Solent Myths and facts

prv said:
I would say that Chichester is, but Poole isn't.

The former is probably controversial - and from a geographical point of view I'd agree that the Solent probably ends roughly where the submarine barrier runs. But from a sailing, human, social point of view, I think Chichester is included.
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From a psychological point of view I'd say Chichester isn't the Solent. Because when you think about sailing in the Solent you think of a protected area where you can enter all the harbours in strong conditions. Which doesn't apply to Chichester!
 
The Solent is a state of mind. It's anywhere you can drive to from your nice Home Counties house in your nice BMW and meet nice people who are just like the neighbours at home.
 
flaming said:
From a psychological point of view I'd say Chichester isn't the Solent. Because when you think about sailing in the Solent you think of a protected area where you can enter all the harbours in strong conditions. Which doesn't apply to Chichester!
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One definition of the Solent for me is that it's anywhere I would sail to without looking at or plotting on a chart, where (apart from the tide) I don't think about navigation as such, just point the boat in the right direction and go. Admittedly that definition would apply to Poole as well as Chichester, but the Needles / Hurst forms a significant boundary which overrides that (observe that people are debating where the eastern end lies, but there's consensus on the west).

Pete
 
benjenbav said:
The Solent is a state of mind. It's anywhere you can drive to from your nice Home Counties house in your nice BMW and meet nice people who are just like the neighbours at home.
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...and in a sense the waterborne equivalent really. Which I don't really like, I'd rather go somewhere a bit less groomed and effortless (and expensive).

Pete
 
Taking (or tossing) the bait, I wonder if anyone would like to posit the highest wave ever encountered in the Solent? Likewise the most yachts making simultaneous distress calls?

Anybody got one of those summer photos taken off Cowes, where almost every square yard of water seems to be clotted with sailboats, all cheerily getting in each other's way?
 
I think I agree with most here, Chichester isn't in the Solent (although it is for social purposes) and southampton is. I would say the Solent starts just east of the forts and ends just west of the needles.
 
alant said:
Fastest tide is just off the RYS, just west of Cowes entrance.
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That's correct, by a fraction of a knot, but I would say that the tidal stream at Hurst is far more difficult to manage, and is the more significant hazard. It can be a b*****r getting into Yarmouth as well.
 
How about the eastern limit being at the QHM boundary line which runs from the old CG lookout on Hayling beach roughly out to the Dean Tail stbd channel bouy-and incidentally casts all us Chi Bar Bouncers into outer yottin darkness, where there is wailing of pink gin trizers and gnashing of blazers/pea jackets.

Arrr, young Master Dylan, East o' there, there be only boiler suits, cotton smocks, jeans, black wellies, rigger boots n Screwfix gloves, Guy Cotton PVC oilies, oiled wool roll necks and bobble hats. Nary a logo to be seen, except the Dutch in Ramsgate and the Woyal Buwham, dontcha knew old chep. Ee wor wise, Young Master to sail right past loike thay Greek chep, Ulyssess:friendly_wink:
 
Heading off into the mist from Chi Bar in the early '90s, we had no idea at all where we were actually going, despite my plan to reach the island. I'd barely glanced at the chart which was so damned expensive, I wasn't taking it with us in the dinghy...so when the Dean Tail buoy emerged from the fog, I'd no idea where we were. We made it, anyway. :rolleyes:
 
boatsRus said:
Officially, there are 3261 moorings on the Hamble (including marina berths). If you assume that most of these are full, then add the number of boats which seem to be almost permanently ashore in the various marinas, then add all the RIBs in dry stacks, I think you will get very close to the total number of leisure boats in Scotland.
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I think your logic is pretty flawed - as you are ignoring the RIBs, sailing dinghies etc in Scotland as well.

But more importantly, isn't it a great thought - as Scotland's coastline is so huge compared to the rest of the UK (let alone the Cowes / Southampton puddle), each boat in Scotland must have 10,000x or more coast to play with per boat. Long may Hamble remain over crowded
 
Can any Scots yachtsman calculate then how many midges there are per yacht in Scotland?

I have done the equivalent calculation for the Solent and the answer is less than one......
 
dancrane said:
Taking (or tossing) the bait, I wonder if anyone would like to posit the highest wave ever encountered in the Solent? Likewise the most yachts making simultaneous distress calls?

Anybody got one of those summer photos taken off Cowes, where almost every square yard of water seems to be clotted with sailboats, all cheerily getting in each other's way?
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I once sailed a 22' Hurley called Sandra in the eastern Solent into the teeth of a 7 from the South east with the swell running at at least 15'.

Not measured it, but the tidal flow under Hamble A27 bridge on a high spring mid ebb must easily surpass 5 knots.
 
Of course, back in the old days, there were only 2.5 feet in a meter. So those waves were...oh, at least 6m high. :rolleyes:

Actually I believe it.
 
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