salcombe to brixham

[jimsnap]

hi can anyone offer advice. i have to move my 40 year old 26' bilge keeler from salcombe to brixham before the 31/3. we were hoping to move her this week but looking at the forecast it seems it may be a little gusty. both my crew and myself are lacking in experience and don't know the capabilities of the boat. Wednesday 17th is the first day we are both free to move her and the weather seems to be deteriorating after that.
Questions are as follows
1) what would be the estimated passage time?
2) how sheltered is that part of the coast and other than Dartmouth is there anywhere to hole up if the weather turns?
3) are we irresponsible for considering it until the weather improves and should we just bear the expense of putting her on a visitors mooring at Salcombe?

Any advice would be greatfully received

 

[bobgoode]

The problem on that stretch lies with Prawle point and then Start Point.
The distance is around 25 miles so at 4 knots you are looking at 6 hours or one tide.
Now you want slack at both Prawle and Start...which you won't get.
My choice would be punch a bit of duff tide aiming for Prawle as it slackens to then hit Start at slack carrying the good stuff up the coast.

After leaving Salcombe your next safe haven is Dartmouth then the delights of the Bay...but they are all easy options whatever the weather.

Wind from the East, if strong , is not pleasant but SW is ok as its a broad reach to Start then shelter once around.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Salcombe to Brixham is about 20nm. If your boat can do 5knots then its about 4 hours, more likely 5 hours.

To make it more comfortable you want the tide with you. On the 17th that means getting to Brixham by midday.

I would consider making and early start from Salcombe. Winds are often at the lighter end of the forecast first thing. If you come out and don't like it you can go back. The worst part is likely to be around Start Point so read the pilot books about best timing for that. You can always hide in Dartmouth which is an easy place to enter.

Having said all that, you should probably take someone with you who has no real concerns about the trip. A complete crew of novices should wait for guaranteed good weather.

Just adding a bit as I reread your OP. I really do not think you should attempt this until you have done some sailing in the shelter of Salcombe and are familiar with the boat. Whatever the weather.

 

[doug748]

You could do it on Wed (prediction right now is below 20 kts SW) but even so it would be brisk and cold. Leaving Salcombe at 9 or 10h you would have the ebb down the river and plenty of water over the bar and the tide would start to set East during the passage. (Please check this, it is a quick guesstimate) The trip falls roughly into thirds 7 miles to Start, 7 to Darmouth, 7ish to Torbay; so the whole 20 something miles should be doable in under 6 hours.
There are no places to leave the boat between the three places and as the distances are so small there would be no need. Round Start can be lumpy but should be no problem in conditions as presently forecast.
As you have asked the question, and the boat seems to be new to you, and particularly if you feel you lack experience........seriously consider waiting till next week unless the conditions on Wed are spot on.

 

[jimsnap]

Thanks

Thanks for all the advice, we're going to keep an eye on the forecast for wednesday. I've just looked at the long range forecast till the end of the month and there doesn't seem to be a lot of improvement so wednesday may be the best weather window for a while. If anyone has anything else to add please feel free
cheers

 

[photodog]

I dont have the almanac with me right now... but you need to check the tides very carefully for Start point...

As far as I can see you need to be around Start point no later than 0930hours... before it turns...

20 knots Wind on tide at Start... at nearly the Spring tide.... in a 26 foot bilge keel that you have not done a lot of sailing in....

So that means leaving Salcombe around 6am... be past the point no later than 9.30... but I would want to be past earlier... to get past the Skerries on that tide... if you dont you can duck to port right under the point and then follow the coastline in start bay around to Dartmouth.. In a westerly it gets very nice and flat as soon as you turn the corner... there is usually a odvious gap between the point and the Skerries...

Can someone who is better equipped with the tides please give us a definitive view??

 

[doug748]

I have re-cast the chicken bones and you should leave earlier than my first suggestion (as per Photodog et al).
As long as you are around Start before it turns you would be well placed, it should be slack just before 11h. Punching a foul tide for the second half of the trip would not be a disaster.