Poole Harbour to Torquay Trip

[rhino_mac]

I'm trying to plan my first proper trip this season since buying the boat last year. Going to Yarmouth. I'm berthed in Poole and have friends by the marina in Torquay so thought it would be a great few days marina hopping west.

I wondered if anyone had any suggestions for marinas we could visit on the way down. I'm thinking it will be a two day trip there, two days back. So we'll need an overnight stop off in between.

Also, I know how far the trip is by car, but how many miles by sea would you guess this is? I'm trying to work out fuel costs and guess we'll cruise down at about 20 knots. My boat does about 3.5 to 4mpg at this speed.

Anything else I need to consider would be welcome!

Thanks

 

[neale]

Weymouth/Portland is the obvious stop off. Edit: just checked. It's more like 90nm from Yarmouth to Torquay with a stop off at Weymouth.

 

[Peanuts]

Hi
I am also based at Poole, have done this trip many times, in fact the last one was a trip out of the harbour heading for Swanage, weather was lovely, water flat, ended up at Torquay. (Not due to bad navingation either!) Had a really good day then back next day. All this is done single handed. So my question is why 2 days to get there, do it in one and spent longer there. Refuel over at Brixham, maybe stay there or pop over to Torquay.

 

[rhino_mac]

It appears I don't know how far it was by car! I thought for some reason it was nearly 200 miles! Just Google mapped it and it's half that! So one day there, one day back is fine.

Not the greatest navigational start to a trip is it!

 

[stelican]

I'm trying to plan my first proper trip this season since buying the boat last year. Going to Yarmouth. I'm berthed in Poole and have friends by the marina in Torquay so thought it would be a great few days marina hopping west.

I wondered if anyone had any suggestions for marinas we could visit on the way down. I'm thinking it will be a two day trip there, two days back. So we'll need an overnight stop off in between.

Also, I know how far the trip is by car, but how many miles by sea would you guess this is? I'm trying to work out fuel costs and guess we'll cruise down at about 20 knots. My boat does about 3.5 to 4mpg at this speed.

Anything else I need to consider would be welcome!

Thanks

Hi Rhino Mac
You concern me by asking such basic questions!
Do you have charts of the area and an almanic as all the information you require for this and subsequent trips are contained in these.
After Weymouth there are a few refuges before Torquay.
best of luck bring back a parrot!

 

[rhino_mac]

Hi, yes I've got charts, plotter (actually, 2 plotters!) and an almanac. And Navionics on iPad so I think I'm covered for navigation. Life jackets, flares, new VHF, throw lines etc on board for safety so should be good for this.

Really, I'm just after some tips from people who have done the trip before. The charts show rough waters around Peverill Point and Portland so what do people generally do to avoid the worst of it? If we do decide to stop midpoint, is there anywhere after weymouth (obviously not from stelican's post above). Just curious about other experience. If there's something worth seeing on the way it would be nice to try to include it in the trip. It's not often I get 2-3 full days away from the wife and kids so I'd like to make the most of it.

There are two boats going on the trip in case we run into any mechanical issues but this is the first time we've been west really.

I think, having read back my original post, it would have helped if I'd typed it more slowly so it made sense!

 

[longjohnsilver]

You can't come to the W Country and stop in Torquay, carry on a few more miles to Dartmouth otherwise it's like visiting London and only looking at the trainstation rather than the Thames, Tower Bridge etc. Torquay is the one place I wouldn't want to visit.

And stay in close around Portland if no onshore winds, literally a stonesthrow from the land, almost always calm.

 

[jfm]

Not the greatest navigational start to a trip is it!

Along the same line of thinking, what has Yarmouth got to do with anything if you're based in Poole and going to Torquay???

 

[rhino_mac]

See that is what happens when you rush a post at work!

What I meant to say was that I was doing Poole to Yarmouth in April but I got interrupted and stoppe at the word Yarmouth

Lesson to be learned there I think!

 

[beejay190]

I'm trying to plan my first proper trip this season since buying the boat last year. Going to Yarmouth. I'm berthed in Poole and have friends by the marina in Torquay so thought it would be a great few days marina hopping west.

I wondered if anyone had any suggestions for marinas we could visit on the way down. I'm thinking it will be a two day trip there, two days back. So we'll need an overnight stop off in between.

Also, I know how far the trip is by car, but how many miles by sea would you guess this is? I'm trying to work out fuel costs and guess we'll cruise down at about 20 knots. My boat does about 3.5 to 4mpg at this speed.

