Solent local knowledge requested

nigelhudson

nigelhudson

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calculuscontracts.co.uk
So we've taken the plunge and bought our first big boat. We've spent the last three months fixing all the defects, replacing the standing rigging etc and we're ready to go cruising in our own boat for the first time. As my family have little sailing experience I want to give them a gentle introduction to holidaying afloat. The obvious solution is to spend our summer hols in the Solent area - lot's of sheltered water and interesting harbours to explore and practise navigation, pilotage, anchoring, berthing etc and only a few hours sail from our home port. What could go wrong?

Well I am constrained to when I can take time off work and our first week coincides with Cowes Week. The thought of dodging racing fleets and negotiating crowded harbours with a novice crew doesn't inspire me with confidence. This is where I need the local knowledge - are there any areas of the Solent that don't get impossibly crowded during Cowes Week and where we can have some safe and interesting sailing to build the crew's confidence and experience? The boat is 10.5m loa and a fin keeler so ditchcrawling is out of the question.

Thanks
 
If you really want to come into the solent during Cowes week - try the eastern end - you have Portsmouth, Langstone and Chichester Harbour on the main land. Bembridge and Ryde are tidal access (don't forget your passport!) - Ryde is a drying harbour though.
I would guess that you could probably do a dash past cowes and on to Yarmouth, Lymington & Beauliea in the western solent too ...
 
Main harbours to avoid are Cowes & Hamble. Otherwise, on the water it's not so bad as you'd imagine as long as you stay away frm the start & finish lines off Cowes Green, If you see a racing fleet heading at you, check whether there's a buoy in your proximity - it may be their turning mark. If so, keep as far from that buoy as is practicable. Racing sailors will miss you, but they do tend to get a bit het up when approaching a mark.

Also, generally the racing fleets don't go up Soton Water, which is an area that would provide good introductory sailing, as well as parking at Hythe and Southampton.
 
During Cowes Week you will be fine in Bucklers Hard, Newtown, Yarmouth, Lymington Town Quay, Colwell & Alum Bays. Priory Bay (walk up to the hotel) & Bembridge will be fine too. Have a good holiday!
 
The solent should be fine, it is huge after all. Just Stay away from Cowes/Hamble.
I would suggest you take a chart of the race marks and keep away from the ones in use that day and listern to the race control if you have any concerns. Racing fleets are pretty predictable as they want to get to a specific destination as quick as possible.
Racing gives no one any rights on the water although it is good manners to keep clear. Indeed you family might learn some new words if you sat near a turning mark.
A few years ago I got a very pleasant wave from Versheba (sic) when I tacked out of her water.
 
I agree with most of the above, and if you want to pass through the central Solent area, you can always do it after 1600 or 1700 so when everyone is back alongside signing off and heading for the beer tent.

Cowes week starts are all early to mid morning with the finish always off the Squadron at Cowes. You should note that each class will have a committee boat start one day of the week which can be anywhere in the West or Eastern Solent areas. The day boats generally have their start/finish off a committee boat just to the West of the Medina entrance.

I wouldn't worry too much - your family might enjoy the sights - just keep as much out of the way as you can, and you will be fine. And you've got Chichester, Langstone and Bembridge etc to visit which could take up most of your first week if you have rest days in between sailing.
 
Hi Nigel,

Congratulations on getting your first boat.... you'll all love it!

As others have said, the Solent isn't as bad during Cowes week as people like to make out.....

In my mind, the most important thing is not to worry so much about the destination, and how crowded it is, but the weather and sea conditions.... if you want your family to become real converts, then take real care to avoid things like beating into a heavy sea until they are well and truly addicted!

Be prepared to change your plans and head East instead of West if the wind has too much Westerly in it.......

Remember that for people who have not yet realised that the 'getting there' is as much fun as the 'being there', to not get carried away with too many long passages to start with, perhaps no more than 20nm in a day, and arrange plenty of pleasant destinations with quaint/lively/busy/quiet/boozy/pretty (delete as appropriate) character.....
 
One other thing - Solent tides are strong, so it can be a slow process going uptide - at least in relation to the land.

Impatience of newish sailors is best rewarded by going downtide, when high SOG helps the scenery change quite quickly.

In the Solent it's usually possible to make a round trip by going downtide, waiting for the change then going downtide in the opp direction.

PS - good first 'Offshore' trips available by sailing round the Nab, or out of the Needles Channel to go just around the IOW corner to anchor off Freshwater. You need the right tides and weather to make these pleasant experiences.
 
Just to reinforce what others have said, some of the harbours at the extremities of The Solent are actually less crowded during Cowes Week because all the boats have gone to Cowes. Cruising hot-spots such as Newtown Creek will always be crowded at that time of the year but in the right conditions there is an excellent anchorage outside the entrance and to the east of Hurst Spit.

One thing to be aware of is that in moderate wind conditions the sea state in the central Solent will be noticeably worse than you would expect because of all the boats churning up the water
 
Congratulations - the Storm is a brilliant boat. I'm sure you'll really enjoy it. From Brighton (my home port, or at least was in the days I had a boat), a good easy family holiday cruise is to spend a day or two in Chichester harbour which is lovely, and then round to the Solent. Cowes week shouldn't be too much of a problem as long as you keep clear of Cowes itself as well as the Hamble, where a lot of the racers base themselves for the week. But places like Newtown, Yarmouth, Beaulieu, should be relatively quiet, and at the end of the week it's quite a sight to see the start of the Fastnet.

If you want a hand getting the boat up there drop me a PM as I think I'm free that weekend!
 
Yarmouth is better avoided at weekends (isn't everywhere?) or get there early. Also do watch the state of the tide at Yarmouth, there can be an unexpected current from the river there and there's many a shout, bang and a wail I've heard from unwary sailors (and only by sheer luck not from me the first time). It's not a problem if you know it's there and Yarmouth is a lovely place for a wander ashore.
 
just a final thought - the time for a cross channel to Fecamp and to get to the Solent from Brighton are about the same. While psychologically the cross channel trip may seem more intimidating, in practice its easier, on nav (don't need to worry about tides so much), less things to bump into (inshore lobster pots are everywhere between Brighton and the Looe Channel!), and if the weather is a classic South Westerly, its a fetch, or at least a one-tack beat, rather having to tack all the way up to the Solent. And once you get there, you'll probably feel a higher sense of achievement than going along the coast.
 
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