Poole to Portland

[gps999]

I currently own and sail a Jaguar 21 from Portland. I intend to sail up to Poole and into the Solent in due course. Being a cautious and measured sort of person ( and only completed my Day Skipper in Nov last year) I am keen to make this journey without major incident.

Is there anyone reading here who regularly makes this trip in either direction and would allow me to crew with them to gain a view of the inner channel at St Aldhelms head prior to undertaking this with my regular sailing crew.

I have regularly sailed to Worbarrow and beyond from Portland and know Poole and Swanage well its just the bit round the corner.

Any offers or suggestions gratefully recieved.

 

[Gelfie]

Make sure you get to inside passage at St Albans Head at slack water ebb.

 

[Babylon]

I'd just choose your weather, your tides, and go for it!

I'm also cautious by nature, but sometimes you just have to go for it.

As you've identified, the passage has only one real nav hazard. Read the almanac, time it properly, and you're through. If you get a bit worried en-route, then stand offshore and go around the long way.

Any, by the way, a warm welcome to the forum!

 

[VicMallows]

Agree with the others. As long as you have worked out the tides, Aldhelm's inshore won't be any problem in reasonable conditions. The old pilot books always used the expression 'a biscuits toss from the shore' and that is scarcely an exaggeration; .... although 100m probably a more meaningful measurement.

I am always much more wary of Anvil and Peveril.

Vic

 

[Tranona]

From Portland I don't think I would go the inshore passage - although it is quite easy around low water when going east with the prevailing wind. Aim to go further out and you miss the race altogether as well as keeping south of Peverill Point. The second half of the ebb is relatively weak and you can aim for St Albans around low water and take the flood all the way into Poole.

Great trip if you get it right - but usually a bit harder going the other way because of the prevailing SW wind.

 

[TrailerSailer]

Happy to oblige as I'm based at Portland as well. Depending on the weather (and, of course the ranges) inshore or offshore. Inshore is great for the scenery and not too scary although sometimes the race comes right in. Whilst the race can sound very loud and the waves do build up I tend now to agree about the other races in the area as often the tidal set can easily take the unwary into them.

PM me your contact details and if I get short of crew we could squeeze another on board for an overnighter up to Swanage/Studland/Poole and back over the next few weekends.

 

[Tom Price]

Buy a pilot book !

Unlike members of this forum youcan take it to bed.
Tom Cunliffe's Channel Pilot is worth every penny.

 

[VicMallows]

Buy a pilot book !

Well, I for one would prefer to read the collective wisdom of numerous forumites rather than just (but in addition to) the opinion of one pilot-book author (editor?).

(personally my recommendation bookwise would be "Inshore Along the Dorset Coast" by Peter Bruce.)

Vic

 

[Seajet]

I'd definitely go outside the race too.

Also, what about the gunnery range off Lulworth ?

Haven't read of it closing but that may just me being sloppy, haven't needed to look this up lately; if the range has closed it would be a great shame for a lot of good people, but it wouldn't half be a boon to boats !

 

[Dockhead]

I've been around St. Alban's head at least a score of times in all kinds of weather. The inside passage is easy peasy in anything but an onshore gale (obviously, don't get close to ANY land in that!). You don't need to wait for slack water. You've got at least a cable of reasonably smooth water. Last time I did it was a few weeks ago in rough weather, 30 knots of Easterly blowing against the a spring tide - the passage around St Albans was smoother than the open water in Poole Bay (where I had very seasick passengers!).

The only time I go outside is when the range is active.

Beware Peveril Ledge! The pilot books don't say much about it, but that is one nasty race!

 

[Dockhead]

P.S. Concerning the range - don't assume that because the CG says it's active that they're actually shooting. Usually they're not, and if you call them (number can be found in Reeds), they can give you permission to transit. I've never been refused

 

[Tom Price]

St Albans ledge - advice please

That was the thread on the MoBo forum only ten days ago.
It included argy bargy about the Lulworth Gunnery Range. it's worth reading.

 

[Chrissie]

I am doing Yarmouth to Portland Saturday and Portland to Exmouth on Sunday, weather permitting, Im going single handed so there is space aboard, but would the departure and arrival points be any good to you? if not, on my way back (going to Trebeurden, France) a week or so later, I could take you.

 

[Tom Price]

Arguably too specialist a book for an admitted beginner, and at £16 is half the price of a handbook covering both sides of the English Chanel - hardly value for money.
Mind you, at 21ft LOA I might have a storage problem!

 

[Dockhead]

A recent victim of the race at Peveril Ledge:

http://www.bridportnews.co.uk/archi...o_saved_as_yacht_hits_rocks_at_Peveril_Ledge/

It can be a vicious piece of water. I got caught in it by pure accident. I was motoring South in dead calm weather with flat seas, and I did not pay much attention to it as, although it's marked on charts, the pilot books don't talk about it as a major hazard. And my boat displaces 20 tonnes! Suddenly I found myself in square waves 2 or 3 metres high -- this is in a flat calm! The boat falling off the backs of them with a huge crash, as if dropped from a travel hoist! I made a bee line out of there! In rough weather, it would have been dangerous. In a small boat, maybe fatal! Beware!

 

[gps999]

Thanks to YBW forum

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the thread. I have now recieved kind offers which I will be pursuing.

Luckily I do own the books mentioned Peter Bruce and the Channel pilot and a host of other useful publications.