Sailiing to the West from Portmouth?

[RichardTaylor]

I times past we sailed from Hamble so it was an easy choice, but now based in Gosport, which way should we go to the West (thinking Dartmouth) in a sailing boat, Solent or back of the Island?

Seems initially a little 6 of 1 and half a dozen of the other so reasons please?

 

[farmerdan79]

Through the solent every time,

More sheltered, also opportunity to stop of at various locations if swmbo forgets a vital face/nail/hair/(etc) cream...

 

[Seajet]

If going West from Portsmouth, why on earth would you go a long way East first, no tides are going to sort that ?!

Through the Solent every time, as previously stated more sheltered & loads more options.

I'd usually go via the North Channel rather than Needles, but the OP will know about that, just mentioning for others...

 

[jimi]

THrough the Solent, work the tides to get a big push past the Needles

 

[Pleiades]

Back of the Isle

On the other tack, round the back of the Isle there is less to hit (and get hit by). Even in high summer one can be the only yacht for miles round the back whereas the Solent is often chocker. Proper sailing in deep sea with nice big boy's waves (or big girl's waves if that way inclined) and lovely scenery to Starboard. Take the last of the HW slack out to the Ledge then by the time you get to Lucombe Bay you will have a very favourable set past St Catherines (I often get 9 knots SOG with favourable tide there) and be well on your way on a good heading for Dartmouth, well offshore of St Albans' Ledge which can be a slog once the tide is agin if you are close in as you would be if running from the North Channel. And looking further ahead for passing the West Shambles and the Bill you are often better to be well offshore - again better served by coming from St Catherines rather than the North Channel or the Needles.
Enjoy the view.

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

 

[AndrewB]

Your next choice going west is what to do about the Portland Race.

Round the outside - safe but boring.
Inside passage - shortest but be sure to get those tides spot on.
Through the middle - hairy but really, really fast - if the tide's with you!

 

[Seajet]

On the other tack, round the back of the Isle there is less to hit (and get hit by). Even in high summer one can be the only yacht for miles round the back whereas the Solent is often chocker. Proper sailing in deep sea with nice big boy's waves (or big girl's waves if that way inclined) and lovely scenery to Starboard. Take the last of the HW slack out to the Ledge then by the time you get to Lucombe Bay you will have a very favourable set past St Catherines (I often get 9 knots SOG with favourable tide there) and be well on your way on a good heading for Dartmouth, well offshore of St Albans' Ledge which can be a slog once the tide is agin if you are close in as you would be if running from the North Channel. And looking further ahead for passing the West Shambles and the Bill you are often better to be well offshore - again better served by coming from St Catherines rather than the North Channel or the Needles.
Enjoy the view.

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

Pleiades,

I have a patented device to get me round St Albans, Portland Race etc, I believe it's marketed under the name 'Rudder'.

 

[rotrax]

If going West from Portsmouth, why on earth would you go a long way East first, no tides are going to sort that ?!

Through the Solent every time, as previously stated more sheltered & loads more options.

I'd usually go via the North Channel rather than Needles, but the OP will know about that, just mentioning for others...

As a boatowner with a mooring in Portsmouth Harbour I am wondering if you can give me a bit more information on the Easward passage required to exit the mouth of the Harbour and clear Bembridge ledge.We sometimes take that route, and when we do, is it not pretty much due South untill you turn West?

 

[DJE]

As a boatowner with a mooring in Portsmouth Harbour I am wondering if you can give me a bit more information on the Easward passage required to exit the mouth of the Harbour and clear Bembridge ledge.We sometimes take that route, and when we do, is it not pretty much due South untill you turn West?

More like SSE but make sure you know where the shipping channels are and keep listening to CH11 until you're past No Mans Land Fort. I would pass just South of Spit Bank Fort then make for the Outer Spit Bouy keeping West of the main channel. Then if it's clear cross to No Mans Land Fort (which you can pass on either side) You will now be clear of the main channels and you can head directly for Bembridge Ledge. But keep an eye out for the smaller ferries who occasionally cut the corner very close round the Ledge. Ideal timing is to clear Portsmouth 2 to 3 hours before HW taking the last of the flood to the ledge and getting the first of the ebb down the back of the Island.
We sometimes go that way from Portsmouth to Poole, it makes a nice change. Get the chart out and lay off a couple of clearing bearings from Bembridge Ledge and West Princessa bouys. You don't have to go right out to the ledge bouy but you do have to know where the rocks are.

