Portland Bill distance off and timings

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richardabeattie

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I've collected several different bits of published advice and they don't seem to match up.

1. Does the forum agree that irrespective of the variations in advice about the width of the inshore passage (biscuit toss, pistol shot, half a cable, three perches and a pole) the trick is to keep the top of the obelisk in the red paint sector on the lighthouse?
2. What is the optimum Portland tide hour going West?
3. What is the optimum Portland tide hour going East?
4. Can I assume that an hour either side of the optimum tide is as much as should be allowed.

Please don't point me to more published sources - it's actual experience I am trying to nail down!
 
Actual experience, both ways.

1 Follow the advice in Reeds - know it is published source, but spot on so why bother to deviate from it?

2 The inshore passage is wider than the scare stories and once you get there it is obvious.

3 It reasonably settled weather it is nowhere near as scary as you might think. Just follow the instructions and enjoy the ride.

4 If weather is doubtful don't attempt it, but go offshore/
 
I don't want to deviate from Reeds or any other authoritative source but they don't seem to agree. But if you recommend Reeds then I'll go with that version.
 
I'm sure Reeds is correct, but as said, the distance off is not critical. I have found that just passing at what feels natural is OK. I have never tried to measure it nor steered to an exact waypoint.
 
richardabeattie said:
I don't want to deviate from Reeds or any other authoritative source but they don't seem to agree. But if you recommend Reeds then I'll go with that version.
Click to expand...

Agree with all Tranona says. But I know what you mean and would add:

1. The inshore passage is 300-400m wide. Be aware however that between 1 and 2 hours after HW Portsmouth it can be a bit bouncy.

2. The 'rising spume' and sea monsters reputation has been somewhat embellished by Tom Cunliffe. In reality, while fiercely wild in a storm one can safely blast straight through the race if there is no significant swell from the south and winds of F4-5, or less. If rough stay off at least 3 miles.

3. Be aware that the inshore passage is often not ideal for routing purposes. Bound east towards the Solent; it can be irritating getting far enough north to enter it and once through one can hit a pesky SW eddy off the Shambles. Bound west it can be a PITA going around the Shambles, but in modest conditions many yachts happily cross its NW edge.

4. Reeds marks the moving areas of turbulence and they are easily avoided. Moreover, the overfalls do have that slightly spooky boiling kettle look, but in modest conditions they are more wet than dangerous.​

4. St Alban and Durlston Heads can be rough too and also best avoided in rough weather.

5. And finally, if using inshore passage; watch those pots!
​

Good luck and happy sailing!
 
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I've deviated from the optimum inshore passage times a fair bit a few times, and although a bit rougher it was obvious that there was a very nasty bit offshore and inshore was a much less nasty bit of water. Especially if coming from Dartmouth etc you may be a bit earlier or later than you planned, or if getting away from Weymouth marina takes longer than expected - eg wait for fuel then bridge.

I would avoid it at night. Never tried that, and don't plan to.
 
I would agree with all the above, BUT watch out re the inshore passage if coming fom the west; we once set off from Brixham in light winds, having to motor, with a perfect SW3-4 forecast.

As soon as I had committed us up north into Lyme Bay, the wind rapidly increased against forecast; I couldn't aim offshore or we'd be dragged through the middle of the Race, I didn't fancy beating against wind ( now reading 30kts + and we were doing 6-7 downwind ) and tide for Lyme Regis as it was just me and my non-sailor girlfriend.

So we went for it, kept close to the Bill after Chesil Beach and met very nasty overfalls off the sw tip of the Bill, no inshore gap; after slaloming through them we burst into completely flat water but it was jolly hectic - and the hours approaching watching the crinkly horizon ahead was the most frightening thing I've had in my life.

Now if going east I aim 4-5 miles offshore of the Bill, give Weymouth a miss then slant in for Studland or Poole.
 
Agree with others. Width not razor narrow and get timing right but have as many eyes as possible watching for pots. It reminded me of my motorbike stability test weaving through the cones. Consequently don't think about it in the dark or rubbish light especially if it's winter when the pots get dragged under.
 
