How long is apiece of string?

Wakatere

Wakatere

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The string in this case is the journey from Gosport to Burnham-o-C.

This is my first long journey in Wakatere, an Elizabethan 9m, and there are 2 of us - we're prepared to do long spells but we might well need a break at some time. I was going to set out early this Sunday, but I'm still finding things I haven't done, so a little extra prep time wouldn't hurt.

Can anybody give me a hint about how long it might take?

TIA

Charles
 
Its not so much how long it will take, but more of getting a good weather window as the South Westerlys make things a bit lumpy on the south coast. Last year I was holed up in Brighton for 4 days!

As there is only two of you its probably wise to break up the journey by stopping over at Eastbourne then maybe Dover or Ramsgate, splitting the passage into three gives you about 60 miles each leg.
 
Hello Charles, That trip is about 170 miles and at 4kts thats under 2 full days (42ish hours to be precise) non-stop sailing/motoring. I think the real answer to your question lies in how experienced you are, how much of an adventure you want to make of it, how quickly you want to get there, and how much you want to see on the way. Providing the weather holds, you could do it quite comfortably in under 2 days non-stop (perhaps running a simple watch system at night), or as TS says, there are a number of good stops en-route (Brighton/Eastbourne/Dover/Ramsgate/BOC) so you could turn it into a 5 day trip. Note the possiility of running with the tide twice over Dungeness which could help speed up the journey even more if you time it right. Watch the traffic at Dover, and be prepared for some traffic dodging over the Thames Estuary. I have done the trip a few times now and it is fairly straightforward. Good luck with it.

As long as you want it I guess is the answer :).
 
we did gosprt to Dover once (about 120 miles I think) - was a long day but we had a fair wind. Then Dover - Blackwater which is easily do-able in a day.
 
I would certainly plan for a break in this trip. You will be sailing through some very busy waters and a person on watch alone at night is going to have their hands full. Some of the trickiest waters come at the end of the trip, where you will be having to dodge shipping and pilot yourself through the sandbanks. There is not much room for error and it would be better to be well rested for that part of the journey, especially if you haven't done it before.
 
Weather appears settled for you if not a lot of wind. Hope the iron tops'l is reliable.

I came back from Gosport to Brightlingsea in my previous 27' sloop singlehanded in 3 days with no night hours. Gosport to Eastbourne, E to Ramsgate, Ramsgate to B'sea. Just make sure you catch the tide gates right at key points - Beachy Head, Dungeness and South Foreland. Very 'doable' with 2. The only 'busy' bit is the entrance to Dover with ferries going in and out so worth going a bit off the coast there but not as far out as into the separation scheme! I always enjoy the run up inside the Goodwins, brings back childhood holidays at Grandparents who lived in Sandwich Bay.

With the cost of South Coast marinas I wouldn't want to hang about too long!
 
Thanks for the hints and comments everybody. It's reassuring to find the consensus isn't a mile away from my preconceptions. Had a good w/e catching up with the 'orrid list of jobs, so hope to be away tomorrow.

Charles
 
Three days should be fine if you have a good engine and aren't held up by bad weather. The forecast I saw earlier (different to the others mentioned here!) looks OK if a bit gusty tomorrow.

I did Lymington to Harwich in four days last January (bloody cold - ice on deck every morning but one - and much shorter days than now) single handed in a 23 footer. Lymington - River Medina, Folly Inn - Brighton - Dover - SYH Levington.

To make best time you need to use all-tide access ports (otherwise when you get out most of the favourable tide is gone), and time your departures to make the most of the tides. If you get it right you get a double tide in your favour going your direction up the channel. I don't have the books to hand, but i think if you leave Gosport on the later part of the ebb (the east going bit) and get to just west of Selsey Bill to catch the first of the flood you won't go far wrong. I think that means a very early start tomorrow!

You could probably do the miles in 2 days, but I'd recommend giving yourself a fresh day to cross the Thames Estuary, starting somewhere close like Dover (or Ramsgate?).

Bon Voyage! (Wish I was doing that, not going to work, tomorrow!)
 
Charles,

I bought my yacht (10m) back from Mylor to Shotley a few years ago. As part of the trip I did Gosport to Eastbourne to Ramsgate to Shotley.

If it helps my log shows:

Gosport to Eastbourne........64nm.........11 hrs

Eastbourne to Ramsgate.....79nm.........12hrs

Ramsgate to Shotley..........49nm...........8hrs

A couple of long days with nights tucked up safely in Marinas followed by a shorter last leg.

Note: most of this was motorsailing as the winds were very light and mostly Easterly.

Hope you have a good trip.

catseven
 
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