Solent to River Orwell

If memory serves?...and am not having a senile moment, is it not possible to save the tide coming east, if you can hold a speed of about 6knots over the ground? Pushing it a bit for 23' ?!...So, would have thought a couple of stops would be in order. Newhaven, Dover?
 
Only done it once, delivery trip of new (to me) boat, at Easter 2002. Hamble Point marina, depart 2 pm, Flat calm motored to Ramsgate, arrive 11 am, 1 day stop over, leave with north tide, 11 am, via Kentish Knock, then Medusa channel to Shotley arrive 10pm in time for Pub, Ramsgate to Shotley a bit windy, southerly.

Welcome to east coast, ps we don't do radio checks up here!
 
Yes point taken, if you needed to do it in daylight then 2 stops would be in order, the last 20 odd miles from Dungeness could seem like a lifetime if punching the tide, even if you kept inshore out of the race.
 
I've done it the other way, Deben to Falmouth via Portsmouth, single-handed, similar experience to others'. One point, I stayed well outside all the messy estuary stuff rather than try to take the short route. All that sand shifts like the devil and if you are pretty new to all this you'll be glad not to have to deal (no pun intended /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif) with it, especially with tides running as they do round there. There is a load of traffic so staying well out makes life easier as well. Don't be frightened of the high speed ferries - they look and sound intimidating but they are no problem in deep water and the skippers don't (usually) harass yachts, so just relax and they will keep clear of you.

It should be a nice passage if you pick the weather and the tides - getting the tides right is half the battle (second pun not intended /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif)
 
Done it non-stop delivering friends boat & once non-stop from Rye with mine. 30hrs for 36' with plenty of crew; m-sail pretty hard all the way. Left Chichester as soon as we could cross the bar on rising tide - indeed we sat on the bar a bit & waited for enough water; flat calm tho'!! Went thro' Looe Channel iirr. Need to get Dungeness etc right obviously.
I agree with Lemain probably stay outside Thames estuary after leaving Ramsgate; leave all the "fingers" to port especially Long Sand head - went aground there once cutting the corner; the sands are quite unpredictable (other boats with me also went aground so not my nav error). After Long Sand Head you decide which way you go round Cork Sand depending on the tide. Leaving it to s'board is quieter as it keeps you away from the deep water route for the "big boys" but watch the tide near S Cork as it tends to push you towards the sand on the ebb.
Get a copy of the Thames/East Coast Portfolio charts & make sure the GPS works.

Dont worry you will soon get used to 1-2 metres under you keel - sometimes less!!!

Great sailing area but dont bring too many others with you...

Where are you going to berth??
 
We dont want to put people off, it is very simple coming across the estuary, just make sure you are aware of the state of the tide, use an established route and dont cut the corners.
 
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