Sailing west from Southampton with little children

[Claribel]

We're heading west in a 45ft Beneteau, starting from Southampton and hopefully making it to Falmouth. We've never been west of Poole and wondered how far we can push it, assuming we'll probably have to motor or motor sail most of the westward trip, and have little kids with us so can't arrive at each destination much later than sunset and need to avoid any really rough passages. For the the time of our trip, the Solent tides turn westward 2pm on our first day, so we want to get west as fast as possible to avoid evening sailing. Do you think we can get from Southampton to Weymouth in one day? And then Weymouth to Torquay in one day? And then we rest.....

 

[mainsail1]

My experience in the past was that little kids hate long trips at sea. They want variety. Sea and shore. By 'long' I mean more than 3 or 4 hours.
Much better to take it in very short hops otherwise you may put them off sailing for life.

 

[James_Calvert]

My experience in the past was that little kids hate long trips at sea. They want variety. Sea and shore. By 'long' I mean more than 3 or 4 hours.
Much better to take it in very short hops otherwise you may put them off sailing for life.

Night passages are good for little ones. Unfortunately they wake up in the morning full of beans... when you're not.

Seriously, lots of things for them to play with helps. Not personally keen on wheeled objects that get left on the cabin sole, never been a great skater. And they'll probably go to sleep eventually even in the daytime.

 

[Bobc]

If the tides turns west at 2pm (and gets later each day), then if you leave in the mornings you're going to be punching into them most of the time, however once past Weymouth they're not very strong.

I would suggest that you push the tide down the Solent to get to the Needles at about 3pm, and take the tide across to Studland. Let them play on the beach in the morning, then round to Weymouth with the tide in the afternoon. Then, down the the beach or the penny machines in the morning, and leave at lunchtime for Torbay.

You need to catch the early ebb for Portland, so that restricts you departure time anyway, and the kids get to have some fun (and tire themselves out so they'll sleep for some of the Lyme Bay bit).

 

[Babylon]

In a 45 footer you should be fairly quick. I assume you're leaving this Saturday: HW Portsm 1530, so tide ebbs (and Hurst opens) at 1400, but you can easily punch the last couple of hours of the weakening flood down S'ton Water and into the Western Solent, so slip your lines at 1200 and you should be through Hurst at 1530 if not earlier. The new flood in the Channel will begin at about 1930 (check it yourself!) so you'll have four hours in hand (five if you simply ignore the weak rate of the first hour of flood), so you could easily make Weymouth. But...

Forecast for Saturday currently looks like a SW3-4, Sunday a light northerly, and Monday a light southerly before the SW airflow returns on Tuesday. Tides are just off Springs, so expect wind-over-tide action if the winds have much west in them.

For Saturday, if you choose to head straight for Weymouth, then by all means use the Needles Channel - and the further south you go initially the better your slant to (motor-)sail onto Weymouth, but too far offshore you'll miss seeing the geology of the Purbeck hills Coast up close. If going to Studland for the night (with plenty time the next morning for a run ashore to the beach), then use the shorter North Channel route instead.

For Sunday, if you've overnighted in Studland, your afternoon sail on the ebb can swing past Swanage, take the inside passage around St Albans Head and include a tea-stop in Lulworth Cove (ideal in light offshore winds) before making Weymouth. Alternatively, if you're already at Weymouth, then use this light northerly to motor-sail across Lyme Bay, or Monday's light southerley... much more comfy than a hard motor-sailing slog to windward.

For my money, Dartmouth is a lovelier destination than Torquay, but harder to sail directly to if the wind is WSW (and then spend a little time upriver at Dittisham). Further west you've got the delights of the Yealm, Fowey and the Helford to look forward to.

Also, in my own 27 footer, unless I've got, say, a SW3-4 on my beam or quarter and a fair tide to go with it, I prefer to break my sailing down into shorter passages, with time to enjoy the wonder - and rest - of each destination on the way.

If nearer the time the forecast remains as it currently appears for Saturday through Monday, then do yourselves and your kids a favour by avoiding a direct slog on Saturday to Weymouth and getting to Devon a bit more slowly.

 

[Tintin]

An hour of passage per year of age seemed to work well for my two. Now 10 and 12.

 

[SimonFa]

Southampton to Weymouth in one day will be hard with little ones. You have little choice on doing Weymouth to Torquay in one day. Thursday is Neaps so you can do the Portland inner passage to make life easier, and more interesting. Crossing LY,e Bay will be tedious, but the early start, around 4am on Thursday, to take the inner passage should tire them for a later sleep.

Good place to plan your Portland passage here: http://www.sailingalmanac.com/Almanac/Navigation/portlandbill.html

As others have said, Studland is a good resting point and you can then do Weymouth on a single tide in around 4 hours under the right conditions. Stay in close as there's plenty to look at for entertaining the kids.

 

[DJE]

Brixham is not bad for kids. There is a small beach at the root of the breakwater very close to the marina; and nice walks with rock-scrambling on Berry Head. Plus all the usual seaside stuff in the town.

 

[ip485]

I think a lot depends where and if you want to stop along the way. Weymouth is lovely but there isnt a great deal else until you are properly into the West Country. If it were me, and there was a good night passage, I would set off with the aim of getting to Salcombe in the first hop, spend loads of time there as it is perfect for kids, and then when ready a day or so sailing further west. In other words get the greater part of the journey over with the kids asleep. Sailing at night at this time of the year is lovely, and, as you say, on the basis you might well be motoring it is the perfect time for making a longish passage. You can also head a good way off shore and miss all excitement of Portland and so on if you wish. Enjoy. (Of course dont if you aent comfortable with night passages)

 

[alant]

If the tides turns west at 2pm (and gets later each day), then if you leave in the mornings you're going to be punching into them most of the time, however once past Weymouth they're not very strong.

