clyst
Well-Known Member
Local knowledge needed . What is the best time to round Portland west to East using the inside channel ? Coming from Torbay how far north of the bill is recommended before turning south.
cheers
cheers
rounding inside Portland West to East
- Thread starter clyst
- Start date
ip485
Well-Known Member
Sorry no local knowledge but we rounded a few times last year in both directions on cruises. At first it was with some conncern reading about the warnings of large outfalls but literally huging the shore there is a good berth between the outfalls off the head and in conditions of f5 gusting 6 no issue in a 50 foot yacht. There is a number for the portland head watch tower which provided useful information on the sea state and of course consult the tidal charts as there is no point battling against it. I used the charts at portland marina but there are plenty of sources giving the local tidal differences. You can literally follow the coast maybe a few hundred yards off for a very pleasant passage. I recall just dont seek haven in portland using the south ship its blocked by a cable and wreck!
Joker
Well-Known Member
A purely personal view – if you are approaching the Bill from the west, then you can benefit from a back eddy during the ebb tide. Keep well to the north of the rhumb line, and then aim to hit the Bill itself at high water. Make sure you then turn to port to avoid the Shingles.
longjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
Done it quite a few times, take the E going tide aiming to be at the Bill at slack water, or just before. I'd normally head straight for the Bill, certainly not N of it, unless you plan to be there before slack.
Of course, all depends on wind direction, anything substantial from the S and I'd be thinking twice or passing 5 - 6 miles offshore.
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
I aim a bit less than halfway along the 'island' (towards Dorset, not France) and get lifted to the inshore passage. If you aim at the passage, you risk being taken S in to the real nasties.
Seajet
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Clyst,
you don't say where you're hoping to end up ?!
I'd strongly suggest going at least 5 miles S of the Bill then slanting in for Studland & if necessary Poole.
I have been that way many times but one that stands out in my memory; my girlfriend and I set off from Dartmouth with a perfect forecast, and committed ourselves North into the Bay, allowing for the tide.
Then the wind came up way above forecast and we basically had to run with it, slaloming around big overfalls; it was the most frightening thing I've ever known seeing the broken white water on the horizon as we approached.
Around the inshore passage - maybe if going Westwards in daylight, but watch for losbster pot buoys dragged under the surface by the tide.
From the West, outside every time for me, they filmed the sequences of the ' Cruel Sea ' with the corvette being pitched half out of the water - to replicate the Atlantic in winter - at Portland Race for a reason,it was the roughest place they could find !
you don't say where you're hoping to end up ?!
I'd strongly suggest going at least 5 miles S of the Bill then slanting in for Studland & if necessary Poole.
I have been that way many times but one that stands out in my memory; my girlfriend and I set off from Dartmouth with a perfect forecast, and committed ourselves North into the Bay, allowing for the tide.
Then the wind came up way above forecast and we basically had to run with it, slaloming around big overfalls; it was the most frightening thing I've ever known seeing the broken white water on the horizon as we approached.
Around the inshore passage - maybe if going Westwards in daylight, but watch for losbster pot buoys dragged under the surface by the tide.
From the West, outside every time for me, they filmed the sequences of the ' Cruel Sea ' with the corvette being pitched half out of the water - to replicate the Atlantic in winter - at Portland Race for a reason,it was the roughest place they could find !
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oldbilbo
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The local knowledge you seek is published in Reeds. You should find it detailed in 'Area 1 - SW England - Portland Race'. That's as good as it gets....
MagicIsland
Well-Known Member
I asked the same question a few months ago (Portland Tidal Streams - Getting confused) We sailed from West Bay almost direct line direct to the Bill and arrived just before Slack water, channel is a little smaller than I thought but plenty of water, watch fro the pots, the ones we saw were closer to the bill, make sure you keep close under 100m from the bill and keep left when you round the bill, we drifted a bit out into the bumpy stuff , depends where your heading then but watch for the Shambles to starboard, we found St Albans Head more of a challenge on our way to Poole.
VicS
Well-Known Member
Absolutely +1 on that advice.
Aim for a point well north of the bill to take advantage of the tide running down the west side and to avoid being carried into the race by it. Aim to round the bill on the early flood to be sure to be well clear before it turns again.
Also study the tidal stream chartlets in Reeds.
