Making a move, Plymouth to Hamble

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Cathy*

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This year we had planned and booked to move from Plymouth, where all of our cruising has been, in April to the Hamble over a period of several months. Now we can get back out on the boat I'm looking at our plans and still want to make the move this year, although it will mean Autumn/Winter on the Hamble rather than summer. I had planned for a few weeks in Brixham, then Weymouth, Yarmouth IOW finally spending a decent amount of time in Hamble point, Port Hamble and Mecury before going around to Hayling Island for the winter.

Now I'm thinking of leaving for Brixham mid to late August staying for a few weeks, followed by a couple of days in Weymouth and miss out Yarmouth going straight to Hamble point. We're in a S/D motorboat and usually travel at between 8 and 10 kn. I think I've got the passage plan and tides sorted, I'm planning on taking the North channel to avoid the Needles but are there any particular hazards I should take into account from there around to Port Hamble? Hayling Island and Chichester will now be off the agenda, we'll be aiming for a lift out at Mercury at the end of the year for maintenance.

Does that all sound like a feasible plan?
 
North channel is fine for an entry into the Solent, but do watch for the pot buoys off Hengistbury. One of the worst places in the country in my experience! Christchurch ledge can also be a bit lumpy, but nothing really to be worried about - neither is the main Needles Channel in reasonable conditions. Foul tide off Hurst could be a pain for you at those speeds, so do treat it as a tidal gate. You can get in really close there without worry.

Don't cut inside of Lepe Spit buoy by much, if at all. Pot buoys too off Calshot at times - tend to be poorly marked. Sea off Calshot can often be a bit confused - won't be for long. Cross from Black Jack straight to Hook buoys and you are virtually (but not quite) in line for the entrance to Hamble.

Approaching Hamble, be prepared for traffic if it is the weekend! Plenty of room really, but can be disconcerting for new arrivals. The spit is real - just take a look at low water. You won't need to, but you can cut between the cardinal post and the cardinal mark at most tide states in a MoBo.

Take care to mind the ebb tide in the marinas in particular - it can run very strongly for at least half of the way down the alleyways. Hamble river floods and then stands over a full 7 hours but then ebbs with a vengence over just 3 hours. That's a lot of water to exit the river in a very short time. Flood tide is not as pronounced, but is noticeable. Do take that bit seriously, because there are berths that I would be very cautious about going into, or even refuse to enter, if they were downstream on a strong ebb tide with an adverse wind and less than perfectly reliable/maneuverable boat! Bear in mind that part way down some of the alleys, the tide can suddenly stop too - which can be confusing if you are expecting there still to be tide there.
 
Solent Sailor said:
North channel is fine for an entry into the Solent, but do watch for the pot buoys off Hengistbury. One of the worst places in the country in my experience! Christchurch ledge can also be a bit lumpy, but nothing really to be worried about - neither is the main Needles Channel in reasonable conditions. Foul tide off Hurst could be a pain for you at those speeds, so do treat it as a tidal gate. You can get in really close there without worry.

Don't cut inside of Lepe Spit buoy by much, if at all. Pot buoys too off Calshot at times - tend to be poorly marked. Sea off Calshot can often be a bit confused - won't be for long. Cross from Black Jack straight to Hook buoys and you are virtually (but not quite) in line for the entrance to Hamble.

Approaching Hamble, be prepared for traffic if it is the weekend! Plenty of room really, but can be disconcerting for new arrivals. The spit is real - just take a look at low water. You won't need to, but you can cut between the cardinal post and the cardinal mark at most tide states in a MoBo.

Take care to mind the ebb tide in the marinas in particular - it can run very strongly for at least half of the way down the alleyways. Hamble river floods and then stands over a full 7 hours but then ebbs with a vengence over just 3 hours. That's a lot of water to exit the river in a very short time. Flood tide is not as pronounced, but is noticeable. Do take that bit seriously, because there are berths that I would be very cautious about going into, or even refuse to enter, if they were downstream on a strong ebb tide with an adverse wind and less than perfectly reliable/maneuverable boat! Bear in mind that part way down some of the alleys, the tide can suddenly stop too - which can be confusing if you are expecting there still to be tide there.
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Thank you I'll look at my plans again for all the points you've mentioned. I'm currently intending, weather permitting, to leave Weymouth for the Hamble on Thursday 24th September (a bit specific I know) which avoids weekend traffic, gives us neap tides and sensible times for leaving and arriving.
 
