Poole to Brixham

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Overdraught

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Thinking of heading west, either Easter, or (more likely) Whitsun to get to Brixham area. Having always headed East from Poole to Solent, going around Old Harry rocks (or the Dark Side, as we call it!) is a new experience. The run non stop from Chain Ferry to Brixham, taking a direct route seems to be in order 75 miles. Is there any reason not to go straight across Lyme Bay? Have heard best to hug Portland Bill close to shore but keeping close to shore all the way to Brixham would add hours to the journey.

I've an 8 and 6 year old so I reckon 2-3 hours max in any one go.

Boat is twin diesel Targa 30 with c.200 mile range and an easy cruising speed 25 knots.

Any thoughts from anyone who has done it would be most welcome.

thanks
 
The kids will probably appreciate the shortest passage time rather than extended close-ups of the scenery. I would recommend going far enough offshore to clear the races at Anvil Point and St Albans Head then staying offshore of Portland Race and taking the direct route across Lyme Bay. You can always divert into Weymouth prior to committing to passing Portland if conditions are not to your liking.

With two children as passengers I assume there will be more than one competent adult onboard for the passage, you will also be some way from immediate assistance at times so maybe look at going in company with another boat. Don't bank on maintaining 25kn unless conditions are very good or the children can take a few hours of bumpy ride.

Berths at Brixham seem in short supply so book ahead.

A.
 
No reason not to go straight across in settled conditions. Hugging Portland Bill is the best way in some conditions, but not all (a no no in southerly winds for instance). If you do you need to be really close, like 50-100 yards, there are no real underwater hazards. Always best to aim for slack water though.
 
Thanks, for the record there are 2 adults on board.

We would only go if conditions were F3 or below as a prolonged journey in anything rougher doesn't make for happy family! Direct route seems the way.

Thanks
 
Got o Dartmouth instead, better restaurants!

Lessfishy smell as well. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
If you are going round Portland on the inside route then 50-100yds is WAY too far out. They say that if you can't throw a stone to the shore then you are too far out!

When I last went round I reckon there was a corridor of about 30-50ft to go through. Not as scary as it sounds as there are few rocks as the shore falls away very steeply. There are one or two places where you have to make sure you are a little further out (extra 10-20 yds!) but taking it steady and keeping a good lookout will take care of that.

Only do it is good weather, daytime only and with no onshore breeze.
 
Hi,

We did that trip last summer. Its a long way and as said on here already you may not be able to keep 25 kts up. I found that once we turned around Anvil towards Portland it got quite choppy. It was a lovely day but still a long way to Portland in choppy water. I kept about 8 miles off Portland Bill and still found it a bit bumpy out there, it varied quite a lot one minute calmish then patches of bumpy chopy water. Once we past Portland it got nice and we had a smooth run across the bay. I think we were out of sight of land for over an hour crossing the bay and I think crossing the bay took about two hours. Looking at my log it took me about 4hrs 27 minutes altogether and I logged about 96 miles.

I see in my log that I cruised at 25kts but the tide was against us for a couple of hours. I also noted that there was a bit of a swell at times. (That would have been between Anvil and Portland)

Unfortunately my notes of the weather are a bit illegible, (took while planing) I think it reads NW F2-F4, F3-F4 later sea state slight. Over all crossing the bay was great, but between Anvil and Portland was a bit too choppy for too long. What I mean is, on our regular trips around the Solent we have had it choppy like that quite a lot and its fine. But you don't realise how it becomes less bearable and more tiring when its taking over and hour If its your first long trip. The family can get a bit fed up. Especially if you are anticipating making better time. Maybe the inshore route saves time? I dont know. On balance I had more seasoned people tell me to go far off than inshore at Portland so thats what I did.

My boat is about 32' and as I said I cruised at about 25 kts. Although I think this dropped to 19-20 in bad patches. Oh yes and for a few minutes half way across Lyme bay we did about 7kts while we all took a leak! (its a long way /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

Good luck I hope you have good weather.
 
If you do go inshore at Portland watch out for many lobster pots. You have to get the tide timing just right to make the inshore passage, so might be best to go outside.

There is usually room at Brixham on the MDL visitors pontoon, and likely to be room at an empty berth in the marina, but best to call ahead.
 
