Portland Tidal Streams - Getting confused

Two or three miles west of the Bill.
Westerly, maybe F4

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Just round the Bill, same day, maybe an hour later just at the start of the east going tide

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As others have said, the inshore passage is reasonably benign with wind and tide, but equally, given the pot buoy hazard not a place to be in the dark especially if you are on a newish to you boat with little night experience.
 
MagicIsland,

I'm not sure of your engine set-up but I've decided if I ever have another boat with an inboard, even with a cutter on the prop I'd carry one of those long handled pruning loppers, the type with a serrated blade as well on the outside of one of the jaws; just thought I'd mention it as Portland Inshore Passage would be a good place to have one onboard.
 
A few points.
1) Dartmouth is easy to get out of in the dark.
2) A lot of my trips back from the West, we have skipped Weymouth and gone straight to Yarmouth, but generally, you can punch tide reasonably up in Lyme Bay, but not close to the bill or in mid channel. Likewise the Needles needs a little respect, as does St Aldhelms.
3) If it's a beat or close reach, getting the right side of the wind shift makes a big difference.
4) Sometimes cheating by starting or stopping at Brixham tips the balance. You might save a few miles and an adverse tide headland, which changes a long day into a good day?
 
lw395 said:
A few points.
1) Dartmouth is easy to get out of in the dark.
2) A lot of my trips back from the West, we have skipped Weymouth and gone straight to Yarmouth, but generally, you can punch tide reasonably up in Lyme Bay, but not close to the bill or in mid channel. Likewise the Needles needs a little respect, as does St Aldhelms.
3) If it's a beat or close reach, getting the right side of the wind shift makes a big difference.
4) Sometimes cheating by starting or stopping at Brixham tips the balance. You might save a few miles and an adverse tide headland, which changes a long day into a good day?
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We are starting to think it may not be the time to visit Weymouth but press on to Poole or Yarmouth as you suggest, thanks for the advice about Dartmouth, we will probabley try and leave early to catch as much east going tide as possible.
 
The best idea with Portland Bill inshore route is to pass by at slack water, which slack matters little, so there are two options a) on the last of the east going tide or b) on the first of the east going tide. As someone already mentioned, tides in Lyme Bay are weak so going against a foul tide to ensure arrival at the best time is quite feasible. NB if wanting to go beyond Weymouth say to Poole or to Studland then it really requires arrival at the Bill with the tide slackgoing east or you risk running out of tide before you get clear past St Albans, Anvil point, and Old Harry where there is a west going 'back eddy' that starts running inshore maybe an hour before the main Channel tide turns farther out.

No problem leaving Dartmouth in the dark, it is easy enough but there will be pot markers to be aware of. Pot marks in the Portland Bill inshore passage are a huge problem, because if you pick one up with a strong tide running, getting unhooked is even harder. They are easier to avoid in daylight but then you also sometimes FIND A MASS OF diver down marKers as we found one time at slack water When they had a s[ear fishing completion running and guard boats escorting the divers told us To go out into the Tide Race itself to keep clear (we refused and another boat challenged called the CG who asked the RNLI to go out and mediate as it was by then the "rush hour' for inshore transits). One fishing boat told the CG on the radio that if nothing was done somebody would surely be killed.

Personally I thought Weymouth was very 'avoidable' unless we really really wanted to go there in which case there was always a better time or date when transiting past the Bill was out of the equation.
 
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Portland Inshore route at Neaps (not this time of the month) and light winds is OK at almost any state of the tide. I've done it a few times in opposition to what the guides say. However Springs and any significant wind, stay well off shore!

Monday looks like an easterly F3 and Tuesday a slightly N of East F3. Motorsailing weather for your trip. It looks like the "ideal" time to be at Portland Bill is around 19:00 on Monday (double check for yourself) This would see you in Weymouth after dark, but it is an easy entrance. Alternatively Portland Marina is nice, but a little isolated. One option you could exercise is to come up and anchor off Chesil for the night. F3 easterly should be fine. You could then aim for rounding the Bill at around 07:00 the following morning.
 
MagicIsland said:
Great pics, looks like the inside passage is the favorite if tide times allow!
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Unless it's rough, the inshore route is fine, at the right time of tide. Yarmouth is a long way, and the days are not as long as they were, if it's a beat I would seriously consider Weymouth.
I also tend to keep my options open, sometimes the choice develops into sail to Weymouth or motor all day to get a little farther.

I find it helps to summarise all the tidal info etc, so that decisions can be efficiently re-visited on the hoof. Have all the tide charts labelled up in BST for instance.
Enjoy!
 
Personally I skip Weymouth when heading East from the West Country, usually setting off from Brixham - nice place and the furthest East hopping off point, don't even think about Torquay - then go outside Portland Race, slanting in for Anvil Point and Studland.

Given it's usually a wind with West in it or a true calm to get me setting off East across Lyme Bay, Studland should be sheltered.

Then it's a matter of choice and time available whether one goes into Poole or just straight for the Solent on the next leg.

If going into Poole, the lovely anchorage of South Deep is close to the entrance.

