Portland race.

Allan

Allan

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I will soon be taking a Westerly 33 from Poole to Cardiff. The one place that causes me concern is the Portland race. As I would like to go straight to Dartmouth, I would like to reduce the distance by going inside the race, are there any standard ways to do this and what are the times to avoid? Any advice gratefully received.
Allan
 
if you are going direct Poole to Dartmouth there's very little point in going inside the race with all the grief that goes with that strategy. Just head for a waypoint about three miles south of the bill (in light weather) five miles in medium weather and probably eight miles in heavy weather.

I pass that way often but for peace of mind always go offshore. The inshore route is very narrow and littered with pot markers - a recipe for stress. I am aware that I am in the minority with this view (but then I like low-stress sailing)! I would only contemplate the inshore route if coming out from Weymouth anyway.

rob
 
Sorry, I didn't make it clear. I am planning on spending the first night in Weymouth, then going to Dartmouth from there. I agree that coming around Studland the outside route is the one.
Allan
 
Pick the tide and then inside as close as you can get to the rocks, but watch out for the pots.
potrland.jpg
 
Many thanks and a lovely picture. I was hoping for some suggestion on which tides/conditions to look for and which to avoid.
Allan
 
According to Reeds you want to round between HW Dover -1 and HW Dover +2, i.e. slack water. Slack is a relative term. IIRC you take about 40 minutes to get to the Bill from Weymouth harbour, it's like being on one of those moving walkways at Heathrow. First time I did it I asked at the harbour master's office, they were most helpful.
 
Slack water is about 1 hour before HW Dover but is fairly short lived. You should aim to arrive at about slack water to take the first of the ebb round the Bill so that you are well clear before the tide turns again.

It would be advisable to study the local tidal streams as they are quite complex with eddies either side of the Bill.
 
As someone said Weymouth Harbour Office are very helpfull; they'll also give you the phone number for the coastwatch station on the Bill. The Coastwatch people will give you a detailed description of conditions off the Bill and in the race. It's easy to time your arrival accurately if leaving from Weymouth. Don't try the inshore passage in the dark, so that leaves one window per day to do it. You normally get a small flotilla leaving Weymouth at the same time just before slack water.
I was there in good weather at slack water a few weeks ago and it looked like this:-
PICT0008A.JPG

On the way back in SW F6 we went offshore from Brixham to Poole and even 4 to 5 miles off it was noticeably rougher than the rest of the channel. Have a good trip.
 
On the way back in SW F6 we went offshore from Brixham to Poole and even 4 to 5 miles off it was noticeably rougher than the rest of the channel.
___________________________________________________________________-


The normal advice at spring tides or anything over F4 is 7 miles off to miss the race on the outer passage. Otherwise the advice going inside is good.... Locals (I used to be one) used to say if you can't throw a stone ashore you are too far out.
Also be aware that in wind against tide conditions rough water will be found for about 3 miles to the west of the bill at least so don't turn out too early.
 
Yes, as others have said, close in (100yards max) at slack water. The pots will be easier to see. The tide will be with you on the way down (there's a counter current) but leave plenty of time to get there. I've done it dozens of times in all sorts of weather and never done anything different.
John
 
This might help... ( I always use the inshore route ,well almost always)

QUOTE
EXTRACT FROM SAILING TODAY ( October 2002)

Peter Jackson of Weymouth Sailing Club has been around the inshore passage 20 to 30 times: “I’ve never had a problem with it. At the right time and in the right conditions it’s fine. I think St Albans Head is much worse.