 

[Poignard]

On the other tack, round the back of the Isle there is less to hit (and get hit by). Even in high summer one can be the only yacht for miles round the back whereas the Solent is often chocker. Proper sailing in deep sea with nice big boy's waves (or big girl's waves if that way inclined) and lovely scenery to Starboard. Take the last of the HW slack out to the Ledge then by the time you get to Lucombe Bay you will have a very favourable set past St Catherines (I often get 9 knots SOG with favourable tide there) and be well on your way on a good heading for Dartmouth, well offshore of St Albans' Ledge which can be a slog once the tide is agin if you are close in as you would be if running from the North Channel. And looking further ahead for passing the West Shambles and the Bill you are often better to be well offshore - again better served by coming from St Catherines rather than the North Channel or the Needles.
Enjoy the view.

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

+1

Engage the windvane, then sit back and enjoy the scenery.

 

[rotrax]

More like SSE but make sure you know where the shipping channels are and keep listening to CH11 until you're past No Mans Land Fort. I would pass just South of Spit Bank Fort then make for the Outer Spit Bouy keeping West of the main channel. Then if it's clear cross to No Mans Land Fort (which you can pass on either side) You will now be clear of the main channels and you can head directly for Bembridge Ledge. But keep an eye out for the smaller ferries who occasionally cut the corner very close round the Ledge. Ideal timing is to clear Portsmouth 2 to 3 hours before HW taking the last of the flood to the ledge and getting the first of the ebb down the back of the Island.
We sometimes go that way from Portsmouth to Poole, it makes a nice change. Get the chart out and lay off a couple of clearing bearings from Bembridge Ledge and West Princessa bouys. You don't have to go right out to the ledge bouy but you do have to know where the rocks are.

Thanks for the detailed passage plan,which is pretty much what we do when we go that way. As I indicated, there is little East in it at all. Another poster suggested the need to go a long way East.

 

[bedouin]

To most destinations on the English side of the Channel I would think that going south would add 5-10 miles onto the trip. In distance terms from Gosport, St Caths is almost as far as the Needles.

Also I would say that you can get significantly more help from the tide going down the Solent - but conversely more contrary tide if against you. So if I have the choice of when to leave I would leave Gosport about an hour before slack and so have a favourable tide down the Western Solent and through the Needles. I also think it is the easier route as there are many fewer ships/ferries to dodge.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Either one is a good choice. Increasingly I like to go outside, just to get away from Lake Solent.

 

[Seajet]

Just to clarify, VHF channel 12 has VTS, the Southampton based radar control of Solent & approaching shipping, ( very much like Air Traffic Control ) so are the ones to keep an ear on !

Channel 11 is QHM, Queens Harbour Master, and should be listened to anywhere near or approaching / leaving Portsmouth.

Setting off from Portsmouth, Bembridge Ledge is distinctly Eastish, easy to say now but if we can arrange it let's set off at the same time and I'll go via the Solent, you go outside, last one to Poole buys the fish & chips ! ( if really heading West it'd be Studland ).

 

[DJE]

What's the rush? It can be a very pleasant sail round the back provided you don't do it when 1500 other boats are doing it on the same day!

 

[Nicholas123]

Just to clarify, VHF channel 12 has VTS, the Southampton based radar control of Solent & approaching shipping, ( very much like Air Traffic Control ) so are the ones to keep an ear on !

Channel 11 is QHM, Queens Harbour Master, and should be listened to anywhere near or approaching / leaving Portsmouth.

Setting off from Portsmouth, Bembridge Ledge is distinctly Eastish, easy to say now but if we can arrange it let's set off at the same time and I'll go via the Solent, you go outside, last one to Poole buys the fish & chips ! ( if really heading West it'd be Studland ).

Makes me wonder how I ever get by without a radio
The inside can get a bit tame & boring & during cows week it's the pits,prefer the outside for the feeling of excitement & adventure.OH role on the summer!

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

I have a radio but have to admit leaving it off 99% of the time.

They aren't mandatory are they?

Used to do the same flying. Much easier to leave the thing off and avoid anywhere that required one.

 

[Seajet]

I agree I'd avoid the Solent during Cowes Week, as the alternative of a big deck mounted gun seems considered impolite somehow !

Normally it's just good sense to be aware of what's happening around one, we know ships come up awfa' fast...

 

[Nicholas123]

Normally it's just good sense to be aware of what's happening around one, we know ships come up awfa' fast...

So keep a sharp lookout seajet,you should be doing that anyway

 

[Seajet]

So keep a sharp lookout seajet,you should be doing that anyway

I reckon I've learned that one over the years ( I'm often ribbed by crew for asking them to 'look under the jib' every couple of minutes or more often ), though apparently some here haven't learned to keep a VHF 'lookout' & which channels...