Portsmouth to Weymouth first-timer: Any tips?

tim3057

tim3057

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I'm planning to do Portsmouth to Weymouth in one go - possibly south of the IOW - and will of course make a thorough passage plan..

..but, in advance, if anyone has any advice or tips regarding this passage, good experiences, bad etc, and want to share them - much appreciated!

(I know the Solent well, and have sailed as far as Lulworth in short hops..)

Thanks,

Tim
 
No point in being shot at, so just check the info on the Lulworth range in the books. If you're passing in working hours they'll be very happy to answer a call and may let you through closer inshore to save a few miles.
 
I'm note sure I'd go south of the Island. I'd sail down to Yarmouth and stay on one of the buoys outside overnight and then leave for Weymouth on the top of the tide. It makes the distance much more doable whilst we still have shortish daylight.
 
I would also favour a two day via the Solent unless you particularly wanted to see the south side of the island - in which case take Brittany Ferries trip to St Malo and see it in comfort!

Almost certainly the wind will be against you, so leave Yarmouth about an hour before the tide changes to get the maximum help across Poole Bay. Tides are weaker as you go inshore past St Albans Head.

Enjoy!
 
" I'd sail down to Yarmouth and stay on one of the buoys outside "

Or if you wanna avoid harbour fees, drop the hook behind Hurst Point (good in anything with west in it)

Alternatively, in one hop if you've got the classic Sw'ly, out past Bembridge and one long tack into the Channel, rather than short tacking along the Solent or the back of the Wight.

Watch out for overfalls at St Aldhems and Anvil - bit offputting if you're not prepared for them.
 
You do not say what sort and size boat you have. its much further in a twenty three as opposed to a forty three footer! I have done it my Westerly Ocean 33 and if you get the tides right, you get a better boost through the solent than south of the island. Once past St Albans, the tides are generally pretty weak.
 
"Give the Bill a good five mile offing"? You don't need to go past the Bill to get to Weymouth. Are you confusing Weymouth with Torquay?
 
Portsmouth to St Albans via Hurst is about 40 miles, so leaving Portsmouth at the right time means that you could get a W going tide lift through the Solent and pick up slack to W going tide past St Albans and on to Weymouth.
That could save you an hour or so!
 
Decide early, based on wind and tide, if you are going to give StAlbans a wide berth - it tells you how far in the Almanac - or if you are going to keep close inshore. (approx 100yds off is good) Even if its really calm don't change your mind and end up going through the middle.
 
Leave Pomey against the last of the East going tide aiming to catch the West going as it turns off Cowes then carry a good tide through Needles and on towards St Albans. Keep close inshore to minimise the next East tide and your there.
 
I delivered our 24' boat from Chichester to Plymouth and was a first timer with much of the route.
Points I noted enroute to Weymouth were:-
Check Solent tides carefully , we literally flew at 10k SOG from Portsmouth to Yarmouth on a favourable tide , we then chose to take the passage North of the Shingles just South of the Trap , this avoided the needles which I must say worried the hell out of me. We then made it to Poole quite easily.

In Poole avoid the first marina you come to at Sandbanks , it cost an eyewatering £45 a night!

I made the mistake of not doing any reasearch on the St Albans race and spent a few hours fighting it's disturbed waves , like others have said check out the inside passage at St Albans to avoid this if conditions are suitable

If staying in the Marina at Weymouth be ware that the first bridge opening is at 08:00 IIRC , this can hold up your plan to return on a fair tide.
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Ah yes. Weymouth.
Got to know it well.
We were on my first trip as skipper to Salcombe; crew were enthusiastic until a brisk SW wind got up, then a certain mal de mer became evident and Weymouth became our port of refuge.
And it blew strongly from the W for the next several days, as the marina became fuller and fuller until you didn't need pontoons, you could walk across the marina on the decks of motor yachts (well, almost).
I can recommend Weymouth. Lots of good pubs, restaurants, museums, spectacular walks (eg around Portland, you can inspect the Race from terra firma, much the best way); they even laid on a carnival for us.
 
Assuming 8m to 10m sail boat. Suggest via Solent passing Yarmouth. It's a long way around the Island, particularly if going to windward in a seaway. Plan the tides so you get a good pushdown the west Solent and though Hurst. pick a buoy/anchor off Cowes, Yarmouth or Newtown if needs be to get the optimum tide. Watch out for the large ships turning north of Cowes Road. If wind is East you can just about anchor close in on the west side of Hurst spit in the north Channel area, but the tide is extremely strong so you will need a windless to get the anchor up, and anchor watch necessary. Watch out for the vast numbers of crab pots for up to two miles off Christchurch. If in no hurry and wind is not east or NE, then plan to stop for a while in Studland. It is worth the slight detour. Forget Swanage, always rolly and sand is too light. On the spring ebb (which you will carry) there can over overfalls off all the headlands from Old Harry to St Albans. Some annoying, some that need to be avoided. The flood spring tide is very strong for miles off St Albans, so avoid it and pick your time, unless the wind is exceptionally ideal for you. Tide will be king on this passage. Look for the Dolphins around Durlston. If you might want to dawdle and go into Poole, get a decent harbour chart first so you can find the best places to Anchor. If wind is E or NE shallow draft/or can dry out, try just South of Brownsea, or dry out in Whitley Lake. The Town Quay marina is miles away and watch out for the tide in it. If on inshore passage past St Albans, with offshore wind, then try Chapmans Pool to anchor to wait for the range firing to end, and buy a crab off the local fisherman.
 
Provided the weather isn't stupid, it's a nice trip, have done it in one hit in a 28ft Impala, but latterly we tend to stop off on a buoy at Yarmouth, from there Weymouth is a nice easy daysail. You don't want to be punching tide anywhere between Cowes and 5M beyond the Needles.
Unless it's big wind over tide, I favour the Needles channel over the North option.
If it's a beat, try to be the right side of the shift through the day.
Pontoons in Weymouth Harbour are usually OK, I have never been past the bridge. Both Clubs are nice.
Swanage is OK in a westerly, if there is north in it, the top of swanage bay can be nice, when Studland is not so good.
Once you're past Yarmouth, any stopoff is a major diversion, which is part of why we tend to start from there when heading West. I don't like to have time pressure on the first day of the cruise, personally.
In the Impala we did Gilkicker to Weymouth in one tack, apart from motoring at the end as the wind died, headed and began to tempt us with smells of fish and chips...
 
If you are staying for more than one night in Weymouth make the effort to stay in the marina, not on the town quay where you will have to raft up time an again as yachts come and go constantly. You will also avoid chips being thrown on the deck along with empty beer bottles as the pubs chuck out late at night.

Remember Portland Bill harbour is a commercial concern, so big ships can suddenly appear out of the blue on your final approach to Weymouth.
 
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