I would suggest that you push the tide down the Solent to get to the Needles at about 3pm, and take the tide across to Studland. Let them play on the beach in the morning, then round to Weymouth with the tide in the afternoon. Then, down the the beach or the penny machines in the morning, and leave at lunchtime for Torbay.

You need to catch the early ebb for Portland, so that restricts you departure time anyway, and the kids get to have some fun (and tire themselves out so they'll sleep for some of the Lyme Bay bit).

+1

 

[lw395]

I know a lot of kids who crossed the channel on yachts before they could walk.
It's the endurance of the mums that is the limit, plus the reality that Dad is effectively singlehanded, as Mum is fully occupied.

 

[dom]

"Don't frighten the little mites", "nothing too adventurous", "always small steps" ...but how many kids have read the book?

Not so long ago I happily sailed the West Coat, Brittany and beyond with a 6 and 10 year old. My sense is that kids aren't stupid; they can sense if you're in control and as for the weather; well I personally think they like a fast downhill sleigh ride more than we do sometimes.

And if one thinks about it; drop a kid into a rib on say a bumpy Solent day. Ask yourself how many times you expect to say, "I think you can speed up a tad little-un"? More likely FFS slowdown or we'll have to log a flight plan with NATS!" Put them on a mountain bike and same result can be expected.

Sometimes it's us adults we need to worry about; arrived in Alderney one morning after a bouncy night's crossing and looking forward to a few hours kip. Daughter appeared in a yellow swim costume with a pink bucket in hand and boy with goggles and whatnot..Come on dad, blow up the dinghy, what's for breakfast and let's go to the beach

Enjoy your week and plan a relaxing w/e after :encouragement:

 

[Baddox]

"Don't frighten the little mites", "nothing too adventurous", "always small steps" ...but how many kids have read the book? snip

There's a lot of sense and experience in that post.

All I can add is a link to another resource about rounding Portland.

http://montymariner.co.uk/tide-stream-charts/tide-stream-charts-2/

 

[Claribel]

Thanks to everyone for their advice! Is there good reason to go straight from Southampton to Weymouth through Needles channel, skipping Poole bay so to speak, and therefore avoiding also the St Alban's race by using the 'outer passage'? We can bribe the kids with treats to stay quiet for a long day if it avoids stressful bumpy waters.

 

[lw395]

We're heading west in a 45ft Beneteau, starting from Southampton and hopefully making it to Falmouth. We've never been west of Poole and wondered how far we can push it, assuming we'll probably have to motor or motor sail most of the westward trip, and have little kids with us so can't arrive at each destination much later than sunset and need to avoid any really rough passages. For the the time of our trip, the Solent tides turn westward 2pm on our first day, so we want to get west as fast as possible to avoid evening sailing. Do you think we can get from Southampton to Weymouth in one day? And then Weymouth to Torquay in one day? And then we rest.....

The assertion of needing to motorsail just because it's upwind seems wrong to me.

It's funny how so many cruising sailors find dead steady wind exactly on the nose, while those of us trying to organise some racing find it shifts all day!

A Bene 45 will sail upwind very nicely.

 

[Bobc]

Thanks to everyone for their advice! Is there good reason to go straight from Southampton to Weymouth through Needles channel, skipping Poole bay so to speak, and therefore avoiding also the St Alban's race by using the 'outer passage'? We can bribe the kids with treats to stay quiet for a long day if it avoids stressful bumpy waters.

There is no good reason. Even when going directly to Weymouth from Needles channel, I'll usually go into Anvil head and take the inshore route through St. Albans inside the race.

 

[jac]

With our two we found that 6 hours was fine even when aged 5 and we did the West Country with a 6 year old.

I would give serious thought to leaving really early, first light. Ours sleep in the forecabin though anchors being raised and would happily sleep through till about 9am.

If yours will do that and you can leave say 4:30 am then you could break the back of a Weymouth trip before lunch and have a fair tide for about 4 hours which should get you well clear of the needles channel. Spend a couple of days in Weymouth with the kids on the beach then another early start.

With our kids, we usually head to Yarmouth on the day we get to the boat which is only a couple of hours but makes Weymouth just 1 tide away.

 

[SimonFa]

Thanks to everyone for their advice! Is there good reason to go straight from Southampton to Weymouth through Needles channel, skipping Poole bay so to speak, and therefore avoiding also the St Alban's race by using the 'outer passage'? We can bribe the kids with treats to stay quiet for a long day if it avoids stressful bumpy waters.

There's no firing so no need to go outside the race, even when there's firing you don't need to go all the way out. You're likely to have a foul tide by then so it will be slow. The inner channel should fine if you have a good engine, but watch the wind as you clear it, if there's any North in it you can get surprised.

 

[mainsail1]

IMHO Much better to make Studland the first stop. Can be done in one tide, even to windward, and a lovely beach for kids of all ages to play on.

 

[ip485]

I think the good reason depends on personal preference.

For me, if I am going "somewhere" and have limited time, I would far rather get there. This is a trip I have done many times, and as much as I like Weymouth for a stop, it does get to the point that it seems barely worth cutting into and out of the bay. So for me, and becasue I love the west country, I would far rather get out into the channel in a half reasonable boat, put the kids to bed, and get on with. Last year we came up from Salcombe for a first stop at Newhaven in a day which was far more pleasant than splitting the journey into 3 or 4 stops and taking the best part of a week, but it is personal preference. Once you have done it I actually think many would share my view, but until you have, I suspect we are all a little nervous of that first trip getting out into the Channel proper and steaming through the night.