximum within the inner harbour (ie from the harbour entrance to the bridge and all of the river south of the bridge), and 6 knots over the ground maximum elsewhere within the harbour limits."

I think all limits are through the water....
Click to expand...

???

Pete
 
I'm not in the area but 4kn seems very slow..

Next time I am out I an going to see what speed I do at idle.. My guess is about 3-4kn.. What I do know is that at those very low speeds directional control and manoeuvrability are significantly reduced.. This means if there are any gusts or currents it could be a real hassle..

Is there really a big difference in wash between 4kn and 6kn? I've never looked at the wake at those speeds..
 
How about keeping an eye on the wash and being considerate, and forget the numbers on the log ?

That is the spirit of speed limits, even in Chichester Entrance, and I'm grateful to most modern mobo's for acting courteously, we might be able to take big waves and wash but prefer not to, and if we're being rocked around we can't get a decent eyeful of the babes in bikinis ! :)
 
Scubadoo said:
I don't see the Isle or Wight fast ferry (Jet Ferry) doing 6knots in the Southampton area.
Click to expand...

No, but if you listen to VTS you will hear them asking for permission to exceed the speed limit every single time they pass in and out. Occasionally their requests are refused if there is traffic or underwater work going on nearby.

Pete
 
Seajet said:
How about keeping an eye on the wash and being considerate, and forget the numbers on the log ?
Click to expand...

unfortunately its not that simple seajet, I tend to slow down about 1nm off bar beacon (yachts converge ), but it then takes us a long time to get to the entrance especially if punching.
during that long passage you can be certain a stinker will aim at us @ 25knts.

In order for me to keep my decks, windscreen and crews hairstyles dry I have to power up either to avoid the prick, lieft my bow to minimise the wash impact or just reduce the time I'm a target.
 
Seajet said:
How about keeping an eye on the wash and being considerate, and forget the numbers on the log ?

That is the spirit of speed limits, even in Chichester Entrance, and I'm grateful to most modern mobo's for acting courteously, we might be able to take big waves and wash but prefer not to, and if we're being rocked around we can't get a decent eyeful of the babes in bikinis ! :)
Click to expand...

You are 100% on this IMO seajet.
 
As I understand it speed limits refer to ground speed, which no modern boat has any excuse not to know, with modern GPS systems. Problem with a water driven log is its inaccuracy, especially on a fast Mobo doing around 6 knots, or uf the boat hasn't been used allowing a weed build up, plus the tide speed is continually varying.

That said a 4 knot ebb on the Hamble, plus 6 knots over the ground the opposite way = 10 knots, and most Mobos will be creating a notable 'presence well before this.

My Turbo 36 leaves virtually no wake at 5 knots through the water, but by 6 is making her presence known. Once I came through the narrows towards Bursledon road bridge against an ebbing tide doing over 5knots, and to make any progress my waterspeed was approaching 6-7 knots. This annoyed the yachties who chose on restrict the channel in the first place !

Generally the river passage of any trip should be a pleasure, not a rush, so take your time, enjoy the views and look behind you. Generally I think most Solent harbour speed limits are quite sensible.
 
superheat6k said:
As I understand it speed limits refer to ground speed, which no modern boat has any excuse not to know, with modern GPS systems. Problem with a water driven log is its inaccuracy, especially on a fast Mobo doing around 6 knots, or uf the boat hasn't been used allowing a weed build up, plus the tide speed is continually varying.

That said a 4 knot ebb on the Hamble, plus 6 knots over the ground the opposite way = 10 knots, and most Mobos will be creating a notable 'presence well before this.

My Turbo 36 leaves virtually no wake at 5 knots through the water, but by 6 is making her presence known. Once I came through the narrows towards Bursledon road bridge against an ebbing tide doing over 5knots, and to make any progress my waterspeed was approaching 6-7 knots. This annoyed the yachties who chose on restrict the channel in the first place !

Generally the river passage of any trip should be a pleasure, not a rush, so take your time, enjoy the views and look behind you. Generally I think most Solent harbour speed limits are quite sensible.
Click to expand...

On the thames it changes from SOG to STW at teddington lock. It varies depending on who wrote the rule, and SOG is the stupidest version of a stupid restriction.
 
Elessar said:
On the thames it changes from SOG to STW at teddington lock. It varies depending on who wrote the rule, and SOG is the stupidest version of a stupid restriction.
Click to expand...

Problem with variable rules is that nowhere where it matters does it stipulate clearly which applies in that case, which is why I couldn't be sure which takes precedence. I wonder if the HMs who police the speed limits know !

So now I have now found it ...

http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hambleharbour/navigation-safety/river-byelaws.htm

4. No vessel, except those listed in paragraphs 3(i) to 3 (v), shall proceed at a speed of greater than 6 knots through the water.

For most here that means all of us! I shall now ensure my weedy and understated log is observed.
 
superheat6k said:
As I understand it speed limits refer to ground speed, which no modern boat has any excuse not to know, with modern GPS systems. Problem with a water driven log is its inaccuracy, especially on a fast Mobo doing around 6 knots, or uf the boat hasn't been used allowing a weed build up, plus the tide speed is continually varying.

That said a 4 knot ebb on the Hamble, plus 6 knots over the ground the opposite way = 10 knots, and most Mobos will be creating a notable 'presence well before this.

My Turbo 36 leaves virtually no wake at 5 knots through the water, but by 6 is making her presence known. Once I came through the narrows towards Bursledon road bridge against an ebbing tide doing over 5knots, and to make any progress my waterspeed was approaching 6-7 knots. This annoyed the yachties who chose on restrict the channel in the first place !

Generally the river passage of any trip should be a pleasure, not a rush, so take your time, enjoy the views and look behind you. Generally I think most Solent harbour speed limits are quite sensible.
Click to expand...
A lot of the Solent ones are through the water, Cowes changed from over the ground this year. It is all to do with wash, there is a well publicised police (Project Kraken)campaign going on with more enforcement - if wash is caused at the speed limit, boats are being expected to slow down even further. There is more detailed info on this page under "Solent speed limits": http://www.hampshire.police.uk/internet/advice-and-information/general/project-kraken-bulletins
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top