Solent Sailor said:
Don't cut inside of Lepe Spit buoy by much, if at all. Pot buoys too off Calshot at times - tend to be poorly marked. Sea off Calshot can often be a bit confused - won't be for long. Cross from Black Jack straight to Hook buoys and you are virtually (but not quite) in line for the entrance to Hamble.
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What he said and I would add:
From Lepe spit to NE Gurnard PHB;
Bourne Gap PHB;
Calshot Spit PH Light ship. (Looks more like a buoy).
The above avoids the lobster pots.
Then:
Castle Point PHB;
Black Jack PHB;
Avoids the shallows.
From Black Jack to Hook SHB.
BUT check forwards and back when crossing the edge of the restricted zone as the Red Jet do around 40 kn
 
That's the route I use. As well as the Redjet you need to be alert for shipping in the main channel; hard to miss obviously but common. You occasionally see one with tugs and/or an escort. You have to keep clear 1000m ahead and 100m either side in the precautionary zone which is marked on your chart. You do see some pleasure vesels chancing their luck.
 
I would echo the comment about marina ebb tides on the river. first time at Hamble Point was nearly expensive ! and Port Hamble equally exciting. Now treated with much respect
 
Scala said:
True. You can use to your advantage if skill, berth and tidal flow align so you can ferry glide....
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Until you reach a point at which the tide disappears, and then you rapidly spin off in the wrong direction.

We are at danger of making it sound like Corryvreckan, when in reality it is all perfectly manageable. Just something to think about. You can actually see the tide line in the marinas at times, highlighting where there is tide and is not.
 
burgundyben said:
Before you get too close in at Hurst read up about The Trap. Make aure you know where it is and how far to stand off.
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To get caught there, you'd need to be almost stepping ashore, most were caught out due to loss of wind due to shadow of the Castle & strong back eddy pshing vessels onto shore.
 
Solent Sailor said:
Until you reach a point at which the tide disappears, and then you rapidly spin off in the wrong direction.

We are at danger of making it sound like Corryvreckan, when in reality it is all perfectly manageable. Just something to think about. You can actually see the tide line in the marinas at times, highlighting where there is tide and is not.
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I have seen the Corryvreckan and to be honest the impression I'm getting is just about as nerve wracking. So much so I'm beginning to wonder whether to miss out the Hamble marinas. Our eventual destination next April will be either Gosport or Haslar but I want to use the MDL marinas to explore the area this year.
 
Cathy* said:
I have seen the Corryvreckan and to be honest the impression I'm getting is just about as nerve wracking. So much so I'm beginning to wonder whether to miss out the Hamble marinas. Our eventual destination next April will be either Gosport or Haslar but I want to use the MDL marinas to explore the area this year.
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Even nicer would be a visit to our yacht club, the Royal Southern. Much nicer place to spend a night or two. Perhaps your a member of a club with reciprocal rights? There is a visitors pontoon if so.
 
Solent Sailor said:
Even nicer would be a visit to our yacht club, the Royal Southern. Much nicer place to spend a night or two. Perhaps your a member of a club with reciprocal rights? There is a visitors pontoon if so.
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Thank you but I've paid MDL for my berthing fees. We will visit the yacht club though.
 
Rocksteadee said:
What he said and I would add:
From Lepe spit to NE Gurnard PHB;
Bourne Gap PHB;
Calshot Spit PH Light ship. (Looks more like a buoy).
The above avoids the lobster pots.
Then:
Castle Point PHB;
Black Jack PHB;
Avoids the shallows.
From Black Jack to Hook SHB.
BUT check forwards and back when crossing the edge of the restricted zone as the Red Jet do around 40 kn
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Do you keep to the port side of Thorn channel when coming in?
 
If you're using the channel you need to be on the right side of course, but I'd stay just outside and follow the PH buoyage keeping them 20m to my stbd coming in. I've seen pleasure vessels using that channel on the incorrect side and being surprised by the 5 blasts received from a cruise ship coming towards them :( not good.
 
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