Passage advice - Hamble to Weymouth - 24ft sports cruiser

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Parisianzee

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Hi All,

Having had some practice for a few weeks on my (new-to-me) 1998 Regal 242... I am starting to look at taking it further afield. I have done a few trips to the I.O.W and back from Hamble, as well as Hayling Island, Portsmouth, the Needles... and it has been fine so far, cruising nicely at 20-22 knots, nice smooth boat.

Ultimately I like the "cruising" bit of motor boats, not just sitting there with a beer (although that is enjoyable as well), and the idea of setting course for a destination further afield is very pleasing to me. So I thought close enough to the Solent is Weymouth, which seems like an adorable place. Why not try there.

Few questions:

- Am I being stupid and is it a step too far, should I try for closer destinations first for a more "stepped" approach?
- Is there something significantly different, that I must bear in mind, between a cruise to say Hayling, from Hamble, and a cruise to Weymouth, apart from the obvious distance?
- Any passage plan recommendations? Follow the coast line? Cut straight through the bays?

Many thanks!
 
I went to Weymouth/Portland this weekend from Portsmouth. You MUST have wind and tide together in anything but calm conditions as Christchurch bay can be very lumpy. Once you're round St Albans head (watch the over falls) it's a pretty straight run in to Weymouth. My journey out on Friday evening was very lumpy ( down to 15knts) but once passed St Albans head it calmed down a bit and we were up to 20knts. Coming back yesterday however we sat at 27knts all the way home. Is say go for it but choose a calm day preferably at neaps. Enjoy.
 
The only things to look out for are the Shingles Bank north of the Needles (shoal waters), St Alban's head (headland and ledge which can mean choppy seas, especially if wind against tide), and the Lulworth firing range. All are charted and easy to allow for. Lulworth firing times are easy to find on the internet, and I think they stop during the peak summer weeks. In a small boat it may be preferable to round St Alban's head at slack water, although we're not talking Cape Horn here.

The biggest "risk" is that the weather will turn before you head back, as you want calm conditions in a 24' boat, although prevailing winds would be with you on the return, and following seas are a lot more comfortable.
 
The main differrence is being exposed to open water conditions once past the needles and being more on your own.
+1 for going when wind is with tide.
You can avoid the worst of the races by cutting in very close to the shore at Anvil Point and St Albans, better , time for slack when races disappear.
Its a great trip, once you are running along the Jurrasic coast you will feel that you are really going somewhere!! (See my post a couple of weeks ago)
 
First.. do not choose a date..choose a good forecast..so start looking 5 days in advance and see if it stays constant or is all over the place.
You want to enjoy this not change hobby.
Once out of the Solent things have the potential to change more seriously. Think of the Solent as your local park pond...
Now you have a F 2 for the way there and back... note..and back !
Headlands are a problem in poorer weather and big tides..in an F 2 all of them should be fine but note it might be a bit more bumpy for couple of hundred metres. You need to check Lulworth gunnery range times depending on when you plan this or it is a bit of a detour to get round them.
Stay on the quay in Weymouth.
All very doable..just if it is your first bigger venture then wait and wait and wait until the seas are good. Mark Poole as a back stop and note the bouyed entrance starts a LONG way off bcz of the sandbar.
 
petem said:
Why not try Poole first?
Click to expand...

I would also go with Poole first, also is there anyone else that you could cruise in company?

A couple of weeks ago I did my first trip round the Isle of Wight despite being Solent based since 2009.

I did it in company stopped twice once for lunch and then tea . A nice steady 25 knot cruise and enjoying the sights .
 
Turn of the tide of St Albans, and then either apple core throwing distance off the beach or at least 2 miles off, which adds about 3 - 4 miles to your trip.

If it does cut up rough off St Albans the closer in you are the quicker you are through it, but watch for pot markers too. Avoid in wind over tide conditions (don't ask me how I know this !).

Otherwise at 22 knots this is just a 2 hour trip from the Solent and plenty of bolt holes before St Albans. Once past St Albans the Dorset coast line is beautiful and benign.
 
Also suggest Poole first, but don't go out past the Needles but take the North channel past Hurst. while it makes sense to with the tide in most cases, but if the wind is strong from the SW or W then it can be very lumpy off Christchurch Ledge. The distance across Poole Bay is only 11 miles and once you clear the North channel is a straight line to East Looe entrance to Poole. If you do attempt Weymouth in one go you need to be well out to clear the headlands off Old Harry, Durlston Head and St albans Head (as well as the Lulworth ranges if firing).
 
Why not Weymouth.. Why not further. I took my 27ft MOBO from Hamble to Dartmouth and Salcombe after owning it for less than 2 months.

As others say, pick the right conditions (advise no more than F4) and keep well off or well in on St Albans. Go with the tide and avoid wind over tide.

Its part of the challenge and fun to plan for these trips and learn how to navigate safely and correctly through the more difficult passages.
 
Thanks for all the advice! Loads of good stuff here that I'm definitely taking onboard.

As some of you have recommended, I am going to try for Poole as a first step - St. Albans seems a bit too daunting for me right now. Once I get comfortable with the distance to Poole, at least a couple of times, I'll then go further.

Unfortunately I don't know anyone to cruise in company with but I'm sure there'll be a lot of traffic on the way to Poole over the summer. When it comes to Weymouth I might approach my marina and see if they have clubs/associations things like that.

Thanks all :)
 
Don't do what I did ... which was to spot the white caps and standing waves off Hengistbury Head, then decide "It will be fine, I will go straight through it".
It's one of those things where you don't need to find out for yourself exactly what happens.
 
Parisianzee said:
I'm curious now!!
Click to expand...

Imagine the following:
- FlowerPower junior adopting a starfish position on the floor.
- Mrs FlowerPower bracing with both arms and asking me a less polite version of "What on earth were you thinking".
- Boat speed is 4kts on the GPS, both superchargers engaged at 2000rpm, full throttle applied, paddlewheel showing 8kts as we try to crest a standing wave that is about at eye level (because you are in the trough), slipping sideways towards a lobster pot marker.

As I said, you don't have to try it yourself.
:eek:
 
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