Newhaven to Littlehampton/Chichester

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braithra

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Im planning a trip to Littlehampton/Chichester over next weekend (plus Friday and Monday). I have a 7m bilge keel and want to know how far can i expect to get in a day and any passage planning suggestions. HW Dover is 1408 BST. This is my first real trip away from home port - so any advice is welcome.
 
I'm making a similar trip - Brighton to the Solent on Saturday. The tides are not favourable for the westbound trip but will aid you on the return.
I would suggest that Newhaven - Littlehampton would be the best you could do on the first day. The ebb tide on the Arun at Littlehampton is very strong - I suggest that you time your arrival for the end of the flood.
If it is your first passage through the Looe channel then I suggest that you aim to go through around high or low tide to take advantage of the slack water. The current forecast for next weekend is light SW/SSW so you'll have to be prepared to use the engine.
Finally, don't be tempted to cut the corner on the approach to Chi even in a bilge keeler - it can get very shallow. Maybe someone with more local Chi experience can advise you.

Have a good trip (have you tried/considered Sovereign as a destination - that's a good overnighter from Newhaven)
 
I have 2 things I will never forget from my run Langstone to Brighton - over similar ground.

The long lines and fishermans pots - millions of them ...

second was the moonlight across the water ... it was near flat calm.

But honest - the concentration to spot those pot markers / long line floats etc. - was extreme. My 2 crew were ill and useless - meaning I was forced to cover lookout and helm ...
 
Good point! There is one inconsiderate person that delights in setting pots in the Looe channel within a few hundred metres of Boulder and Street. It would not be so bad if they were properly marked but there is generally one half-submerged, weed-covered float to indicate their presence. Ones further on towards Bognor/Littlehampton/Worthing tend to have short poles but no flags. Closer to Brighton they tend to have longer poles and black flags. As you say, it makes night passages very nerve-wracking.
 
Re: Cummin thro the Looe

Best at high or low tide WHERE? East-going starts at Dover +0445, West at Dover -0120.

You're right about not cutting the corner into Chi: the old wreck is marked with a Sly cardinal, to be left at least a cable inshore. Aim straight for the Bar Beacon but the tide can set you into Bracklesham Bay.

The tide gauge on the Beacon (in fact all of them inside the Harbour) show depth above datum, and the Bar is dredged to (about) 1.5m below.

Not much water at Littlehampton however, reportedly drying 0.7m these days.

But not so many pots as to worry you - a handful near Street buoy then a dozen at most before Shoreham when I went that way last month. Of course you only need one round the prop to make life interesting (memo: sharpen the bread knife. No, a hacksaw had to be used. I don't leave the prop free-running when sailing any more)
 
Interested to know your plan ... Don't be afraid to post it here ...ignore any smart-a***s ...

With a plan up - it may give us something to look over and possibly indicate weak or suspect areas ...

I for one having had that trip delivering a boat I sold from Langstone to Brighton .... can honestly say - what was planned didn't happen.

Plan was about 12 - 15 hrs with forecast F2 - 3 winds etc. We stocked up with extra fuel for the outboard and "snack" food.

New Owner came with "experienced" guy to assist.

We cast off from mooring and new owner fell sick - Mal de Mer and retired to bunk to crawl away to "die". His pal .... nice lad but attention span of about 5 secs. I tried him as helm .... ok for about 5 mins then would let boat wander off ... No matter what I said or did ... didn't matter. So he was relegated to genny sheet handling.

We got out of Langstone and round through the rocks etc. and set course ... and wind died ! Forecast just didn't happen .... it was calm ...
We started engine and kept on low revs to assist the ghosting along. With more power to skirt pots, nets and long lines.
Despite having plenty of spare fuel - we were obviously running out faster than nec. to complete trip. So had to trust ghosting along to get us there.
26 hrs later we approached Brighton Marina entrance ... me with heavy eye-lids and "pal" happy .... Up comes "New Owner" demanding that he take the boat in ......

The upshot of the story ..... make provision for it going awry + even more extra !!

Would I do the trip again ? Yeh sure - but not with those 2 again !!
 
Bob_b ... Chuugingaround ...

The Smarta**** remark was silly but meant as purely ... don't be put off by any silly pokes at any plan you may post or ideas put up .... Chugging - and never aimed at you ....
 
Well are you going or not ??

All seems quiet on this thread now ???? Really interested in plan or whether you are going for it or not ............

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
If you make the trip from Littlehampton to Chichester, leave Littlehampton about 2 hours before HW. You'll then go through the Looe Channel on the ebb so keep a good look out for pot markers as they might be semi-submerged due to the ebb tide. Keep your approach to Chi beacon clear of the sands on the east side as you'll be approaching on the ebb tide.
 
Get off your Maxi Bill - he's in a bilge-keel Halcyon 23, so whether it's even worth putting to sea with wind on the nose is questionable.
I would leave an hour earlier (there'll be 2m on L'ton Bar by 1200 Saturday) prepared to motorsail at 4 knots if that speed can't be achieved under sail alone.
It's 12.5 miles to the Street/Boulder gate and a further 8 to Chi Bn which itself is a slow 1.5 miles into anything resembling safety - the first (pink) buoy off HISC is for visitors but hardly peaceful on a summer Saturday!
So there we are, 20-plus miles to cover. And we don't even know that he actually got to Littlehampton! Or did I miss something?
 
Did you miss something? Too right you did matey. The very first word of the reply. IF !!!!! It was advice given IF he is travelling from Littlehampton to Chi. The total distance I'll agree with you on, and travelling at 4 knots with the tide under you will take between 4 and 5 hours under motor. And you've made an assumption matey. I wasn't on my Maxi as you rather shortly put it. My reply was based on the many times I've been through the Looe Channel on a very slow 26' boat I kept in Littlehampton for 10 years.
 
Your tetchy post hasn't helped Bob_B put to sea, that's for sure. Recommend PM's for verbal sparring - personal shortcomings are best hidden from the public.
Good entertainment for the readers tho!
Now when does Newhaven bridge open . . .?
 
Re: Bob_b ... Chuugingaround ...

The plan is to be depart Newhaven around 08:00 - and then make my way to Littlehampton - expecting to arrive around 16:00 (HW+2ish). On saturday we plan to sail round to Chichester. Sunday & Monday are the return joureys.
 
Re: Bob_b ... Chuugingaround ...

The plan is to dpart Newhaven 08:00 and arrive Littlehapton around 16:00 (HW+2ish). saturday will be the leg round to Chichester (i picked up the note about going through the Looe at slack water - why is that ?). Sunday and Monday will be for the return legs (and should be easier). I would have liked to have visited Bembridge but think that might be too ambitious for this 4 day trip.
 
Excellent ................ nice to read you\'re having a go !

And nice to see the offered help far and above anything expected from Chuggin ......

Well if you enjoy the ride ... why not do it again mid August and join us at Newport IoW .... PM me or Chugginaround for details ....

Sailing - a get out there and enjoy it world !!
 
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