Portland Bill

Prologica1

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Planning the start of a summer cruise to the West Country later this month. Aim is to head down to Falmouth/Helford during the first week then a week hopping back to the Solent. Planning to leave the Solent afternoon of Friday 24th June (can't be at the boat before then). Looking at slack water at Hurst Narrows I am thinking to exiting the West Solent around 2000. It doesn't seem to offer much advantage stopping at eg Studland, Worbarrow at Weymouth as these would mean a very late arrival and an early start to make slack water at the Bill. Instead, it looks feasible to head direct for Dartmouth (three experienced crew, watch system). The only issue I see is that if winds are good we might arrive at the Bill an hour or two before the ideal 30 mins before HW Dover slack water at the Bill. I would be aiming to pass the Bill 5-7 miles out and it would be Neaps. Looking at the tidal streams, passing the Bill this far out a couple of hours ahead of slack water should mean a worst foul tide of 0.7kts for a couple of hours before it turns fair again. Any thoughts from others on the viability of this? Thanks
 

Prologica1

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Very true John! And it would be great to get to Dartmouth as early as possible before all the best visitor moorings are taken.
 

Prologica1

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@Stemar thanks, that's the reassurance I was looking for. Weather will have a bearing of course.
By the way, on the reverse passage last season, we were heading for Weymouth via the inshore passage. Our boat speed slowed as the tide turned so in good time I made the call to steer 5 miles S of the Bill instead. Conditions were around F4 as I recall. Ships morale sank a little as the Weymouth chippies only stay open t
 

Prologica1

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...oops continued...the chippies were only open till 2130 which we would now miss. I had a good look at the chart and instead of going E around the Shambles, we navigated the 'channel' between 'The ledge' to the E of the Bill and The Shambles. Saved up about an hour as I recall and we made it for a fish and chip supper. Probably not a good idea in high winds though!
 

LadyInBed

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...oops continued...the chippies were only open till 2130 which we would now miss. I had a good look at the chart and instead of going E around the Shambles, we navigated the 'channel' between 'The ledge' to the E of the Bill and The Shambles. Saved up about an hour as I recall and we made it for a fish and chip supper. Probably not a good idea in high winds though!
This might be useful to you INSHORE OF PORTLAND RACE : Monty Mariner
Oh! and Poole to St Albans Head : Monty Mariner
 

Praxinoscope

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We once did the Portland inner channel West to East wind gusting upper end of a F6, I wouldn’t recommend it, It was very much grit your teeth and hope you get everything right. Anything up to a F4 is a doddle as long as you get the timing right.
The only member on board that seemed to enjoy it was my three year old daughter.
There were a whole load of circumstances including an un-forecast increase in wind strength, that combined to make the deep water passage impractical on this trip, and therefore we ended up using the inner channel much as I would have rather avoided it.
The Race looked very nasty and b****y close!
 

PhillM

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I don't enjoy the inshore passages and prefer to go to either Yarmouth or Lymington and then direct to either Torquay or Dartmouth. I quite like landing in Torquay as it's a much easier approach in the dark and when you are tired. I should say I usually single-hand, so the easier the better. Usually, it takes me about 24 hours to give or take in my old wooden boat. No idea how long it will take in my new-to-me little Corribee but I expect I will find out either this or next year. Personally, I have stayed about 10 NM out, which is enough to clear the Bill and avoid the majority of shipping.
 

Prologica1

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We once did the Portland inner channel West to East wind gusting upper end of a F6, I wouldn’t recommend it, It was very much grit your teeth and hope you get everything right. Anything up to a F4 is a doddle as long as you get the timing right.
The only member on board that seemed to enjoy it was my three year old daughter.
There were a whole load of circumstances including an un-forecast increase in wind strength, that combined to make the deep water passage impractical on this trip, and therefore we ended up using the inner channel much as I would have rather avoided it.
The Race looked very nasty and b****y close!
The thought of those hidden lobster pots!…I’ve only been through in very benign conditions, perfectly timed. I was actually disappointed not to see any dramatic race.
 

Prologica1

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I don't enjoy the inshore passages and prefer to go to either Yarmouth or Lymington and then direct to either Torquay or Dartmouth. I quite like landing in Torquay as it's a much easier approach in the dark and when you are tired. I should say I usually single-hand, so the easier the better. Usually, it takes me about 24 hours to give or take in my old wooden boat. No idea how long it will take in my new-to-me little Corribee but I expect I will find out either this or next year. Personally, I have stayed about 10 NM out, which is enough to clear the Bill and avoid the majority of shipping.
Thanks @Philmit. The inshore makes sense when departing or making for Weymouth or Portland Harbour but otherwise direct with a good offing makes sense. I can only imagine how I’d feel making for the inner passage if unforecast unfavourable conditions piped up.
 

LadyInBed

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The inshore makes sense when departing or making for Weymouth or Portland Harbour but otherwise direct with a good offing makes sense.
When I kept my boat in Portland I used to use the inshore passage a lot, even for a day sail and trail a fishing line. Down round the Bill with the tide then back again when it turned.
Now, departing from Poole, it makes much more sense to to take the more southerly route.
 

DJE

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We did Gosport to Plymouth non-stop a few years ago on neaps. We were late leaving and just had enough fair tide to get us to Needles Fairway but well south of St. Albans Head and Portland the worst foul tide was about 2 knots. And when we got to Start Point we had lots of fair tide to make up for it.
 

flaming

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I've done Solent - Dartmouth quite a few times... If the weather is ok it's a dead easy passage. Exit solent on first of the west going tide, aim south of St Albuns, 5 miles south of Portland and run out of tide about an hour after you pass the bill. Plug it across Lyme bay and arrive Dartmouth normally after about an hour or so of fair tide. Best time I've clocked was about 14 hours from Hamble.

Arriving in Dartmouth after dark is very easy. lots of lovely flashing buoys and 2 handy sectored lights.

If the wind is in the West and you don't fancy 24 hours of bashing then Weymouth is an easy day sail even upwind, and leaving via the inner channel to carry on the next morning is normally easy to time.

The time I had to get it done in one hop (to arrive in time for the regatta) in 30-35 knots on the nose was quite possibly the worst sail I can remember.
 

Prologica1

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I've done Solent - Dartmouth quite a few times... If the weather is ok it's a dead easy passage. Exit solent on first of the west going tide, aim south of St Albuns, 5 miles south of Portland and run out of tide about an hour after you pass the bill. Plug it across Lyme bay and arrive Dartmouth normally after about an hour or so of fair tide. Best time I've clocked was about 14 hours from Hamble.

Arriving in Dartmouth after dark is very easy. lots of lovely flashing buoys and 2 handy sectored lights.

If the wind is in the West and you don't fancy 24 hours of bashing then Weymouth is an easy day sail even upwind, and leaving via the inner channel to carry on the next morning is normally easy to time.

The time I had to get it done in one hop (to arrive in time for the regatta) in 30-35 knots on the nose was quite possibly the worst sail I can remember.
Wow @flaming ! 14 hours! Unless my planning is awry, at my standard assumption of average 5 knots, from Gosport I'm planning on the basis of a 23 hour passage! If it's 30+ knots I think we'll be tucking in somewhere! Anyone used Worbarrow bay as an anchorage? I'm assuming Lulworth would be full by the time we'd reach there.
 
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