Portland Marina to Hamble Point Marina - Passage Plan

[buntyshunt]

Could anyone suggest a suitable (& safe passage plan) from Portland Marina to Hamble Point Marina. Subject to conditions, I am hoping to move my new motor boat (Carver Montego 2757 - 30ft) to it's new berth this Saturday 9th July. I have limited knowledge of the Portland area and any advise would be appreciated. This is a new boat to me and therefore have limited experience of it's characheristics , however the boat needs to be moved this weekend.

 

[andy59]

If its a new boat to you i would leave it untill monday am according to this site ,
http://passageweather.com/ . I would use saturday to use the boat for a couple of hours to check everything works ok . Portland to hamble is quite straightforward , just stay 150 yards of the headlands if you hug the coast but give swanage and hengistbrey head a wide berth , and look at charts so that you know where the shingles and bramble bank are .

 

[gjgm]

Could anyone suggest a suitable (& safe passage plan) from Portland Marina to Hamble Point Marina. Subject to conditions, I am hoping to move my new motor boat (Carver Montego 2757 - 30ft) to it's new berth this Saturday 9th July. I have limited knowledge of the Portland area and any advise would be appreciated. This is a new boat to me and therefore have limited experience of it's characheristics , however the boat needs to be moved this weekend.

I guess you could always move it to Weymouth if really necessary?
Anyway, dont have any charts here, but from memory:
-are the ranges open off Lulworth?
-St Albans can get cr*ppy,
-Christchuch ledge runs a fair way out, so it may throw up a bit of mess
-keep land side of the marker in Christchuch Bay , just off Hurst Castle
-quite a few shallower areas in the Solent generally that you should note
-dont land on Brambles
- Calshot can throw up a bit, especially in full flood/ebb wind over tide
-Keep a good eye out for the fast ferry in Southampton Water
- note the markers into the hamble and stay off the shingle spit!
-try and make wind and tide together if it looks line blowing a bit.

If the weather is fine , it is an easy trip, but there are enough patches that can get pretty lumpy if its blowing

 

[PEJ]

Pots

Watch out for lobster pots in Poole Bay.

I am sure the fishermen look at the obvious line from old harry to the needles entrance and say right we'll plonk them here then.

Mostly orange balls, so easier to spot that the clear milk cartons they use near Portsmouth!

 

[strakeryrius]

And stay well off-shore of Kimmeridge Ledges if you are passing at LW

 

[Nautibusiness]

Watch out for lobster pots in Poole Bay.

I am sure the fishermen look at the obvious line from old harry to the needles entrance and say right we'll plonk them here then.

Mostly orange balls, so easier to spot that the clear milk cartons they use near Portsmouth!

That would be because of the beautiful reef that has formed from the petrified forest and old escarpment that runs directly between the two. The rock formations at each end continue under the water the entire 14 miles and make perfect habitats for crab and lobster.
But, yes, I too find it a royal pain in the rear.

The passage plan is very easy.

Not got a chart in front of me so this is best guess. Tie it up with your own chart / plotter to get the accurate details.

Assuming the firing range at Lulworth is actually "firing".
Steer on a bearing of about 120 for +/- 8nm from the East entrance to Portland Harbour (This takes yo to the outer limits of the firing range)
Now steer 090 for +/-7nm. This will take you to the far side of the firing range.
From here a course of about 065 degrees for 19nm will take you to the SW Shingles and Bridge cardinal buoy.
A course of 045 degrees for 4nm should take you to Hurst Entrance.

All distances and courses are approximate, but that is the most direct route into the Solent whilst avoiding the ranges.

The Solent I am a little fuzzier on...
From Hurst Entrance steer 060 for 10nm and this should bring you to NE Gurnard Buoy just past Lepe Spit.
Now it is a simple case of following the ship channel in along Thorn Channel and Calshot Reach a total of about 3.5nm to the Hamble Point South Cardinal and the entrance to the river.

Of course, take careful note of the weather and tides. The Fairway going in past the Needles can be horrible as can the area around Lepe if you cop it wrong.
If you follow the route I suggest you should avoid most pot marks with the exception of some daftly placed ones going up the Needles Fairway.

 

[lisilou]

There are far more experienced folk out there than me but here's my input for what its worth...if it were me, I'd make the passage at high water, keep well clear of shingles and yes...lobster pots like little mines and loads of 'em! And obviously choose as calm a day as poss. Enjoy your new boat and look forward to seeing you at Hamble Point; that's where we are
By the looks of things, it'll be slightly less blowy on Sunday, 19kmh sw, 20 degrees, sunny with some cloud cover.

 

[Philiz]

There are far more experienced folk out there than me but here's my input for what its worth...if it were me, I'd make the passage at high water, keep well clear of shingles and yes...lobster pots like little mines and loads of 'em! And obviously choose as calm a day as poss. Enjoy your new boat and look forward to seeing you at Hamble Point; that's where we are
By the looks of things, it'll be slightly less blowy on Sunday, 19kmh sw, 20 degrees, sunny with some cloud cover.

Good when you can start offering a bit of advice innit

 

[lisilou]

Good when you can start offering a bit of advice innit

Did it very reservedly I have to admit but felt kinda good to be able to give at least a little something back

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Definitely stay well clear of Hengistbury Head too. Last weekend not only was it flat as the proverbial witch's bosom but incredibly good visibility too. I couldn't believe the number of pot markers, special marks and other stuff that was out there. Normally you've got your eye's peeled for the next pot and you can't see too far anyway 'cos the swell hides them. I swear there were hundreds visible last weekend though.

 

[alant]

Definitely stay well clear of Hengistbury Head too. Last weekend not only was it flat as the proverbial witch's bosom but incredibly good visibility too. I couldn't believe the number of pot markers, special marks and other stuff that was out there. Normally you've got your eye's peeled for the next pot and you can't see too far anyway 'cos the swell hides them. I swear there were hundreds visible last weekend though.

You would normally only be that close in, if you had been sightseeing just off Bournemouth beaches, or had come inshore to use the North Channel instead of the Needles Channel.

If you head from St Albans to Needles, you shouldn't be anywhere near Hengisbury.

 

[Solitaire]

If its a new boat to you i would leave it untill monday am according to this site ,
http://passageweather.com/ . I would use saturday to use the boat for a couple of hours to check everything works ok . Portland to hamble is quite straightforward , just stay 150 yards of the headlands if you hug the coast but give swanage and hengistbrey head a wide berth , and look at charts so that you know where the shingles and bramble bank are .

Did you make it?

 

[Nautibusiness]

Did you make it?

From the lack of an answer it would seem not!
Has anyone called the coastguard? ;-)