Sailing tips for the Solent please!

[Zagato]

I currently have a Drascombe Longboat which I bought as I thought it would be ideal for family sailing (two young children 4 & 6 years).

I am new to Chichester Harbour and the Solent (used to Falmouth sailing) and have found it to be quite tricky sailing with regards to tides and pitching waves. For instance, I was sailing just inside and outside of the Chichester Harbour entrance getting nowhere fast on a rising tide. Somebody suggested I need to go further out but the waves can be nasty and didn't feel I wanted to risk it in the Drascombe with the family.

Has anyone got any suggestions for easier sailing in this area. I would like to go form Chichester to the Isle of wight regularly but and am looking for a bigger boat in the meantime and also somewhere else to sale - maybe!

Thanks Chris

PS I have sailed single handed from The Hamble to Cowes but again I don't think my family would stand the swells and rollers.

 

[mjcp]

There is a ripping tide through the Chichester harbour mouth, timing is the key (In younger days, I went through on a reaching beach cat against the tide and almost gave up due to lack of progress), followed closely by wind and weather working with or against that tide...

Prevailing wind is SW which makes for a beat with wind over tide if you aim for the lift of the tide into the solent

Coming back though can be fab, We did Lymington to Portsmouth in 30-35 knots of wind, with tide and it was almost flat (some 1m standing waves off Cowes)

Beware the inside "route" toward Portsmouth, there's a WW2 antisubmarine barrier (though there is a gap and I have seen yachts go over it at higher states of tide)

mjcp

 

[capt_courageous]

Hi
Southampton Water is usually more settled than the main Solent. There is nice club over on the Marchwood side (can't remember the name) and Eling Creek is is always worth a visit for a boat like yours. Up past Soton itself is Eling Club and the tidal mill. Lots for the kids to see. The ships can be a bit of a worry at first but are no problem if you keep to the rules and just behave sensibly. I don't know if you want to visit any of the marinas , Hythe is rather pleasant. Enjoy

 

[bedouin]

You get very strong currents flowing in/out of the large harbours which not only makes if hard to make progress but also can result in a very choppy sea. The secret is to time your entry / exit for slack water - or when the tide is in your favour. However that is really the only area in which tides are important in the Solent area.

The Solent does tend to get quite choppy - and in particular it can be quite steep - but it is so sheltered that it rarely or ever gets rough. Round between the Forts and Chi it could get a bit rougher if the wind is S or E.

In a good sailing breeze (F3-4) the trip from Chi to the Solent proper will be fine once you've crossed the bar (and that itself will be fine if you time it) you won't tend to see more than gentle waves

In Chichester of course you can have some great day-sailing without ever having to leave the harbour

 

[dt4134]

There's a few other places in the Solent where tides can be pretty important. I've gone backwards towards Hurst Castle in bigger boats than a Drascombe, so it's not just Chichester Entrance. Still, the tides in The Solent are better documented than probably anywhere else in the world.

You're also likely to get a steep chop in The Solent in stronger winds, so beware of that. I can't be the only person to have come into the Solent in a gale and found it less comfortable inside.

Avoid wind against tide at Chichester Entrance, so in a small boat you're pretty much confined to slack water.

However there's plenty to explore within the harbour in a small boat with your family. You can always watch Dylan Winter's videos to see how much time you can spend in a small boat exploring muddy creeks.

You can maybe get an experienced mate to come sailing with you on the first couple of trips outside, before you take your family out.

 

[Searush]

I have once had to beat out of an anchorage thro overfalls in F5 wind over tide to get to a safe haven in a smallish yacht with young kids. I knew the boat could take it, but the family were (unsurprisingly) quite worried. SWMBO & I dealt with it by comparing the experience to fairground rides. Our grins may have felt somewhat forced, but they did the trick.

Kids (or any novice crew) very quickly pick up on nervousness or anxiety in the skipper or experienced crew members, so your first defence to remain looking confident & try to convince them it is "normal in certain weather conditions" or "only temporary, we will be thro the bobbles shortly" etc etc.

