Portishead to Lundy

The tide turns earlier as you go west so you wont get as much help from the ebb as you would think , today HW Avonmouth is about 0940 LW Ilfracombe is about 1410 so you are only getting 4 and a half hours of favourable ebb tide followed by over 7 hours of foul flood tide.

.I guess the answer is that yes you can do it but you will spend a long time sailing against the tide so progress will be slow.

Blue anchor Bay ,Porlock Bay ,combeMartin, Ilfracombe etc could all offer you a quiet anchorage to sit out the worst of the flood tide in sensible weather
 
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I think Graham's point is very valid. You get a longer tide coming in than going out, which helps in the opposite direction. Allan and I did Cardiff to Ilfracombe in one tide last year, but Portishead to Lundy is more miles at either end. You'll probably be beating as well.

With a strong Easterly, and leaving before high tide it might work, as the tide is weaker further West, but I still see a couple of hours against it, at the very least.
 
We went in one hit a few weeks back from Cardiff. Left 2 hours before high water and the trip took 11 hours. Wind was also a little against us so didn't travel the direct route. The tidal gain we made at first was mostly cancelled out, but quicker overall than stopping and waiting for the tide half way. The tide is weaker of Ilfracombe so not so bad to work against it once you get there. On the way back the following day we stopped at Lynmouth, the sailing time back was then only 8 1/2 hours but we did stop for 4 hours during the worst of the ebb. Our boat is 37ft.
 
Weakening tidal flow.

I have not actually sailed this trip but as a matter of interest I have had a quick look at the almanac.

The tidal charts show that there is quite a weak neap tidal flow the further one progress down the Bristol Channel.

As the tidal chart is based on HW Milford Haven I would suggest leaving Portishead on a Neap tide at 0100 hrs after Milford Haven. gaining seven hours of favourable tide. By that time I would probably be far enough along the Bristol Channel to have a weaker foul tide.

possibly making the trip in one hop. All things being equal.

Obviously the wind direction will also be a major factor, as in any sailing trip.
 
We have done it a few times but best way is to stop off and anchor in woody bay, go for lunch (in hotel up throgh the woods) then carry on.Breaks up the trip quite nicely. You can see the yacht from the restaurant.
 
One hop

Thanks guys. I'm thinking of waiting for a nice NNW F5 and leaving 1 hour before HW Portishead. I guess it depends what sort of SOG you can acheive in the first 30 miles on the ebb, I've heard reports of a good 10 to 12 Knts SOG with the ebb and a good wind.
It depends how strong the tides are past the Holms and more importantly from Watchet to Ilfracombe.
All this is immaterial at the moment as the boat is still down in Dartmouth ........ the next trip will be back to Portishead hopefully Easter ish. I've just been told that Portishead Marina is 97% full though ! I'd better get a move on I guess :)
 
Blue_Pearl said:
All this is immaterial at the moment as the boat is still down in Dartmouth ........ the next trip will be back to Portishead hopefully Easter ish. I've just been told that Portishead Marina is 97% full though ! I'd better get a move on I guess :)
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Good luck with your trip from Dartmouth.

If you could do with a helping hand please send me a PM.:)
 
Blue Pearl, your original question was can Portishead to Lundy be done in one tide. Many replies have indicated how much you would have to sail with tide against etc etc but the real answer is still no! You can indeed achieve considerable tidal flows through the islands - in excess of 5 knots on big Springs but you will hit the proverbial brick wall when the tide turns whatever wind you have. I'm not disputing you can not do it it 'one go' - I am in one tide. It's been a long day....
 
See what you mean Severnman, I guess the question should have been "can it be done in one hit without taking shelter".
This probably explains why the Portishead Cruising Club still have the challenge open - Portishead to Lunday and back in a weekend - leaving Friday night, back Sunday.
Still, a challenge is there to be broken and in theory must be possible.
Watch this space ........... ;)
 
Blue_Pearl said:
See what you mean Severnman, I guess the question should have been "can it be done in one hit without taking shelter".
This probably explains why the Portishead Cruising Club still have the challenge open - Portishead to Lunday and back in a weekend - leaving Friday night, back Sunday.
Still, a challenge is there to be broken and in theory must be possible.
Watch this space ........... ;)
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Reasonable weather that shouldnt be a challenge. After all you have 48 hours to do it in, and neither direction should be a problem in two tides. Plus once you get to Combe you can make against an adverse tide anyway.
 
You are missing the point. To do it is not the challenge.

The challenge is to do it in the fastest time of the season, handicapped to let the small boats have a chance, and to prove you were there by providing an authenticated picture of at least one member having a pint in the Marisco Tavern mid trip.

Originally the annual winner was to be the smallest boat that completed it but it's now handicapped.
 
I thought you got kicked out of the Marisco for using fancy electronics like cameras and phones.

We've sailed back from Lundy on one tide before. Despite having an F4 / F5 behind us, it seemed to take a long time to get from Foreland Point to Culver Sands. In future, I'd be tempted to anchor along the way unless I had a particularly good wind (a northerly or a southerly).
 
johnchampion said:
You are missing the point. To do it is not the challenge.

The challenge is to do it in the fastest time of the season, handicapped to let the small boats have a chance, and to prove you were there by providing an authenticated picture of at least one member having a pint in the Marisco Tavern mid trip.

Originally the annual winner was to be the smallest boat that completed it but it's now handicapped.
Click to expand...

With some of the PCC members I have met over the years, the real challenge would be to get them out of the Marisco!:D
 
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