shingles passage question

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deep denial

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looking at the chart, it should be possible to continue heading due west from Hurst, crossing the northernmost part of the shingles with some depth to spare. But all the yachts I have seen dutifully head nnw along the north passage to round the north buoy, as recommended for larger boats. Is this necessary? do they know something that I don't - I am likely to be making that trip this weekend, with a nnw wind likely to be blowing straight down the north passage, so it would be good to know! thanks.
 
No you don't need to go round the North Head Bouy. My normal track when making for Poole or Anvil Point is from just off Hurst Castle to a cable or so North of NE Shingles Bouy and then due West across the top of the bank. I've never seen less than 4 metres of water including on return trips from Poole, when we would be arriving at Hurst close to low water to take the flood up the Solent. But don't get South of the NE Shingles Bouy as it soon gets very shallow there. There is a very good transit to follow if you keep Fort Albert open North of the NE Shingles Bouy you'll be fine. Keep on the transit until you are abeam of North Head Bouy by which time it should be getting deeper.
Mind you I've always got a nervous eye on the echo sounder when doing it for the first time each season. Banks have been know to move!
 
Yes, there is plenty of water there, but in my experience the tide runs harder close in so it gives you a lift - probably more advantageous going into the Solent than coming out.
 
A word of caution. If you head for St. Aldhelm's head from Hurst Point you will go straight over one of the shallower areas of the shingles that dries at low water. You might ask me how I know.....
 
I have seen less than 4 metres and don't forget that with the fairly severe gales in the last month you may want to be cautious as the banks can change significantly (there was a thread on here about them in the last few days).
 
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I have seen less than 4 metres and don't forget that with the fairly severe gales in the last month you may want to be cautious as the banks can change significantly (there was a thread on here about them in the last few days).

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My thread here - I would err on the side of caution after recent strong winds and spring tides.
 
I'd also urge caution. Was out for a run with a fellow forumite some years ago, through the North Channel, and we gaped in amazement at a 1 to 2 metre high bank (which would have been on the direct route) above the water at near high tide which would have been on the direct route, after a recent storm. I've been across there cautiously (I draw less than a metre, and only significantly less when on the plane) and it's been only just over a metre in places, and changes continually.
 
Looking at the picture in your thread. Which green bouy is that? If It's North Head then things have changed a lot since last year.
 
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Looking at the picture in your thread. Which green bouy is that? If It's North Head then things have changed a lot since last year.

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It's the Warden Ledge buoy, foreshortened by a telephoto lense and taken from the island side, so well south of North Head. But if the shingle has banked up higher there, I wouldn't be surprised to see it banked up on the north side as well.
 
I've been taking the same track from NE Shingles for the last 8 years but as I say always nervous the first time each year. Perhaps I'll be a bit more nervous this year! At least the first time is usually westbound on a fairly high tide so I can note the depth and knock a few metres off to know what to expect on the return trip.
 
We are regulars on the Poole to Solent milk run and rarely bother to go round North Head unless we happen to be in the vicinity by virtue of tacking perhaps. We always take a straight line to/from Poole from about 200/300yds into North Channel north of Hurst Castle and there is considerably more water there than for some ways west of Lymington entrance. Coming from Poole we frequently buck the tide in the bay to arrive off Hurst as the tide turns, around local LW whilst on the return we will be on a dropping west going tide, usually above half tide height so less of a problem anyway. We measure depth in old money still and rarely see less than 18ft taking the short cut and do watch it as we draw 6'10" or 2.08m.

Chris mentions the drying bit on the straight line Hurst to St Albans which is why it is essential to head a ways up the North Channel before branching off towards Poole initially (not St Albans..) even if headed round Anvil or St Albans.

In rough weather or with a big swell however I would stick to the buoyed channel and round North Head by the book.
 
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