Picture request - Southsea Barrier Dolphin

[Judders]

Does anyone have a picture of the dolphin on the submerged barrier between Southsea and Horsesand Fort?

Despite having been in and out of Pompey many times, I have never used this route to go east, but it now I've gone all bilges keels I am considering using it next week. Sadly, none of the pilot books I have got have a pictue of what I am looking for!

Any help gratefully recieved.

 

[VicS]

You really do not need a picture it's a concrete stucture standing well clear of the water and large enougn to see from quite a good way off. You can actually see it from the main entrance channel. That marks the southern side of the passage. There is, provided no one has knocked it down, a pile marking the northern side.

There is absolutely nothing else in the area that you can confuse it with. The line of the barrier is marked by widely spaced piles.

If you are heading for Chichester do not take the straight line from the passage but go south a bit off Langstone entrance and watch your depth to the east of it.

 

[Judders]

Thanks Vic, my plan was to head south until the St Helen's red buoy, (This is the narrowist point of the big ships channel) and we should be able to eyeball then Dean Elbow Green buoy to the NE and the Horsetail ENE. At this point there are not to many obstructions for us to basically follow the Green Cross Code accross the shipping channel. Then head either directly from Dean Elbow to the West Pole or alternatively, we could head inshore towards the Winner S Cardinal and then follow the coat of Hayling, albeit standing off somewhat, to the West Pole.

However my crew has expressed a desire to get the whole delivery done in a day so that we can explore the harbour (and eat his girlfirends cooking) for the remainder of the week, so I am looking at options to quite literaly, cut corners.

 

[l'escargot]

There are two passages, the inner one just offshore is marked by a red and green post either side. The main passage further out has a large 3 legged concrete dolphin on the southern side and a post on the northern side (the post was bent last time I saw it). There are other posts at regular intervals marking the course of the blocks out to the fort.

If you are planning to cross the barrier at any other point for some reason, get a look at a copy of Solent Hazards by Peter Bruce and if you still want to do it for some reason, do it at the top of the tide and slowly!

It has been on these forums (with photos) on a number of occasions in the past, and on Ribnet. If you do a search I am sure you will find them.

 

[Rustyknight]

Just for you....... xxxxx /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Pic from Channel Pilot info

 

[Vara]

This might help;
http://www.channelpilot.info/portsmouth.php

 

[Judders]

Fantastic, thanks.

 

[temptress]

[ QUOTE ]
... There is, provided no one has knocked it down, a pile marking the northern side.....

[/ QUOTE ]

It has been replaced over the winter by a nice new GREEN post. Also the inshore passage has had the posts re-painted. THe dopphin has a light on it for night passages.

Being based in Langstone we use thes epassages all the time. We draw 7 ft 2 (2.1 m) and use the dolphin at all staged of the tide. The inshore passage (it's got an official name but i can't remember it) we only use HW +/- 3 as it gets shallow to the east of it quickly.

Hope this helps,

 

[cnh]

I think I need to update some of those pictures! - or if you have some suitable, please let me have them. You'll get the credit!

Nicholas Hill

 

[temptress]

[ QUOTE ]
I think I need to update some of those pictures! - or if you have some suitable, please let me have them. You'll get the credit!

Nicholas Hill

[/ QUOTE ]

Not got any pictures and won't be going out on Temptress for a few weeks (we have some dinchy racing to do). If you need pics I'll take a few next time I going through in 3 weeks time or so.........

 

[fireball]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Vic, my plan was to head south until the St Helen's red buoy, (This is the narrowist point of the big ships channel) and we should be able to eyeball then Dean Elbow Green buoy to the NE and the Horsetail ENE. At this point there are not to many obstructions for us to basically follow the Green Cross Code accross the shipping channel. Then head either directly from Dean Elbow to the West Pole or alternatively, we could head inshore towards the Winner S Cardinal and then follow the coat of Hayling, albeit standing off somewhat, to the West Pole.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd do your alternative - along to the Winner S cardinal - we draw 2m, plenty of water for us there ... going all the way down to St Helens and Dean Elbow adds a HUGE loop to your passage .... of course - if it is a nice day there is nothing wrong with it! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif