Ru88ell
Well-Known Member
My chart shows some sort of underwater obstruction between the fort and the land. Is this no go, or can I sail over it? Are there gaps?
Passing inshore of Horse Sand Fort
- Thread starter Ru88ell
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Angele
Well-Known Member
You'll have to remind me which one is Horse Sand Fort. After a winter of being marooned ashore, my memory is playing up.
However, on the assumption that it is the one on the Ryde side then you are perfectly safe now to go inshore of it. There used to be a barrier on the IoW side, just as there still is on the English side. It has now been removed.
The area is now marked as "foul", meaning don't try to anchor there because there are the odd lumps of it still on the seabed. Not danger to surface navigation (assuming you draw no more than a couple of metres), but you could get your rocna stuck.
Edit: Eeek! No, just looked up which is Horse Sand and which is Spit Sand. Between Horse Sand and the English side there is a wall. There is a narrow gap near the coast, that is safe to pass through. I wouldn't recommend trying any other part.
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fireball
Well-Known Member
Er - Huge great big concrete blocks ...
You'll probably miss them - Ive certainly seen a few craft go "over" ... but I wouldn't take my boat over!
You can go through Main Passage or Inner Passage as alternatives.
You'll probably miss them - Ive certainly seen a few craft go "over" ... but I wouldn't take my boat over!
You can go through Main Passage or Inner Passage as alternatives.
DJE
Well-Known Member
There are a series of large concrete blocks on the seabed left over from the war. The gaps between the individual blocks are small but there are two cleared passages marked by beacons towards the Southsea shore. The blocks are awash at MLWS so there is about 4.0m of water over them at MHWS but I've never had the bottle to sail over them; I always go through the marked passages.
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VicS
Well-Known Member
Very much so but it only uncovers at LWS. I've only seen it once.
There is a well marked passage about half way along ( and another small one close inshore).
(The barrier inshore of No Mans Land fort was cleared several years ago)
There is a well marked passage about half way along ( and another small one close inshore).
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fireball
Well-Known Member
Horse Sand is the Northern one of the two.
No Mans Land is the one closest to the IoW - this can be passed to the south as the obstructions have been removed - though it can get a bit lumpy due to the big change in depth.
BarryH
Well-Known Member
There is a gap on it. Well 2 actually. One inshore called Boat Pasage and one in the middle called Main Passage. Marked on the chrart and bouyed.
Ru88ell
Well-Known Member
Thanks everyone (avoids Lakesailer), but how are the passages marked? I was thereabouts last weekend and saw boats crossing, but didn't see where they did it.
prv
Well-Known Member
A common situation, which a certain Mr Cunliffe in the Solent Pilot concludes must be due to a fear of the ghosts of frustrated U-boats
Pete
sailorman
Well-Known Member
Angele
Well-Known Member
Yes, sorry. Just looked it up to remind me. Thank God I am back out on the water this weekend. Brain is getting addled by being a land lubber for too long!
prv
Well-Known Member
They're shown on VicS's chart above.
Beacons - one of the ones at the main passage is large, with three legs, the others are smaller.
Pete
Hoolie
Well-Known Member
Napoleonic war, I think.
I met a chap at Southsea Marina who was following a couple of yachts that went through the inner gap but he decided to keep clear of them and went over the barrier. He struck one of the blocks and with the resulting gash in his steel hull only just made it to the Hayling ferry pontoon before his engine submerged (and stopped
). With some inspiration he called the fire brigade and they pumped out his boat so he managed to get into the marina for a lift out the following day. It took a long time to bail out his engine and sort out the boat.
Recommendation:- only go through the marked gaps whatever the state of the tide
Angele
Well-Known Member
There is a large structure marking one side of the passage and a smaller beacon on the other side. The structure is lit, the beacon used not to be.
The gap is pretty narrow. A handful of boat widths. So, best done in good viz.
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VicS
Well-Known Member
This is the "Dolphin" marking the southern side of the main passage
DJE
Well-Known Member
A common situation, which a certain Mr Cunliffe in the Solent Pilot concludes must be due to a fear of the ghosts of frustrated U-boats
Pete
Weird isn't it. In so many other places (e.g. the inner swashway) 4m is loads of water, and I've seen the blocks with my own eyes many times but I can't bring myself to go over them even at the top of springs.
VicS
Well-Known Member
prv
Well-Known Member
Beat me by seconds
I was going to post it to rebut Angele's mention of a "large wooden structure" - which I see has now been edited
Pete
prv
Well-Known Member
Mm. I draw one metre, so should be able to go straight over the top at almost any state of tide.
I rarely find myself over that way, but in the past I've still aimed for the gaps. I think in future (assuming plenty of tide) I'm damn well going to go over the top of it!
Famous last words
Pete
Angele
Well-Known Member
Beat me by seconds
I was going to post it to rebut Angele's mention of a "large wooden structure" - which I see has now been edited
Pete
What mention??
You cannot prove it was there!!
