Question for east Solent sailors

[davel]

Re the submarine barriers between the forts and the shore.
I always assumed this was a no go area as the barriers came to the surface, but today (neaps) whilst I sailed between the forts, at least a couple of boats sailed happily over the barrier.

What is the depth of these barriers? Anyone know?

Dave L.

 

[l'escargot]

The depth over them varies, as does the distance between them. Those you saw sailing through were either very confident of local knowledge or hadn't looked at a chart and lucky! Go out and have a look at LW Springs and see if you are happy to risk it yourself.

 

[Guest]

Looks odd when boats pass through doesn't it?
In fact there are two places which are recognised passages through this barrier. The main passage is half way between Horse Sand Fort and Southsea shore. The second is an inshore passage which is very close to Southsea beach. I don't reccomend the inshore passage unless you really do have local knowledge and a shoal draught. The main passage is located almost dead on the 50 deg 46' latitude grid line and is marked with light Q.R. 2M. Do check the tides though, charted depth at the main passage is around 1.5m.

In either case if there is any doubt, go around the south end (the fort).

As a matter of interest the barrier was built in about 1905 and as intended is a menace without chart, local knowledge or a lot of luck. The forts (Horse Sand Fort, No Mans Land Fort & Spit Sand Fort) were built in 1860's to assist in the defence of Portsmouth. They were originally planned to have 40 10" guns, 40 12.5" guns in the casements and another 10 12" guns on the roof. The stone lower walls are 18m thick!

An Ron Beag

 

[rogerroger]

1905?

Are you sure the barrier was built in 1905 ? Why would anyone build a submarine barrier before submarines ? (or at least before they were a credible threat?)



Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[Guest]

Re: 1905?

submarine as in below surface to catch surface ships not submarines!!!

 

[Guest]

Re: 1905?

Hi Roger,
Read my posting, I never said it was an anti-submarine barrier. The opening post in this thread (Davel) said it was.
I agree 1905 was a little before the threat of submarine technology. But also remember that 9 years later the German Imperial Navy certainly had a fleet of U-boats that were considered a credible threat. The RN and Merch certainly knew it!
The barrier was built no doubt to deter surface vessels but perhaps the Lords of the Admiralty were better informed than we give credit for, the barrier was just as effective against submarine craft.
I got my information about the barrier from a book called 'Solent Hazards' I have no doubt about its accuracy and the book never describes this barrier as specifically anti-submarine!

An Ron Beag

 

[JamesS]

Saw the same thing myself last Saturday. As we were approaching the small boat channel another vessel on a NE beat doing about 5kts on a diagonal course crossed the barrier just ahead of us.

Did he know something we didn't? At 4 hours before HW - I don't think so!

Cheers

 

[tome]

Met a bloke in Chichester Yacht Basin with a nice classic motor boat who never took her out, but spent weekends onboard with his wife. Turns out he had taken her out only once, and ran her aground on the barrier which he didn't know about. Holed boat, lost one prop and had to send out a Mayday which turned a lovely day into a nightmare.

 

[rogerroger]

Re: 1905?

yup - that makes sense. So it's really "sub-marine" as opposed to "submarine"!!



Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[brianhumber]

Agree, I have seen large blocks just under the surface at very LW springs. However this does mean you have all the height of tide to play with at any other time. I occasionally take the direct route out of Chichester at HW, there is at least 3M cleareance at HW if you know the correct transit - saves getting in the Hayling Island melee on dinghy race events.

 

[Rabbie]

A few years ago I recall reading in YM about a yacht whose fin keel was torn off by the barrier. The correspondent suggested that crossing the barrier at any time was playing 'Russian Roulette' with your keel/hull, presumably because the blocks are uneven in size. Despite having a shallow twin-keeler I cannot bring myself to risk it at any time.

 

[andyball]

I think I would only use the marked passages,even at hw.

Last summer we saw a boat clout a submeged sewage outfall in langstone harbour, doing 20 knots+......very lucky: they just put a big dent in the outboard gearcase, and prob. scared themselves silly (or maybe not: they carried on tearing around for 20 mins afterwards,as if nothing had happened......)