For the bit from off Portland to Anvil Point, watch out for the gunnery range off Lulworth, the safety boats will hassle you into a detour if they can, keep a listening watch on VHF.

The gunnery range times can apparently be found on 01929 404819 - I noted this number down but haven't tried it myself.

I would have recommended this plan from the outset but got the idea Weymouth was a must !
 
Seajet said:
Personally I skip Weymouth when heading East from the West Country, usually setting off from Brixham - nice place and the furthest East hopping off point, don't even think about Torquay - then go outside Portland Race, slanting in for Anvil Point and Studland.

Given it's usually a wind with West in it or a true calm to get me setting off East across Lyme Bay, Studland should be sheltered.

Then it's a matter of choice and time available whether one goes into Poole or just straight for the Solent on the next leg.

If going into Poole, the lovely anchorage of South Deep is close to the entrance.

For the bit from off Portland to Anvil Point, watch out for the gunnery range off Lulworth, the safety boats will hassle you into a detour if they can, keep a listening watch on VHF.

The gunnery range times can apparently be found on 01929 404819 - I noted this number down but haven't tried it myself.

I would have recommended this plan from the outset but got the idea Weymouth was a must !
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Thanks, we wanted to take in Weymouth if possible as it's somewhere neither of us have visited, however with all the great advice it's apparent it doesn't quite fit in our window. We are on route to Wells Next the Sea our home port, so a stop in Poole was also on our visit list, will check out the anchorage you suggested . After Poole we are heading for Brighton so plan to go to the South of IOW for the next leg.
 
MagicIsland,

I do heartily recommend that little plan, it's worked well for me a few times.

One thing worth knowing, can anyone say for sure if the fuel barge in Poole is open for business, and is it still just the North side of Brownsea Island ?

if this is still going it's very handy, with petrol, diesel, oil, water, bread,tinned food, beer, newspapers...

Someone should say in a minute.

south Deep is on the charts, as I say not far in from the entrance, off to port; it's very sheltered and a really lovely spot, good holding - not that deep so watch the sounder but you'll be OK - watch out for the yellow posts marking a power cable on the seabed as you go down the channel, otherwise it's a case of anchor where you like - no going ashore though it's all private land.
 
Ladyin Bed,

are you certain ? I've read conflicting reports as to whether the fuel barge in Poole is still going or not...it would be a real shame if it has gone, I suppose that would mean trudging up to the new marina opposite the town quay for petrol.
 
MagicIsland said:
Thanks, we wanted to take in Weymouth if possible as it's somewhere neither of us have visited, however with all the great advice it's apparent it doesn't quite fit in our window. We are on route to Wells Next the Sea our home port, so a stop in Poole was also on our visit list, will check out the anchorage you suggested . After Poole we are heading for Brighton so plan to go to the South of IOW for the next leg.
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If I understand you correctly, your revised plan would still have you leaving Dartmouth around 06:00, but passing clear south of the Bill and pressing on to Poole.

So, you will have a favourable (but weak) tide across Lyme Bay and then will be somewhere southish of the Bill when the tide turns. You will then spend the next 6 hours fighting a foul spring tide as you pass St Albans Head and Anvil Point. Whilst far less of a tidal gate than the Bill, I wouldn't ignore St Albans altogether, and progress over the 20ish M from the Bill to Anvil Point is going to be very slow.

In your position and given those tides (and forecast wind - now E F4 on Monday), I would be looking to call it a day once I had passed Portland Bill, by heading into Portland or Weymouth (so, I would be looking to leave Dartmouth an hour or two earlier than you are planning). Or how about overnighting in Lulworth Cove if you are determined to pass clear south of the Portland Race? Then I would catch the favourable tide east the following morning to take me past St Albans Head and, potentially, enter the Solent before the tide turns to the west. At least consider this as an alternative to your Poole plan.

I assume you are aware that, in an easterly, you have no real viable anchoring alternative, once you are east of St Albans, to pressing on to Poole or beyond. I have not spent the night anchored in Studland in an easterly, but I gather from others it is not much fun....

All this ignores the potential additional time spent beating to windward (and therefore an overall slowing in your progress towards your ultimate destination).
 
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Thanks LadyinBed & RobinBirch,

that is a real shame, it enabled one to refuel without traipsing the long haul to the quay; I wonder if the harbour commissioners applied pressure so that we have to use the marina fuel now - next question, do they supply petrol there ?!

There used to be a petrol station near the quay on the corner but I have a feeling that's been gone for years, I haven't required it on recent visits.

I remember when I took a couple of non-sailor colleagues on holiday, when we went alongside the barge for petrol they nipped aboard for a look, then shot back " Andy, they've got beer and everything !!! "
 
Salterns Marina on the north channel route to the quay has fuel including I think petrol but is the most expensive place for berthing in the country I believe, otherwise fuel at Corralls, port side of the quay area in the corner immediately before the old lift bridge. Parkstone YC marina has diesel and will sell small amounts if you are a berth holder or visitor ( no alongside fueling, only cans), nearest petrol would be a half mile walk along Sandbanks Road towards the shopping area in Lilliput.
 
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