Anything else I need to consider would be welcome!

Thanks

You can do this trip in one day. Did it in my 19' Fletcher cuddy (HERCULES) a couple of times. Make sure you arrive at the Bill at slack water ish.

The Cobbs Quay Berth Holders Assn usually runs an annual one week cruise to the West Country with the benefit of free berthing at Torquay and Brixham
under the Freedom Berthing Scheme.

Brixham is a lovely place to stop -if you can extend your trip by a few days Dartmouth and Salcombe are well worth visiting.

Have a great trip.

 

[rbcoomer]

Pub meet tomorrow night at the Harvester on Torquay quayside - if you leave early you can make it!

 

[Ripster]

Once you get around the Bill, it is about 50 sea miles to Torbay in a straight line or about 6 more on to the Dart. Lyme bay can get a bit lumpy depending on wind and tide, so check weather forecasts etc.

 

[gjgm]

I'm trying to plan my first proper trip this season since buying the boat last year. Going to Yarmouth. I'm berthed in Poole and have friends by the marina in Torquay so thought it would be a great few days marina hopping west.

I wondered if anyone had any suggestions for marinas we could visit on the way down. I'm thinking it will be a two day trip there, two days back. So we'll need an overnight stop off in between.

Also, I know how far the trip is by car, but how many miles by sea would you guess this is? I'm trying to work out fuel costs and guess we'll cruise down at about 20 knots. My boat does about 3.5 to 4mpg at this speed.

Anything else I need to consider would be welcome!

Thanks

A few headlands on your way, so I suggest reading up on them. The overfalls can be so slight you dont notice, or so rough you wonder if you are going to sink. The great thing to know is where the overfalls might be, so at least if you end up in or near them, you know why and how much more to endure !
Poole/Weymouth is stunning coast, so if the weather permits, stay inshore. Dont forget the gunnery range, or the very patient patrol boats will be chasing you.
In "normal" weather, it is ok to cut right in against the Bill at Portland (75 metres off), but of course catching it NOT at full flow makes things a little less daunting, but all weather dependent. Otherwise in lousy weather you can be 10 miles off and still be thrown about.
Swing back inshore and go along Chesil beach. Smaller boats can pop into Bridport, which is a bit kiss-me--quick (and very very small). I think it is here that there are a million lobster pots.. even Daouet wasnt this bad.
Lyme Regis is worth a lunch stop- there is a newish floating pontoon, but you'll want to be at the floating end !

Never managed the river Exe, but Teignmouth is a must. The river really shifts here, so the HM may well use his rib to get you onto the visitors pontoon (and off!)
Couple of good pubs a quick row ashore, and the town is rather Victorian grand.
I always find the Lyme Regis- Torbay stretch to be endless head on seas and bashing for some reason, so test your tooth fillings.
Torbay... hmm you might end up there as it is often the only place with berths, but Brixham is the place for some fishing fleet flavour.
Round the headland and Dartmouth-assuming not high season you should manage to find a bit of visitors pontoon or a bouy somewhere, but also venture up river if you havent. If you are this far, it would be a shame not to make Salcombe for a night- or even a a day, I guess.
The main problem with going west, is that you dont really wan to go back home.
Get the Shell Channel Pilot guide by Tom Cunnlife- everything you will ever need to know.

 

[Nautibusiness]

I'm trying to plan my first proper trip this season since buying the boat last year. Going to Yarmouth. I'm berthed in Poole and have friends by the marina in Torquay so thought it would be a great few days marina hopping west.

I wondered if anyone had any suggestions for marinas we could visit on the way down. I'm thinking it will be a two day trip there, two days back. So we'll need an overnight stop off in between.

Also, I know how far the trip is by car, but how many miles by sea would you guess this is? I'm trying to work out fuel costs and guess we'll cruise down at about 20 knots. My boat does about 3.5 to 4mpg at this speed.

Anything else I need to consider would be welcome!

Thanks

Rich

Not read the entire thread, but Torquay is +/- 72nm from Poole.
If you need a stop over then Weymouth or Portland is the place to do it, but that will add quite a few miles to your overall journey (the hop around Portland Bill).

It's a great run that if you passage plan right offers some stunning coastline to take in along with a "proper" leg of about 40nm offshore as you cross Lyme Bay.