EAST to WEST
Making westward via the inshore passage, the timing is easy, as good harbours and anchorages are plentiful for starting points a short distance away. Leaving Weymouth two hours before HW Dover will fetch you up at the Bill just at slack water — that’s slack in the Channel, but at the Bill the tide is going south at rates between 2.5-4.6kn. Rounding Portland Harbour wall, the cliffs of Portland’s east coast loom ahead. This is Grove Point and from here the tide begins to run in earnest. Approaching Portland from farther east, make for Grove Point to pass inside the Race. From Grove Point stay close in. There the shore is steep-to and clean. Most yachts maintain an offing of about 100- 150m. Approaching the Bill, the Race comes into view. It is very easy to pick out the strip of smooth water between it and the rocks, like a tarmac road through rugged country. One hazard to watch out for, however, is pot markers. These are often small and, when the tide is running hard, can be pulled beneath the surface by the flow. This is especially dangerous as most yachts will round the Bill under engine. Between the white beacon and Pulpit Rock there are rocks awash extending from the shore. Once clear of Pulpit Rock you are again in open water, but here you will encounter the south-going flow from the west side of Portland. To avoid being swept back into the Race by this, head north-west into Lyme Bay for a mile or so before setting a direct course for Start Point or Brixham.

WEST to EAST
From Lyme Bay, make for Blacknor Point to avoid being swept into the Race by a strong southerly set as you approach the Bill. From the east, close the Portland shore at Grove Point to pass inside the Race. There are rocks awash at high water close inshore between Pulpit Rock and the white stone beacon. If you arrive early from the west it is best to wait for a fair tide in West Bay, except in strong south westerlies when it would be better in any case to go outside the Race.
Arriving from the west, you need to allow for the strong southerly
stream that you will encounter as you approach the Bill.
Coming from the west, aim to be off the Bill at Dover +0500. With this timing you will catch a rare fair tide on the east side of Portland. Mike Jury of Weymouth SC reckons that most of the problems occur when eastbound, partly because of the difficulty of timing your arrival after a passage from the other side of Lyme Bay. His advice, if arriving early, is to tuck into the west side of Portland and wait for the tide to turn: “Watch for the south-going set near the Bill. Crossing Lyme Bay make for a point at least three miles north of the Bill. It is too easy to get within three miles of the Bill and be met by five knots of south-going tide, which will throw you straight into the Race.”

If it Goes Wrong
Yachts do get drawn into the Race, either by bad timing, inaccurate navigation or just plain bad luck. Local fisherman Alan Smith fishes for bass off the Bill. His advice for anyone unfortunate enough is: “Don’t try to fight it. Drop your sails and go with it. It will be a very unpleasant experience, but the Race won’t take long to spit you out at the other end.’’ Weymouth lifeboat is regularly called to small vessels caught up in the Race.
UNQUOTE
Cheers Bob E....
 
When fishing with pots from a 14/16 foot boat there we sometimes rowed round instead of using the Seagull - weather permitting of course.

Timing is the crucial element - also be aware of Shambles Bank further out than the Race.

It is the Race that is the dangerous part - the Navy ships used to avoid it at times or go through it to wake everybody up before going into Portland Harbour.

Cool head and reliable engine. Also under Nicodeamus' nob near Grove - Fiddler's Race - very short enjoyable pounding if you're in that close. You probably won't be, we used to come out through the entrance where the Hood was sunk in WW1 to prevent submarines firing through the gap. There is a wire across this so yachts - DON'T

BOL
 
[ QUOTE ]
When fishing with pots from a 14/16 foot boat there we sometimes rowed round instead of using the Seagull - weather permitting of course.



[/ QUOTE ]

Ah it was you was it? Back in the early 70s, first rounding of the Bill, in a plywood 20 footer: hatches all battened down, everyone in heavy weather gear, life jackets, harness etc.

Got out there: beatiful day, sea flat smooth, and someone swanning around in a small rowing boat laying yacht traps - sorry, pot markers.

Credibility as skipper dropped drastically! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Inshore passage is fine up to a F4, I once did it in a F5 W to E, and a bit too early on the tide (Forecast promised no more than a 3, but actual was a solid 20kt 5). I am still here to tell the tale, but it was an uncomfortable and wet passage.
 
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