Solent against the tide

[Seaway Channel]

It’s pretty shallow inside Sconce, few dare go that way. But there’s an eddy in there, if your draught permits.

That’s the one, it runs out just as you reach the derelict pier…

 

[Elessar]

I am a bit bored now with a boat still ashore (hopefully not long now) so started looking at charts and thought that while obviously the passage planning is focused on using the tides efficiently so sailing with not against them, having a decent strategy to go against the tide seems a good skill to have. So assuming that for whatever reason you had to sail from let's say Hurst to Cowes or back against the spring tide how would you do it to get there as quickly as possible ?

Ask me for a lift

 

[Chiara’s slave]

That’s the one, it runs out just as you reach the derelict pier…

If you can make it round the pier, it’s only a knot or so against you all the way to the harbour. And another eddy to help you when you get to ‘Folkboats Forever’. Just inside Black Rock.

Then comes the big one, getting around Yarmouth pier. And then, as you head inshore towards the RSYC, there’s the menacing prospect of being taken back by the tide and pinned against the pier. Maybe Elessar has a point!

 

[Tomaret]

I am a bit bored now with a boat still ashore (hopefully not long now) so started looking at charts and thought that while obviously the passage planning is focused on using the tides efficiently so sailing with not against them, having a decent strategy to go against the tide seems a good skill to have. So assuming that for whatever reason you had to sail from let's say Hurst to Cowes or back against the spring tide how would you do it to get there as quickly as possible ?

Try to avoid beating into the tide and wind. It took me five hours one morning last summer to get from Yarmouth to Cowes. Plenty of distance over the water but two tacks from mainland to island and back saw me no more than 50 m forward. Great sailing, lousy passage making!

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Try to avoid beating into the tide and wind. It took me five hours one morning last summer to get from Yarmouth to Cowes. Plenty of distance over the water but two tacks from mainland to island and back saw me no more than 50 m forward. Great sailing, lousy passage making!

I’ve occasionally spent 30 minutes within 20 metres of a racing mark, pointing at it and going nowhere. You just look at your watch, and count down to the race time limit. So dispiriting.

 

[ProDave]

IoW is very challenging, so to relax a bit come and bask around the Pentland Firth.

And if you want to practice "sailing nowhere" try entering or leaving the Cromarty Firth against the tide.

 

[Minchsailor]

And if you want to practice "sailing nowhere" try entering or leaving the Cromarty Firth against the tide.

I,ve done it, took ages.................

 

[Poignard]

And if you want to practice "sailing nowhere" try entering or leaving the Cromarty Firth against the tide.

Or the Golfe du Morbihan.

 

[Elessar]

If you can make it round the pier, it’s only a knot or so against you all the way to the harbour. And another eddy to help you when you get to ‘Folkboats Forever’. Just inside Black Rock.

Then comes the big one, getting around Yarmouth pier. And then, as you head inshore towards the RSYC, there’s the menacing prospect of being taken back by the tide and pinned against the pier. Maybe Elessar has a point!

To be fair I was taking the micky only because I learned to sail and spent many years racing (dinghies and yachts) in the Bristol Channel with 15m tides.
The first yacht I sailed had a swing keel and we took the pin out that kept it down if the boat turned turtle. “Close inshore “ meant tacking when the handle started rising out of the table.
Even so I’ve spent way too much of my life going backwards!!!
(Dangerous and cheating - I know - I was young ok!!)

 

[Chiara’s slave]

To be fair I was taking the micky only because I learned to sail and spent many years racing (dinghies and yachts) in the Bristol Channel with 15m tides.
The first yacht I sailed had a swing keel and we took the pin out that kept it down if the boat turned turtle. “Close inshore “ meant tacking when the handle started rising out of the table.
Even so I’ve spent way too much of my life going backwards!!!
(Dangerous and cheating - I know - I was young ok!!)

Dangerous? Only if it’s blowing old boots and cutting up rough. If it was like that you’d hardly be scratching your boat’s bum on the bottom. Touch and tack is light wind strategy.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

IoW is very challenging, so to relax a bit come and bask around the Pentland Firth.

I have crossed the eastern end of the Pentland very warily in a 40ft boat and would love to cross it to get our 27ft one to Orkney if we ever get the time.

On last years sail from Plymouth to the inner Hebrides I was disappointed that the Navigator did not let me go past Corryvrekan

 

[Roberto]

Or the Golfe du Morbihan.

With engine at tickover I once clocked 14kt SOG
An acrobatic trick: when the wind is N-NWish and one enters with the flood, the apparent goes basically on the bow and one shoots in with all sails flapping, it is possible (and quite funny) to turn the boat 180° and point outwards, the boat gathers some speed over water (which of course is less than the current speed), sails are filled and the boat keeps on entering the Gulf backwards Problem one must be careful with all the traffic "behind", which is sometimes mad.

Or we once rented an Hobie 16 on a windless day, we went playing over the current veins which were giving a good apparent wind; I have pictures taken from the shore of our boat with only one hull on the water over a glassy sea surface, quite weird.

 

[Tomaret]

I’ve occasionally spent 30 minutes within 20 metres of a racing mark, pointing at it and going nowhere. You just look at your watch, and count down to the race time limit. So dispiriting.

I had that with “Red 18” harbour mark in Lagos harbour, Nigeria - much loved of race officers but always a bugger to get to or away from.