Navigable channel from Portsmouth to Langstone Harbour?

[MVP]

We were out exploring at the weekend and ended up at Port Solent. Looking on the charts, it appeared there is a channel between Portsmouth and Langstone Harbour, which would have been a nice shortcut back to Sparkes, in view of the increasing winds.

Coming out of Port Solent, we turned east at pole 81, and continued under a bridge, with I think the A27 above, and came into a small lake-like area. We went around but found no sign of a way through (almost high tide) . I've just looked on Google earth and it clearly shows a way through.
Has anyone used this route, and can you tell me where I went wrong?

Thanks in advance

MVP

 

[sarabande]

more details about your boat would help, please. e.g. how many wheels.

 

[jhr]

I think there is a way through but it's a minimum draft (air and water), top end of springs kind of route...

 

[[2068]]

...in a tender.

 

[burgundyben]

Yep, doable in a tender or jetski, in Tipner lake quite a few things sticking up that you might not want to hit!

 

[EddieA]

It is really only navigable by tender as the bridges you have to go under are too low at HW for anything else. If you had gone to the top of the lake (which is very shallow) and ran parallel with the M27 you'd have found the way.

 

[TargaLout]

This is a route that I have taken on many occasions. From Puerto del Solento, go under the bridge (as you say) and then turn left and go across the lake completely and turns into a river that goes along-side the A27 towards Langstone. You have to go under 4 or 5 low bridges and keep centre stream. I have done this at 25 knots all the way in a small Avon 2.8m with a 15hp 2 stoke Yam 1 hour either side of high water Portsmouth. There would not be enough airdraft under the lowest bridge at high water. Further, under some of the bridges you run the risk of hitting the odd shopping trolley so perhaps go cautiously as a first timer. Good luck and keep your head down. With the dingy on the plane 1 hour either side HW you will have to lay down in the bottom as there is about 3' max air draft.

 

[Giblets]

[ QUOTE ]
Yep, doable in a tender or jetski, in Tipner lake quite a few things sticking up that you might not want to hit!

[/ QUOTE ]

As does the submarine barrier from Southsea to Horse Sand Fort as a rather nice little speedboat found out to his cost on Sunday when he decided not to use the marked inner passage 1 hour after low water and promptly ripped the engine/bottom out of his boat at speed. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[ebbtide]

This is best shown on the OS Explorer 1: 25000 map and is regularly used by my local branch of the IWA who launch a flotilla of small boats at Fareham and proceed East to recover at Langstone Broadmarsh.

I've surveyed and photographed Port Creek extensively at all states of tide - do PM me for details. In brief there are two drying patches and several low bridges, principally the twin 'tunnels' under Hilsea roundabout (which have drooping overhead cables), tho the rail bridge further East has least air draft, virtually zero at HW. But the most serious and unpredictable hazard is the amount of detritus thrown into the Creek from footpaths and bridges. This includes shopping trolleys and worse: short lengths of scaffolding speared into the mud ready to damage, even puncture, your hull.

On occasion I have personally invoked the support of QHM Portsmouth to use his resources to clear a safe path - but sadly it only remains usable for a few months.

Yes it's possible, even with as much as 0.5m draft and 2.0m air draft if you are prepared to work the tides.. But prudence demands an advance inspection at Low Water to identify the dangers - and a tremendous act of faith that nothing nasty has been lobbed into the channel overnight!

Quote:" I have done this at 25 knots all the way in a small Avon" sez Targalout.

Peeps who behave like that and then brag about it are beyond redemption, not simply for breaking the harbour speed limit of 10 knots. You'll get your comeuppance!

 

[MVP]

Thanks for all the replies, especially from Malaprop.

Our boat is a Quicksilver 640 with OB, so I don't think we'll be trying this, even at high tide.

MVP

 

[Argonautical]

Malaprop you are the most consitantly miserable git, who ever post.................God.............you have brought me out of retirement!!!

Speed is the spice of life, Fun fun fun!

Well done Ian! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Jas

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

If you bottle the idea of the tunnels under the roundabout there is a slip by the old Portsbridge. Done the trip by canoe, whaler, little rib and sailing dinghy. Its a very different view on Portsmouth. The keen can go inland all the way to Bosham, or indeed wiht some effort, Chichester terminal basin, watch the tides.