Poole to Torquay

colhel

colhel

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I have 2 choices as far as I can see, break it down into 2 days and wait for a favourable tide to go round the Bill from Weymouth, Portland or Lulworth. Or set off as soon as I've have a coffee and bit of breakfast and go for it, giving Portland Bill a wide berth and staying out of the tides close to shore. The boat is a Leisure 23 SL, the wind is forecast as a Westerly. Using engine I passage plan at 4.5 knots. If the wind looks more favourable I'll look again at my options. We will be staying in the area for a week so will have time to relax before coming back.
Any thoughts please?
 
You might make Weymouth tomorrow but Thursday might have some wind from the West which won't help you. Friday looks calmer, perhaps break the journey in Weymouth. We are rafted 4 deep in Weymouth at the moment but that just adds to the fun. I normally plan on Portland Bill HW Dover for a couple of hours. HW Dover 1450 hrs BST on Friday which then gives you a 40 miles crossing late into the evening, it will be a late one.

Brixham Coastguard broadcast that Lulworth Ranges are now closed for the holiday period which means you can hug the coast.

http://passageweather.com/

We will pass you on route, a Westerly Longbow and Moody 31 going East.
 
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My last boat was an MG Spring 25, to get to Dartmouth from the Solent my preferred option was sail to Yarmouth then very early next morning go for it staying way out from headlands. Always in for late fish and chips and a good sleep.
 
If leaving from Poole you definitely want to carry the tide at least as far as the Bill, then cut into Lyme Bay to get out the main flow when it goes adverse. The advantage of leaving from Weymouth is that on the in shore route you catch a fairly strong current down the side of the Bill quite early and then you can carry the tide a long way across Lyme Bay.

Have fun ;-)
 
Sorry,I should have said we're leaving Cobbs on Saturday Morning. I think at the moment my thoughts are to just go for it and enjoy more time down there. Thanks All, most appreciated. Jimi are you still living in the same place?
 
colhel said:
The boat is a Leisure 23 SL, the wind is forecast as a Westerly. Using engine I passage plan at 4.5 knots. If the wind looks more favourable I'll look again at my options.
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Suggest you scale back your passage planning to 3.5 knots.

Life can get fraught and sleep lost in the rafts at Weymouth town quay at this time of year, boats inside leaving to catch the east going tide might interrupt your sleeping patterns when you need it most. I would now choose the new Portland marina in future when contemplating that passage. Brixham offers a simpler option after dark when closing the coast fatigued by a slow crossing.
 
This is a good guide for rounding the Bill: http://www.sailingalmanac.com/Almanac/Navigation/portlandbill.html

If Lulworth on Saturday is anything like it was last Sunday then forget it, it was packed. If you really want to stay there its best to wait until about 6pm when most of the Mobos have headed back to Weymouth, but at this time of year its still popular with the French and Dutch. Its also still a bit of a trip to the Bill.

As Jonjo sail, at this time of year Weymouth is packed. You could go through the bridge to the D&R marina which is a bit more peaceful and with an afternoon start the bridge won't be a problem. Portland marina can be a bit rough in a blow and very slappy on the hull so watch which way you are point. All things being equal I would choose Weymouth, although it adds a bit of time to the Bill.

Do you need to be in Torquay? Again it can be a bit rough in there and I would choose Brixham and get the ferry across if that was workable.
 
Westerly wind taking the tide....

Anvil Point and St Albans Head will be "entertaining"..... Apparently there is an inshore passage inside of the overfalls... But that means getting very close to the hard stuff.
 
Surprisingly it is actually further to the Bill from Portland marina than it is from Weymouth itself.

(There's a lot of Portland harbour to go round).
 
A bit more South in the forecast now. Hope to explore some of the anchorages down there but initially heading for Torquay as this is a free one for us (unless as swmbo keeps reminding me you take the 3.5k yearly fee into account)
 
Camelia said:
Some lovely coves to anchor in if that is your thing.
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Yep, including the Naturist beach just afore River Exe :)

There are other anchoring places, with beaches along from Seaton, some used by Holiday Camps etc, all bustling with activity at this holiday time of the year :)

Oh the Dolphins are inshore as well lately, lots of them :) :)
 
I usually start from Studland Bay, catching the favourable back eddy down past Peveril Point, check the atlas but I think it is about an hour before the ebb. You can then go inshore on St Albans head if conditions favourable. At neaps in calm conditions, wind with tide, I have cut across St Albans ledge a mile or so offshore and waves were slight. This won't usually be the case if you are heading West so you need to decide whether to go inshore or detour around the ledge. It can still be pretty dramatic inshore on St Albans if there is any swell or perhaps F5, I don't plan to go inshore in greater than F5. I have found that it's not that easy to get the timing perfect so if in doubt just keep heading SSW or perhaps S taking account of the ebb to stay clear of the ledge until you can judge the over-falls have diminished.

If there is a swell I have found the sea state West of Anvil Point and St Albans to be quite nasty when "moderate" was forecast with F4, F5 from SW. On this occasion I kept clear of the ledge and diverted to Portland, once past the ledge the shelter from Portland Bill came into effect and the seas were moderate.

So that's to say that what you find off Anvil Point and St Albans will be a helpful indication about whether you want to carry on across Lyme Bay. If you decide against it then Weymouth or Portland beckon and you can plan the next steps.

When continuing across Lyme from Anvil Point I pass to the East of the Shambles before heading West, this avoids the race but of course gains a big push from the tide, assuming you can arrive before the gate shuts. The almanac says Poole Hbr Entrance to the bill is 28 NM, please check that at 4 1/2 knots you would not be cutting it too close, it would be an unrewarding experience.

Studland to Torquay makes for a long day but personally I think it's good to get across Lyme Bay in one if the forecast is favourable.

I found a decent link for anvil point and there is of course a lot of info for the Bill.

http://montymariner.co.uk/tide-stream-charts/anvil-point/

Well that's my input, I'm sure there will be advice from people who have done the crossing more times than I.
 
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