Salcombe to Hamble Point passage plan

billbonham

billbonham

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My son and I are planning on sailing my yacht from Salcombe to Hamble Point, setting out on either Sunday 2nd or Monday 3rd September, to put her in the Used Boat show there. We're going to try and do the whole passage in one hit. Any advice about timing the tides, especially through the outside passage past Portland would be greatly appreciated!
 
I haven't looked up the tides, the books are on the boat; but I'd keep well off Portland ( min 5 miles ) then angle in for Anvil Point; there's the option of anchoring at Studland for a rest / meal to get the tide right at the North Channel /Hurst.

There's also the gunnery range at Lulworth to keep tabs on which may require keeping offshore then angling in sharply for Studland if desired, and don't underestimate St Albans Race either.
 
billbonham said:
My son and I are planning on sailing my yacht from Salcombe to Hamble Point, setting out on either Sunday 2nd or Monday 3rd September, to put her in the Used Boat show there. We're going to try and do the whole passage in one hit. Any advice about timing the tides, especially through the outside passage past Portland would be greatly appreciated!
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I have done Dartmouth to Cowes in one hit before running out of tide and wind. You don't say what your cruising speed is, but assuming you are an AWB of 35' + and have a decent breeze up the tail - than I would calculate a departure time to pick up the first of the flood off the Bill and you should carry the tide at least through Hurst, if you get through the narrows at Hurst you can anchor tucked in behind Hurst Castle or in one of the bays on the Island shore. If you are going to run out of tide earlier, then anchor in Studland Bay get a sleep and carry the next flood tide.
 
billbonham said:
My son and I are planning on sailing my yacht from Salcombe to Hamble Point, setting out on either Sunday 2nd or Monday 3rd September, to put her in the Used Boat show there. We're going to try and do the whole passage in one hit. Any advice about timing the tides, especially through the outside passage past Portland would be greatly appreciated!
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Tidal Gates are (as I am sure you know) Portland and Needles / Hurst, if you hit Portland in daylight (not safe at night due to pot buoys) the inshore passage can be a big time saver at the right state of the tide, but inshore does mean inshore >50m. If you take the outside route, aim to be at least 5 miles out more if weather is adverse.
 
I would have thought that he'll be going outside of eveything. So it all becomes less of an issue.

I would say that you want to try to get to the Needles in daylight, as the nav up though there and the Solent is easier if you'e not used to it.

From a tidal perspective, just bear in mind that the current gets stronger the further East you go, so again try to plan to have tide with you for the last 6 hours or so (pass Portland at or just before LW is a good call, then assuming 5-6kts, you sould be at Bridge bouy at about HW or before).

Have a good trip.
 
punch the tide across lyme bay and be at portland at slack. then you should have 6 hours of good tide to pull you through the needles and up the solent.

inshore passage at portland stay about 50-100 metres off shore. or pass it a few miles off.
 
Did the passage from Dartmouth to Solent a few weeks ago, we left Dartmouth at 5pm, 1 hour before hw.

We made good progress all the way to the Bill and then had a couple of hours of 2 - 3 kts SOG but then we picked up the tide again and enjoyed a cracking sail all the way to Cowes with 9kts up the Western Solent
 
I would advise against aiming for Portland inshore passage from the West.

I did this years ago, going up North into Lyme Bay to avoid being dragged through the Race.

The forecast was perfect and the first part of the journey was under engine, then the wind built and kept building, a lot more than advertised, and we were committed to the inshore passage.

It got to a SW7, way above forecast, I thought about beating back to Lyme Regis but with just my girlfriend as crew I reckoned fatigue would be too great.

Approaching Portland with everything battened down and miniflares quietly slipped into my pocket, a very broken horizon, was the most frightening thing I've ever known, I kept thinking of a sentence by Adlard Coles " above F6 the inshore passage ceases to exist ".

To cut a long story short, we aimed for Chesil Beach then ran south alongside the Bill, meeting very large chaotic overfalls off the SW tip.

My boat handles very well in surf with a big rudder which doesn't stall, so we were able to slalom through the waves and burst out into flat water; a boat with less rudder authority would have been clobbered.

FFS go outside Portland Race if coming from the West !
 
AIDY said:
punch the tide across lyme bay and be at portland at slack. then you should have 6 hours of good tide to pull you through the needles and up the solent.

inshore passage at portland stay about 50-100 metres off shore. or pass it a few miles off.
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If you PP to do this, then they will leave Salcomb at some point during the previous flood which will be handy to round Start point, the ebb will less of an issue across Lyme bay. I see no point in going inshore around Portland. A rumb line from Start to Needles will conveniently keep them well offshore of Portland and Anvil.

I'd also add, if you are likely to run out of tide before you have cleared Hurst, then Totland is a safe easy to close anchorage, except in strong W through NE winds.
 
Did a similar passage myself the other week...we went from Dartmouth to Lymington in one hit. I'd agree with Seajet...no point in doing the inshore passage at the Bill.

We left Dartmouth at 0000 on the Saturday and were anchored in Studland by about 1500. A couple of hours kip and then North Passage through to Lymmo by 2000. We were pretty pleased with that for a Sabre 27!
 
Just done my passage plan Falmouth to Gosport for this weekend

St Anthony's 03.00 Saturday, buck the tide at Start Pt, take the last of the flood off Portland, carry the tide through Hurst all the way to Gosport at 11.00 Sunday.

I'm praying for a bit more wind than forecast, help me Simon!

Plank
 
PlankWalker said:
Just done my passage plan Falmouth to Gosport for this weekend

St Anthony's 03.00 Saturday, buck the tide at Start Pt, take the last of the flood off Portland, carry the tide through Hurst all the way to Gosport at 11.00 Sunday.

I'm praying for a bit more wind than forecast, help me Simon!

Plank
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Be careful what you wish for !

Have a good trip, from what I hear sooner would be better than later.
 
You should be getting Westerlies 3s and 4s, but if its lighter than that or from the East earlier than forecast, what is your contingency plan?
 
With such a great forecast why rush? From Falmouth I would consider stopping at Fowey, the Yealm, Dartmouth, Weymouth, Lulworth and Yarmouth.

The busy season is over and this may well be the best sailing wether of the year.
 
Had a great year based in Falmouth, crew need to work on Monday,

Arrived at Hurst 3 hours early, crept through North Passage in the dark (laptop ie chart plotter US) , back at Gosport 0900 this morning, old mooring strop covered in weed.

Plank
 
Ex-SolentBoy said:
With such a great forecast why rush? From Falmouth I would consider stopping at Fowey, the Yealm, Dartmouth, Weymouth, Lulworth and Yarmouth.

The busy season is over and this may well be the best sailing wether of the year.
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He's coming from Salcombe, not Falmouth.

But I agree with your point. Unless under great time pressure, I would break it up into two easy one-tide day sails, stopping for the night in Weymouth, Portland, or Chapman's Pool, depending on wind and weather.

The inside passage at the Bill is a doddle in suitable weather (and N.B.! In daylight!) if it's needed to get to Weymouth or Portland (don't need it if going straight by).
 
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