Why not stop at Weymouth on the way? The kids will love it there
 
personally Id stick inshore at Peveril ledge (often worse than saint albans) aim for the single red off swanage then straight line route to st albans.

Once at st albans straight line to portland bill check tide tables for portland but passage is i recall 1 hr b4 hw devonport (plymouth) and straight line to brixham takes you about 12 miles off shore in the center of lyme bay..... personally would nt go to brixham but as previously said head for dartmouth... nicer place and more to do... safe journey.
 
Pots aren't a problem in clear weather - we always go tight inshore at Peveril Point, Anvil Point, St Albans Head and Portland. St Albans is really tight inshore: like throwing rocks and hitting the cliff close. We've tried going outside the various races, and our experience has been that you have to go miles and miles out. ISTR something like 6-7 miles out from Anvil Point and you can still get some crap.

It can be a fine run in one leg, but as suggested, with kids I'd put in to Weymouth overnight. Loads to do there, and good shopping if you need it. As for Lyme Bay, then just go straight across coming out from Weymouth (remember to go round Portland Bill first or you could damage your props) - it's a couple of hours and no problem if the weather's OK.

As for destination, I'll be controversial here. Brixham is really pretty but there's sod all to do there and nowhere decent to eat (plenty of chippies, so that may be OK with the kids). Torquay can be a little chavvy, but far more to do, more shops and more places to eat. And the zoo thing up on the hill is brilliant for the kids. Take the kids to Paignton on the bus and get the steam train to Dartmouth for a day out, but above all, you must come in to Dartmouth from the sea at some point. It is the most amazing landfall. Pretty town, but not a whole lot to keep the kids amused.
 
I'm with Wiggo on this one - go inshore but as he says you must go tight inshore. Take a bravery pill and go closer than you think at first glance. I have a Trader 50 ( all 25 tonnes of her ) and we did this trip last Summer in the first horrendous two weeks of July ( remember them with a succession of Lows bruising down Channel!!) and we took a dusting by staying a little too far out at St Albans. Serious green stuff over the flybridge dusting though we were into the teeth of WF5/6! Agree on Weymouth as a great stopover, and further agree on staying in close at P Bill then straight across the bay. As for Brixham or Dartmouth - you pays your money etc though its always Dartmouth for me, and if you get there at 1700 sharp you can moor on the pontoon used by the ferrries directly opposite the New Angel. You have to be off by 0900 next morning but you can always find a mooring somewhere .

Its getting back East around the Bill thats always the problem. I did it in a brisk SW F5 and took the inshore passage after making landfall a half mile North of the Bill. Not sure I would want to repeat the experience as for the last half mile you are going cross sea, cross wind and down tide with a harsh lee shore a biscuit toss away. I have done it before in raggie mode but with only diesels to rely on I should have thought it through more.

Advice from Weymouth fishermen when bound East in F5 and above is to stay offshore and even go east about the Shambles bank. In recent years I believe a trawler was lost just east of the Bill in heavy weather.

Net net - in good weather and less than a F4 go round the inside route. Anything more than that - stay in the pub!

The Bishop
 
I would also suggest that Dartmouth is a lot prettier than Brixham.

However, if it's funfairs you/the kids are after then stop at Brixham and catch the bus to Paignton - you can also catch the aforementioned train there. Could also visit Paignton easily from Torquay.

For pretty town with nice beaches then Salcombe is to be recommended.

NB For peace of wallet do not refuel at either Dartmouth or Salcombe. If you stay a night at Brixham you get a discount - or you did last year, I believe. Even without the discount, fuel was still about 5p per litre cheaper there than at the above.
 
Dartmouth entrance to Hamble entrance - 3.5 hours last summer. Perfect conditions with a spring tide behind us. Over ground we were averaging around 30knts. The best trip ever. Gong there - 10hours, 2 metres waves and the worst experience ever! She was just about talking to me at the end and boy did that first pint taste Good!
 
this is a reply from hlb.
'
from poole you may as well take the outside route, round the billl.

would agree with others better to spend the night at weymouth. then take the inside route round the billl. its quite easy & obvious, just keep the rough water
 
Thanks everyone, reason for Brixham initially is to use some of my 'free' MDL nights!

Would only go if the weather is looking very kind - good advice and will take it all into account.

Thanks again
Adam
 
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