Probably not a great advantage in taking the inshore passage unless you are heading for Portland or Weymouth. Only attempt it in settled conditions.
clyst
Well-Known Member
Thanks chaps that's the sort of info I wanted. Appreciate the info in reeds but info from those who have done it is handy .Next port of call will be Weymouth .
lw395
Well-Known Member
I haven't got this year's Reeds, but I've always found Fishwick's description in West Country Cruising a bit clearer.
Depending on passage plan, wind and boatspeed, it can work to be up in Lyme Bay while the main tide is going W, then nip around inshore, picking up E tide to get you into Hurst.
Alternatively take the E tide well offshore then be in Christchurch bay for the worst of the W tide, enter Hurst from the N channel just as it's turning and it'll take you to Pompey.
Personally I like to know the options and see what the wind does on the day.
Blueboatman
Well-Known Member
The information is so beautifully clear in the local tidal atlas and pilots.
Beggars belief to me to ask.
Wot the OP wants is a fly-by-wire Portland Webcam next?
The trick is to 'weigh' information..Wot U gonna do if you take the northern inshore route and conditions go pearshaped twixt Torbay and Portland eh? FFS.
Go outside, take a bus from Weymouth, go looksee after the event, ignore the internet, learn to sail with regard to risk strategy, what do I know eh?
Beggars belief to me to ask.
Wot the OP wants is a fly-by-wire Portland Webcam next?
The trick is to 'weigh' information..Wot U gonna do if you take the northern inshore route and conditions go pearshaped twixt Torbay and Portland eh? FFS.
Go outside, take a bus from Weymouth, go looksee after the event, ignore the internet, learn to sail with regard to risk strategy, what do I know eh?
colhel
Well-Known Member
Blueboatman, its a forum for asking questions and discussing. The OP asked a question which is being discussed.
KINGFISHER 9
Well-Known Member
Oh dear! .......... this sort of response will put people off asking sensible questions and do nothing for the forum's reputation. Better if you hadn't bothered to post.
Daedelus
Well-Known Member
Came this direction when we had a nice SW F4 (which reduced as we got to the bill) and were about 2-3 hours after tide starting going E wards.
Suggested to crew that they steer a bit straighter to be met with "I would if I bloody could, the currents pushing us about" However, it wasn't much and crew simply had to alter the helm much more than usual. Keeping in close is good as there is about 100m of calmer water there while after that it can get a bit lumpy.
Suggested to crew that they steer a bit straighter to be met with "I would if I bloody could, the currents pushing us about" However, it wasn't much and crew simply had to alter the helm much more than usual. Keeping in close is good as there is about 100m of calmer water there while after that it can get a bit lumpy.
Ripster
Well-Known Member
The bloke was just asking a question - jeez, have you had a bad day?
Blueboatman
Well-Known Member
No bad day, no slight intended, but this is the internet, not eye to eye conversation eh? Fill in any ambiguity you like..
Think of my post as a 'what if', 'have you thought about missing a weather or tidal window', a "heads up'' if you like.
Surely that is RESPONSIBLE posting eh?
in ( the unlikely) case that the OP really cannot understand a tidal atlas and pilot, both of which contain VERIFIED, proven information. Unlike my ( or others ) posts eh?
Quite an important bit of timing to get right in marginal or deteriorating conditions I believe. So there (smiley)
Think of my post as a 'what if', 'have you thought about missing a weather or tidal window', a "heads up'' if you like.
Surely that is RESPONSIBLE posting eh?
in ( the unlikely) case that the OP really cannot understand a tidal atlas and pilot, both of which contain VERIFIED, proven information. Unlike my ( or others ) posts eh?
Quite an important bit of timing to get right in marginal or deteriorating conditions I believe. So there (smiley)
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Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
I've never regarded tidal info as proven and verified, damn stuff always seems to change earlier or later than predicted, or run faster or slower than UKHO's abacus sayys it will.:ambivalence:
clyst
Well-Known Member
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Mudisox
Well-Known Member
Tidal conditions over the past 4 weeks have been all over the place with sometimes only a 3 hour ebb. You'll not go far wrong by initially heading for the highest point of the Bill if you can see it, and get well inshore for calmer water before using the back eddy to help you South and round the Bill, especially if you want to take a break within Weymouth Bay. It's easier to get it right for the next tidal gate at St Alhelms/Albans, far more difficult to get it right from Torbay end.