The Drascombes are a very seaworthy design - google "Chidiock Tichbourne" for one (well actually 2, as one was impounded in Saudi Arabia) that has sailed around the World. Well worth downloading the story & reading it - you could even read it as bedtime stories for younger kids!

 

[capt_courageous]

Hi Again
Sorry I meant Ashlett Creek, down by Fawley, as well as Eling.

 

[mjcp]

Chidiock Tichborne

(Though may I suggest you don't lash the tiller to the jib and fine tune with bungee withe the family on board )

mjcp

 

[Mrs FG]

I can recommend "Solent Tides" and possibly "Solent Hazards", both by Peter Bruce - available at chandlers and probably the interweb.

The gap in the submarine barrier is easy if your navigation is good enough to find it - it's marked by big posts; there's also a gap in the barrier right inshore, by the beach.
Very good for keeping out of the way of big ships.

You could also do the Hamble in Dylan Winter-esque style - use the tides to help you as it's a long way up to Bursledon (and beyond, if your mast is short enough).

 

[Mrs FG]

Oh, and while you're at it, "Solent Pubs and Restaurants", also by Peter Bruce, gives information on which pubs will welcome you and your children.

 

[mjcp]

The gap in the submarine barrier is easy if your navigation is good enough to find it - it's marked by big posts; there's also a gap in the barrier right inshore, by the beach.

However, the barrier itself didn't seem to be marked

(no dotted black lines in the sea )

mjcp

 

[ianat182]

Might I suggest that you contact and join the Drascombe Owners association who have rallies in the Solent from time to time,sometimes to the Hamble and I've met them over in Newtown Creek,usually about 8-10 boats Dabbers, Longboats and Drifters,
Your boat is a very seaworthy craft and friends of mine sailed one over to Guernsey a few years ago, but not on their first trip of course.
The Sailing Club mentioned in Southampton Water is the Hythe Sailing Club; it has a pontoon there and welcomes sailing visitors, its on the left just before reaching Southampton Docks, with several yacht moorings that will identify it for you.
As mentioned Marchwood and Ealing Yacht clubs also nice places to visit but Ealing rather more tide restricted access, Marchwood aalso has a pontoon.
If coming from Chichester you could also visit Warsash Sailing club at the mouth of the Hamble (moor on the inner side of the main club pontoon here).

Sailing the Solent needs some planning of going with the tide ,ebbing or flooding in the direction you want to go, then using the reverse tide to return, this can save 3/4 hour on a trip to Yarmouth from Warsash for instance, however not quite so easy to do if a South- westerly wind on the nose, and the tide is much stronger, so get to the side of the coast you want to visit early.

ianat182

 

[prv]

However, the barrier itself didn't seem to be marked

Ever read the section on the barrier in the Channel Pilot? Mine's on the boat so I won't try to quote, but it's something about locals' superstition and being dragged to your doom by the ghosts of frustrated U-boats

Pete

 

[SailBobSquarePants]

Depends upon the weather...

Two weeks ago I came back from Cowes into Chichester harbour with winds from the East, and a tide against us. We encountered swells that ranged up to 2 meters in hight - Xanthe II's bows formed huge sprays as she buried herself into the worst waves, sometimes stopping her in her tracks under power and main.

I would not want to do that in your Drascombe with two small children unless they had safety lines securing their lifejackets/harnesses to the boat. When we left the Solent at the forts, it was all my gf could do to hold on until we got further out (it DOES get smoother once you leave the near shore), and though she put a brave face on I knew she found it troubling. (I got the backhanded compliment "I must trust you or I could never be out in this...". As others have said, YOU need to look cool and joke a bit - but also let them know that you treat it seriously if it demands it.)

On a good day in mid-summer however, it can be flat as glass - the problem is that now the autumn weather season is upon us, and you really can't count of that too much anymore. And although my Nic 32 can handle a full gale should I need it to, it just isn't FUN for the crew in those conditions...which is why we are out there, at least supposedly.