Why not do something along the lines of:
1) Poole, Jurassic coast run as far as St Albans taking the race tight to the cliffs then cut across to the tip of Portland again tight in (watch for pots). Hack straight across the bay for a night at either Torquay or Brixham.
2) Up for breaky onboard and then hug the coast around to Salcombe for lunch before heading for Dartmouth for an overnight stop.
3) Head back across Lyme Bay, tight to the Bill and across to Lulworth for a picnic before flying back along the coast to home.

Things to try and do:
Pick dates when the Lulworth Range is not firing or you will be diverted further offshore / Lulworth picnic will be out.
Try and run with the tide behind you on all long legs as it will massively aid fuel consumption and crusing speed.
Pray for light winds and blue skys!

As a matter of interest, we do plan to organise one, maybe two, long weekend cruises in company with the marina.

If we do two, the second will be a west country cruise as above.
The first will be a channel hop to Alderney, Guernsey and Sark. All weather dependent.

Do you want me to bung you on our list of cruisers?

Tom

 

[rhino_mac]

Hi everybody, thanks for the replies. Really great info.

Yes please Tom, I'm really up for exploring more this year and it would be great to meet some more people mooring at Parkstone Bay.

I was looking to build up to the Channel Islands but depending on how well I do early this season I might be up for that too. Much better to go in company! Do you think my boat would be OK for the channel islands?

 

[Nautibusiness]

Hi everybody, thanks for the replies. Really great info.

Yes please Tom, I'm really up for exploring more this year and it would be great to meet some more people mooring at Parkstone Bay.

I was looking to build up to the Channel Islands but depending on how well I do early this season I might be up for that too. Much better to go in company! Do you think my boat would be OK for the channel islands?

It's no rougher mid channel than mid Poole Bay. Sometimes it is a lot calmer over the deeper water.

However, there are a bunch of new things to take into account... not least the large ships of which there can be many. Also, the CIs tend to getmore than their fair share of fog.

BUT, with company in the form of other boaters and people on hand to help and with the appropriate kit onboard your boat will be very good for the job.
We will only run the cruises in periods of settled weather and only if we have a minimum number of boats to make it safe for everyone.
We also lay on instructors, marina staff (well me) and also plan to have an engineer for those unforseen hic-cups...

 

[rhino_mac]

Great Tom. Put my name down and if work/wife allows over a long weekend I'm in!!

 

[PhilipF]

We've done this crossing about perhaps nine times now, spent six years berthed at CQ, now berthed at Brixham. Not sure what your boat is? But ours is an aft/cabin Nimbus 280 (2005)

Fuel cost on crossing is considerable! We reckon on 140/150 litres diesel - so that's £150 - far cheaper by car!! Just one way too! From St Aldhams Head, I usually aim to go at least four miles clear of the "Bill". Our speed is only ten knots, so the tide can never be behind us all the way. It is however at its strongest between the two "heads", so aim to have it with you as you start the voyage, it would be weak through Lyme Bay, so not concern yourself in that area.

 

[Nautibusiness]

We've done this crossing about perhaps nine times now, spent six years berthed at CQ, now berthed at Brixham. Not sure what your boat is? But ours is an aft/cabin Nimbus 280 (2005)

Fuel cost on crossing is considerable! We reckon on 140/150 litres diesel - so that's £150 - far cheaper by car!! Just one way too! From St Aldhams Head, I usually aim to go at least four miles clear of the "Bill". Our speed is only ten knots, so the tide can never be behind us all the way. It is however at its strongest between the two "heads", so aim to have it with you as you start the voyage, it would be weak through Lyme Bay, so not concern yourself in that area.

Time it right and keep both St. Albans Head and The Bill within about 50m and you get flat water and one hell of a sling shot.
Time it wrong and you do need to go a very long way clear to avoid troubled water... no fun when you are trying to enjoy the cruise.

Likewise, on the return leg, do not steer a straight course to clip the tip of the Bill, instead, steer a course that would have you hitting the Bill about half a mile north of the tip (as they come into view aim for the little white lighthouse)...
A giant eddy permanently runs here. You'll get a big tide advantage doing this and get another, lesser but noticeable, sling shot, but also have some tidal advantage crossing Lyme Bay too. Run up really close to the Bill to maximise the effect. I tend to turn when the depth guage gives about 100 feet of water under me. It looks like you are about to hit the rocks but in reality you are still several hundred metres off.
Again, watch out for pot markers close in.