Being based in Portland until this year I've been round "The Bill" a few times. The published data is good and true. Yes the advice on the obelisk is sound, but not essential as you can go a bit wider. You will be intimidated by the race almost at any state of the tide the first time through.
On neaps and in light winds you can go at any time if you can beat the tidal stream using the engine. I've done that a few time for day trips with visitors.
Do watch for pots. If you are not going into Weymouth (a great stop off in my opinion) or Portland consider going offshore. It makes more sense from a passage planning PoV.
Coning down/going up to Poole St Albans head is the one to watch. I just love the inshore passage as you can almost spit on the cliffs as you go through and the scenery is super, but if you don't want to do that keep well outside of the ledge and enjoy the ride.
 
Not much more to be said other than you can hug the shore much much closer than you would imagine, and assuming there is reasonable visibility (and you may not want to be there if there isnt) the race is very obvious. It is really not all it is "cracked up to be", just dont round in anything above a F4 and its not an issue, anything more and it just gets increasingly interesting and you need to be happy with what you are about to take on!

I have been through in the top end of a 5 and my yacht is 55 foot and 26 tons. It was quite lively and I wouldnt have especially wanted to be there in anything a lot smaller. It also goes on for quite a distance so you do have to put up with it for a ways.
 
I know you don't want more published sources, but this published source gave me the experience I have had in practice. Therefore I recommend given it worked for me!

http://www.sailingalmanac.com/Almanac/Navigation/portlandbill.html

Used it for both offshore east to west and inshore west to east.

The inshore, as others say, if timed right (as per link info) is fine in good conditions. Was a F4 when I did it but was totally fine round the Bill, and you will have way more space than you think! I had a Yacht to my starboard at some 200yards away as I was trying to hug the rocks... they probably thought I was mad! I soon went further off the shore with no bother.

Just watch out for pots.
 
I went through from Brixham last month. I tend to rely on the Admiralty Tidal Stream Atlas for Portland Bill and work it out from that. The pot buoys seem to have sprouted strings of tiny orange buoys not much bigger than tennis balls. I nearly went over over one of those.
 
If you leave Weymouth and get to the Bill just as it's turning West, all should be fine and you'll have the maximum period of tide to get you to Dartmouth.
My Dad said HMS Illustrious took him through the worst of the race in a F7 or so, he thought they did that to give the National Service kids a taste of seasickness. He thought I was bonkers going round there in anything under 10,000 tons.
 
richardabeattie said:
2. What is the optimum Portland tide hour going West?
3. What is the optimum Portland tide hour going East?
4. Can I assume that an hour either side of the optimum tide is as much as should be allowed.

Please don't point me to more published sources - it's actual experience I am trying to nail down!
Click to expand...
Sorry, but published sources are necessary.
If you look at the tide stream charts for PB see at the bottom of: http://montymariner.co.uk/tide-stream-charts/tide-stream-charts-2/
You will see that the turn in tide just about coincides with HW and LW Dover (the same goes for the Alderney Race), so armed with a set of Dover Tide Tables, see: http://montymariner.co.uk/tides/dover/
you will know what the optimum time is to round the Bill (and to be at Cap de la Hague).

As for distance off, you can go as close as your bottle will allow!

I speak as one who used to dive off PB and when I turned to boating and kept a 22 footer in Portland Harbour, used to, when the tide times and conditions were right, go for a day sail round the Bill and back. Several decent Bass were had on those outings, fond memories.
 
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It is very deep so I wouldnt worry about being too close in. More often than not there are fishing trip boats around..pretty good chance they are not sitting in the race! Although you can often see the white horses be aware that it can be pretty wild around them even if the waves are not breaking so stay more clear of white water than you think.
Of course it isnt just the overfalls but the tidal flow..if coming from the east you may well clear some miles off anyway and forget about it all.
I've been 7 or so miles off in poorer weather and you could still feel the difference.
If you haven't been before then note the overfalls really change location alot depending on tide direction. The fishing boats mentioned might be calm but you might still have the overfalls in front of you..even up to 100 metres from them.
As others have said unless you really get it badly wrong it just means a few hundred metres of bang n crash not death and destruction!
Just remember Lulworth ranges or you could be asked to make a long unexpected detour.
 
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