Ripster
Well-Known Member
Is there an up to date cruising guide for the Solent and IOW? Other than the Almanac, the only one I can find is 2008 vintage.
Solent cruising guide
- Thread starter Ripster
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Angele
Well-Known Member
So long as you are aware of the changes to pontoon layout at Yarmouth and the alternative entrance to Cowes (plus new breakwater project), not much has changed, and a 2008 guide would still be relevant.
The changes in Yarmouth are clearly shown in Reeds. Cowes less so, although the chartlet shows (some of) the new buoyage and the secondary entrance gets a brief mention under "Navigation". More info here: http://www.cowesharbourcommission.co.uk/documents/27of2013SmallCraftChannel.pdf
The changes in Yarmouth are clearly shown in Reeds. Cowes less so, although the chartlet shows (some of) the new buoyage and the secondary entrance gets a brief mention under "Navigation". More info here: http://www.cowesharbourcommission.co.uk/documents/27of2013SmallCraftChannel.pdf
Houleaux
Well-Known Member
Not a book, but lots of useful info here: http://www.visitmyharbour.com/
lustyd
Well-Known Member
I have the solent cruising companion http://www.amazon.co.uk/Solent-Cruising-Companion-Wiley-Nautical/dp/0470988282
Total waste of money and only in print because people like me (and you) perceive that the information might be better than the almanac. It isn't, it's just a bigger font, nicer paper and more photos to fill a whole book with what the almanac says in 20 pages. The only genuine use it's had (and the others like it) is to build excitement for a trip or to fill a purchase hole while wandering the chandlery.
Total waste of money and only in print because people like me (and you) perceive that the information might be better than the almanac. It isn't, it's just a bigger font, nicer paper and more photos to fill a whole book with what the almanac says in 20 pages. The only genuine use it's had (and the others like it) is to build excitement for a trip or to fill a purchase hole while wandering the chandlery.
Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
I tend to agree with that assessment, the information is satisfactory but there is not an awful lot more than given in the Almanac plus a fair bit of 'padding' about racing classes, etc is included.
Always felt it was a shame that while the Fishwick's West Country Cruising Companion has been regularly updated, his South Coast effort never recived the same treatment.
PhillM
Well-Known Member
This website has quite lot on it. Not much in the way of navigation, but a useful planning tool.
I also have the The Channel Pilot and The Solent Cruising Guide. Regulars here know I tend to be cautious when planning, but to be honest after you have read up on the port, the best pilotage plan is to go in on a Saturday afternoon and simply follow everyone else. I spent an hour reading up and planning Lymington last week. When we got there on saturday aftyernoon, we simply followed all the other boats in - could not have been simpler
I also have the The Channel Pilot and The Solent Cruising Guide. Regulars here know I tend to be cautious when planning, but to be honest after you have read up on the port, the best pilotage plan is to go in on a Saturday afternoon and simply follow everyone else. I spent an hour reading up and planning Lymington last week. When we got there on saturday aftyernoon, we simply followed all the other boats in - could not have been simpler
prv
Well-Known Member
Some bits are actually covered better in the Shell Channel Pilot, which the Solent book ought to be embarrassed about.
Pete
onesea
Well-Known Member
I disagree, some one bought me a new one when I gave them the one I was using to read, they saw the one I was using did not have the area phone codes.
The new one has been most helpful, the phone numbers are now upto date, unlike the ones in my chart and Reeds
. If you have sailed the Solent before its not really worth it, if you have not sailed the Solent before its another guide with some nice irrelevant information. Certainly I would not call it essential..
lustyd
Well-Known Member
I disagree, some one bought me a new one when I gave them the one I was using to read, they saw the one I was using did not have the area phone codes.
The new one has been most helpful, the phone numbers are now upto date, unlike the ones in my chart and Reeds
If you have sailed the Solent before its not really worth it, if you have not sailed the Solent before its another guide with some nice irrelevant information. Certainly I would not call it essential..
Are you saying the Almanac doesn't have the right phone area codes? I've never had a problem with them and have used them for the whole Solent, IOW and Poole from it as well as Isle of Man, Wales and Ireland
onesea
Well-Known Member
lustyd
Well-Known Member
It depends upon how out of date my copy is I guess
Which further proves my point - you might be able to afford an up to date copy (only £30 for the full one!) if you didn't buy these other books. Then you'd have up to date information everywhere from Gib to Denmark
onesea
Well-Known Member
Which further proves my point - you might be able to afford an up to date copy (only £30 for the full one!) if you didn't buy these other books. Then you'd have up to date information everywhere from Gib to Denmark
Not something I would spend money on I have to agree...
The first one I was given, was from the 70's / 80's, it was old when I was given it when I first started sailing the Solent...
Ripster
Well-Known Member
I have sailed the Solent before a few seasons back, so can remember some bits anyway. I can read charts, do passage plans etc., and work out tides and streams. I was just after a book to peruse about the cruising area and the IOW from a boaty perspective.
Many thanks for the recommendations, I'll look em up.
Many thanks for the recommendations, I'll look em up.
Angele
Well-Known Member
Worth spending a bit of time perusing here too: http://www.troppo.co.uk/tightwad/tightwad.htm
Some of the entries here are even older than a 2008 book - take Yarmouth, for example - but it is a good (and free) reminder of what is there, especially if you wish to avail yourself of some of the more "off the beaten track" anchorages and/or keep your costs down.
Some of the entries here are even older than a 2008 book - take Yarmouth, for example - but it is a good (and free) reminder of what is there, especially if you wish to avail yourself of some of the more "off the beaten track" anchorages and/or keep your costs down.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
If you must buy a book (and quite often I do even though I know better...) then get the channel pilot assuming TC is your kind of writer. It's one of the better ones and covers enough that it justifies the cost. I'll admit that one of my main objections to the others is that it's £20 for something covered in 20 pages of the almanac with little extra detail. TC at least covers a huge area so you won't feel nearly so ripped off
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
There is lots of information on the Cowes website and this page http://www.cowes.co.uk/Around-the-Solent.aspx has links to the websites of a number of the harbours around the Solent.