Still, your Drascombe has such a shallow draft that there is a great bit of sailing you can do in Chichester harbour itself, as others have noted - a lot more than I can ever get my Nic 32 into. Picnics off East Head beach, exploring the creeks and inlets, and in general just having a good time without having to voyage into open water. Given the variable autumn weather, I think that Ichnor looks especially lovely this time of year. I also suggest a sail up towards Langston, get a mooring from the Langston marina, and get ashore to the Royal Oak for lunch or dinner. The full-sized poodle at the bar most evenings is named, appropriately, Curly...

 

[Zagato]

Thanks folks, I have been taking keen notes Oh and Robin if I see an N32 bearing down on me unable to turn I'll give you the the laundry bill after we have all jumped out of the Drascombe

Chris

 

[alahol2]

If you haven't already seen it, follow the link below for potential destinations...
Often see gaggles of Drascomes and Shrimpers out around the Solent, they always seem to be sailing well and enjoying themselves.

 

[Zagato]

Thanks for the link, very interesting. I have been on two Drascombe Rallies so far, and the people I have met have all been very helpful. I recently sailed (motored I should say, too risky to get the sails up with kids on board) from Itchenor and with the family the wind blew up to about a 4 on a rising tide and literally 20 mins out of the slip we had to turn back as we were just banging into rollers. If I was on my own and sailing it would have been OK and better that motoring head on into the waves. We instead turned around and toddled on up the estuary which is where the Long boat really comes into it's own.

It's all experience and being fortunate with the conditions. Despite forecasts it is always a gamble getting down to Itchenor to see what there is in store! Does anyone know a good weather/sailing conditions forecast site.

Thanks Chris

 

[emsworthy]

Thanks for the link, very interesting. I have been on two Drascombe Rallies so far, and the people I have met have all been very helpful. I recently sailed (motored I should say, too risky to get the sails up with kids on board) from Itchenor and with the family the wind blew up to about a 4 on a rising tide and literally 20 mins out of the slip we had to turn back as we were just banging into rollers. If I was on my own and sailing it would have been OK and better that motoring head on into the waves. We instead turned around and toddled on up the estuary which is where the Long boat really comes into it's own.

It's all experience and being fortunate with the conditions. Despite forecasts it is always a gamble getting down to Itchenor to see what there is in store! Does anyone know a good weather/sailing conditions forecast site.

Thanks Chris

Here are the three I use, as well as looking out of the window of course! Between the three of them you can pretty much get a picture of what's going on out there without going down to the boat as they cover the whole harbour.

http://www.chimet.co.uk
http://www.cambermet.co.uk
http://www.emsworthsc.org.uk/weather/live-weather.html

For weather forecasts I find that XC Weather is always fairly accurate http://www.xcweather.co.uk/GB/forecast or of course the good old Met Office Inshore Waters Forecast http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/marine/inshore_printable.html which is what you'll hear the coastguard read out and is the norm for most marina noticeboards. (Slightly erring on the side of caution with their wind strengths in my opinion though). Oh, forgot to say you're looking for the Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis bit.

Good luck!

 

[northwind]

Longboat

I sail a lugger from Itchenor, with 3 small children (3,5,7) I would suggest that you need to curtail your aims for the next few years..

As others have mentioned there are loads of places to go in the harbour, and in my experience you need to keep the sailing short - at the moment, my children are more interested in the destination than the sailing!

Depending on the wind direction, East Head can be a bit of a slog in a drascombe, however depending on the tide, Pilsey is great and quiet. Or Dell Quay, or Bosham Quay for Ice Cream....

You could also look at launching from other locations, reducing the slog to Windward - take a look at the boat launch website..

I'd recommend buying the channel almanac and using it over the winter to plan tides and possible days / destinations. especially look at the Solent tidal stream pages..

Outside of Chichester, Bembridge can be done, more for an overnight that a day trip with Children, leaving chichester just before high water gives you a good window into Bembrdige.

We also love Poole Harbour, its ideal for a drascombe, and the beaches along studland are favourites with the children.

The fun of a small boat is often pottering round the edges, more than covering distance..

HTH

Daniel

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Seems to be excellent advice above.
In my first season I left Chichester facing a strong wind from the South East and a spring tide on the ebb.....don't do it!