Needles or bembridge

[pikeyrm]

Would like other peoples opinion on a passage plan.
It is the time of year where we head over to France, this years destination is Caen.
After much discussion we have come up with many different plans.
The question would be, leaving Marchwood on the top of the tide on a neaps, on a boat that plans average 5 knots.

I am thinking that it would be best to leave through the needles in a sw wind to give me that 10 degree extra on the wind?

 

[lustyd]

Never plan a long journey based on assumed wind. Plan around tides for your intended date instead and then deal with the wind.

Would like other peoples opinion on a passage plan.
It is the time of year where we head over to France, this years destination is Caen.
After much discussion we have come up with many different plans.
The question would be, leaving Marchwood on the top of the tide on a neaps, on a boat that plans average 5 knots.

I am thinking that it would be best to leave through the needles in a sw wind to give me that 10 degree extra on the wind?

 

[dharl]

Never plan a long journey based on assumed wind. Plan around tides for your intended date instead and then deal with the wind.

+1, but also would prefer the Needles as you will miss a lot of the big stuff coming in towards the Nab.

 

[[70521]]

After much discussion we have come up with many different plans.

I'd be worried about that, the skipper talking to himself, after all you are going to crew for him and all of these other people. There might be lots of discussion over when to hoist the sails, when to put the kettle on and where the biscuits are!

 

[benjenbav]

+1, but also would prefer the Needles as you will miss a lot of the big stuff coming in towards the Nab.

+1 and get the west-going tidal stream to the Needles rather than fighting it out to the Nab

 

[pikeyrm]

I'd be worried about that, the skipper talking to himself, after all you are going to crew for him and all of these other people. There might be lots of discussion over when to hoist the sails, when to put the kettle on and where the biscuits are!

we have 6 boats going so six different skippers.

 

[Seven Spades]

I think you are making the journey very long. If you are planning a daytime crossing then why not move the boat the previous evening and anchor in Sandown Bay. Then get a nice start the next morning when the tide suits?

 

[pikeyrm]

Never plan a long journey based on assumed wind. Plan around tides for your intended date instead and then deal with the wind.

surely it can be for this passage,it is easy to plan both ways but then pick the one on the day that suits the weather.

 

[pikeyrm]

I think you are making the journey very long. If you are planning a daytime crossing then why not move the boat the previous evening and anchor in Sandown Bay. Then get a nice start the next morning when the tide suits?

This has been one of the other skippers choice.
I like that fact that many skippers choose different plans but can be the right one for each boat/crew.

 

[jac]

Would also go via needles and would split. Soton to Studland or western solent makes a nice first day.

 

[prv]

Would also go via needles and would split. Soton to Studland or western solent makes a nice first day.

+1

I would aim to leave at a comfortable time on the first day, and in anything but an easterly anchor inside Hurst Spit ready for departure first thing the next morning.

Pete

 

[jac]

Where possible, I like to get out of the Solent. Getting across to Studland isn't that much further but it removes a tidal gate making passage planning next day far simpler as well as giving you probably a better slant if heading south and a couple of extra miles to windward if heading west.

If you're heading East of course, it's a rubbish plan!!

 

[jimi]

For Caen I'd leave by the Eastern Solent

 

[Angele]

For Caen I'd leave by the Eastern Solent

Me too.

I can understand the dilemma if going to Cherbourg. Possibly Saint-Vaast and Carentan too. But Caen is a good way further east.

Heading down the Western Solent is taking you further from your destination, not nearer.

 

[[70521]]

we have 6 boats going so six different skippers.

Ahhh, that makes sense.

Their boat, their choice.

 

[Evadne]

Would like other peoples opinion on a passage plan.
It is the time of year where we head over to France, this years destination is Caen.
After much discussion we have come up with many different plans.
The question would be, leaving Marchwood on the top of the tide on a neaps, on a boat that plans average 5 knots.

I am thinking that it would be best to leave through the needles in a sw wind to give me that 10 degree extra on the wind?

Leaving Marchwood on the top of the tide, you have the tide under you in one direction, but some hours of foul tide heading the other way? No tide tables to hand so ignore me if I'm wrong. I would go with the tide, and get out of the Solent quicker.

 

[laika]

For Caen I'd leave by the Eastern Solent

+1. Leaving Marchwood at the top of the tide you'd be punching the tide from southampton water east, but sticking north shouldn't be bad at neaps. In little boats, by the time you get past portsmouth the tide'll be starting to come your way. You'd save at least 15 miles over the needles and you'd be fine in a SW.

You've got enough skippers for someone to plan the other route just in case there's enough south in the wind to make the other way worth while.

 

[Angele]

Leaving Marchwood on the top of the tide, you have the tide under you in one direction, but some hours of foul tide heading the other way? No tide tables to hand so ignore me if I'm wrong. I would go with the tide, and get out of the Solent quicker.

Once you are in the middle of the Solent (off Calshot), it is roughly the same distance to the Needles Lighthouse as it is to the NAB (about 16nm?) but, according to Reeds, the NAB is 14 miles closer to Caen than the Needles is.

Take your point that, if the OP leaves at HW, then the tide is flowing westerly. But, if it is neaps, I would rather stick to the shallows doing 4+ knots SOG towards the forts (so under 4 hours to NAB, less if the tide turns) than doing 6.5 (ish) knots SOG to the Needles (2 1/2 hours) - given that the subsequent leg of the passage from the NAB will be almost 3 hours shorter than from the Needles.

Edit: Laika beat me to it, saying more or less the same thing.

 

[lw395]

In a SW wind you will be beating down the western solent in wind over tide.
That's either a good way of testing your crew before committing yourself to the proper sea, or hard work.
If there is a spot of North in the wind, and you can fetch the Needles in one, it may be different.
I would probably stay on the mainland side of the solent to avoid the worst of the tide initially, then reach across.
The traffic around the forts is not that heavy, the anchored ships off St Helens can be confusing at night.
Are you going up to Caen, or just Ouistreham?
The canal is a bit of a faff with bridge times, but worth doing if you are not in a rush IMHO.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Consider the option of making the first part of the trip into Chichester harbour, anchor at Mill Rythe or East Head. From there you have a nice clean run across to Caen. But dont forget, wherever you leave from, on the day the wind will be on the nose, count on it.