sailing round the Island

[fjweaver]

I was hoping to sail round the IOW with a couple of mates next weekend with a stopover 1/2 way round from Cowes, but there doesn't seem to be any marinas on the south-side till you get to Bembridge.
Never having done it before will we make Bembridge from Cowes via the Needles in daylight?
If not has anyone got any recommendations? ie Poole,Swanage,Christchurch. We're perferably looking for a marina where we can walk off to a pub with grub for the evening
This is our first 'big' trip on a new boat (Hunetr Ranger 265) with a not very experienced crew

 

[JeremyF]

Bembridge is pretty restricted in its access. Gosport would be better, but you might as well go all the way round, or start from Yarmouth, and stop off in Gosport.

<font color=blue>Jeremy Flynn/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif
Dawn Chorus</font color=blue>

 

[Skyva_2]

You should have no problem - 1600 boats of all sizes do it every year in the Round the Island. Its a great days sailing.

Catch an early tide from Cowes. Probably easier with a south westerly if you go via the Needles. Bembridge needs the tide to be right, but as you pass the tide gauge off St Helens you will see if its OK or not. But only dinghy or water taxi access to the shore there, and a walk to any eating places.

It should take about 12 - 14 hours all the way back to Cowes.

Poole would be a good alternative, a shorter sail but very satisfying.


Keith

 

[davel]

A round island trip is about 55 to 60 miles through the water. Elapsed time will depend on tides, wind and your doctrine on use of the engine!
Suggest you allow between 10 and 12 hours for a complete circumnavigation. You may do it quicker but plan for 10-12.

One of the crucial factors you need to check is the tide gate through Hurst narrows. You really must time your trip to get through with the tide otherwise you'll be stuck off Hurst for a long long time. If you're planning to go next w/e (14th Sept) you'll be on neaps with high water Portsmouth at about 6.00 am - just as it's getting daylight.

I'd suggest getting down to Yarmouth (or Lymington if you want a walk to shore berth) the night before, then leave sometime after 6.00 am.

Alternatively, you could look to leave Cowes at about 8.00 am, allow yourself a couple of hours to ride the tide down to Hurst and reach the needles just as the tide turns to give you a ride with tide down the south coast if the Island. If you make good speed, you should be back in Cowes before it gets dark at about 7.30pm - if not and you don't want to sail at night, pop into Gosport.

All the above is weather permitting of course.

Good Luck

Dave L.

 

[Chris_Robb]

I would agree with Skyva - I think poole would be a much more sensible ambition for the first long trip. The trip round the island really does go on and on, and as you have righly pointed out, there are no havens on teh south side what so ever.

It may be a challenge - but your crew will find more acheivement by geting from A - B rather that going from A round in a big circle to come back somewhere near A.

Remember also the days are shorter.

If you are going to Poole, remember that for small craft the North Channel is probably preferrable to the Needles Channel which can be very ugly.

 

[rogerroger]

Don't know what the tides are doing - but why not head to Yarmouth for the first night ? It's an easy night sail from Cowes if you have to leave late - you can bouy hop and follow a depth contour. Then next day go round the Island and pull into Portsmouth?

A circum nav of the IOW is very satisfying and you'll be amazed how empty the south side is compared to the Solent.

/forums/images/icons/cool.gif Roger Holden /forums/images/icons/cool.gif
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.first-magnitude.co.uk>First Magnitude</A>

 

[jimi]

Check the weather first, it can get pretty lumpy in a couple of places. Which direction are you thinking of? If you plan it right with slack water at the Needles you can go clockwise rather than anti clockwise. Gives you the option of seeing what the channel is like without becoming overcomitted. Do make sure you get the timings right though, and you know how to find the north channel at Hurst. The light in the Needles Channel can also be a little confusing on first acquaintance! We once confused Hurst light with the cardinal at the north of the shambles on a dark stormy winters night ... but don't tell anybody!

Jim

 

[Oldhand]

If you consider yourself capable of the voyage, sit down and do the navigation preparation and work it out for yourself. You are just one of many pleasure boaters who expect someone else to do your work for you - a product of the nanny state?

 

[rogerroger]

What a crass response. He wasn't asking for someone to do the work for him - merely for "recommendations".

Part of being a good skipper, in my opinion, is gaining all useful and relavent information before departing on a passage through unknown waters, including asking this forum.

Following your argument, presumably you don't use pilot books when sailing in new areas ? That's advice from someone else.

/forums/images/icons/cool.gif Roger Holden /forums/images/icons/cool.gif
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.first-magnitude.co.uk>First Magnitude</A>

 

[andy_wilson]

There is a risk of strong southerly winds next weekend as the summer high recedes, so that should make the south side (lee shore) a bit more fun. Plan the best fit of tides to exit the Needles Channel before the last of the slack so that you arrive at St.Catherines at slack or just after the turn of the tide, to avoid the inevitable tidal race. These would be the key tidal constraints.

On that basis you may chicken out when you see the Needles Channel, if the long range forecast comes true. A brisk headwind over the last of the ebb can turn it into an eye-opener.

The boat will be up to it however.

I expect the Eastern approach will be no problem except in the most violent of conditions.

(Kept yacht on Solent for 3 years and never did a RTI however).

This weekend would have made good sense if you are cautious about the conditions.

 

[derekgillard]

The advice from Davel is sound the tides are not too bad next weekend and if planned you could do it with an early start.
I keep my boat in the Solent and have been round the Island 3 times this season (including the Race) it is a great day out.
I would always be very careful with the weather, once you are through the Needles you are commited if you turn back the tide is against you and if you carry on as stated before there is no marina until Bembridge or Gosport AND the water off St Carts can be rough, also if this is your first time entering Portsmoutt Harbour in the dark is a challange and should not be underestimated.
My adivce is do it if you feel you can and the weather is fine if not Poole is a safer bet.

Del Buoy

 

[fjweaver]

Re: sailing round the Island & msg for OLDHAND

Thanks to most of you for your replies

'Oldhand' - I'm just gaining experience.
Presumably you started out from somewhere and had advice from others unless you really are the know-it-all that you make out.
How can you say that I'm a product of the nanny state when you don't even know me or my background.
The forum is here for people with a similar passion & interest to share ideas & experiences - why would someone bother to spend time writing a reply like yours? a product of the 'Victor Meldrew' state?

 

[ccscott49]

A little cutting, don't you think, thats what this forum is all about, asking for advice and giving it, not slagging people, a little poke is all in the fun of the thing, but that was uneccessary, you don't even know the man/woman. Please desist. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Jeremy_W]

A very wise watchleader on "With Integrity" told me to remember - 'he who asks is a fool for a moment. He who does not ask is a fool forever'. The point of this forum is to exchange useful information: Remember how many questions Humperdinck posted before his passage round Lands End and the Triangle Race. The extra snippets of info from this forum were the icing on the cake of meticulous preparation.

 

[NDG]

Re: sailing round the Island & msg for OLDHAND

Good luck, and don't listen to old tossers like old hand. Probably an old hand with his right hand, if you know what I mean. Nothing wrong with asking for advice, I do it all the time.

Have a good weekend

Nick