bendyone
Well-known member
Merry Fisher 895, looks like there is going to be a weather window in the comming week, maybe leave on Thursday, Southampton to Portland, Portland to Dartmouth, Dartmouth to Plymouth. Any thoughts?
Southampton to Plymouth
- Thread starter bendyone
- Start date
Martxer
Active member
I did Swanwick to Dartmouth 2 weeks ago on an 895 and enjoyed the trip. I am relatively inexperienced but from what I learned from doing the trip, on Thursday you have spring tide at Portland and PredictWind is showing 22 knot westerly but wind finder showing more favourable wind.
henryf
Well-known member
I aim for Weymouth as a stop over meaning it’s easy to time Portland and you know the actual conditions before you set off.
Do the inside passage very close to the Portland headland, that way it’s over and done with very quickly.
Dartmouth, Torquay or Brixham would all work as a second stop off.
Salcombe as an emergency port of call if needed en route to Plymouth.
Do the inside passage very close to the Portland headland, that way it’s over and done with very quickly.
Dartmouth, Torquay or Brixham would all work as a second stop off.
Salcombe as an emergency port of call if needed en route to Plymouth.
Martxer
Active member
YesI am seeing easterlies too
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BlueJasper
Active member
If it is Easterlies, it would be better to leave as the tide starts heading West late morning. That said, I'd want a bit less wind first. I'd also go tight in past Anvil Point and St Alban's Head and then into Weymouth.
colhel
Well-known member
The inside route past St Albans is my preferred route too. However the OP is suggesting Thursday for their trip which means the MOD exclusion zone needs to be considered, ie. a sharp left for about 6-7 miles or so.
There's no shore side petrol in Weymouth, but there is at Portland.
Wether you break the trip with a stop at Weymouth or not is a matter of choice, doable in one go.
Here's the route @Martxer and I took a couple of weeks ago. Bear in mind this was a weekend so the exclusion zone wasn't in place.
There's no shore side petrol in Weymouth, but there is at Portland.
Wether you break the trip with a stop at Weymouth or not is a matter of choice, doable in one go.
Here's the route @Martxer and I took a couple of weeks ago. Bear in mind this was a weekend so the exclusion zone wasn't in place.
Attachments
colhel
Well-known member
^^^^^ not to be used for navigation 
bendyone
Well-known member
Thanks for the above, Weymouth has no petrol but Portland has (£2.01 ppl ) Dartmouth has petrol. The boat is new to the inexperanced owner so we want to keep the tanks topped up. Single 300HP outboard.
Wind a bit N to NE to N over the few days, looking to travel around noon each day with the west going tide. We are not on a tight time scale but would like to be in Plymouth by Sunday / Monday.
Wind a bit N to NE to N over the few days, looking to travel around noon each day with the west going tide. We are not on a tight time scale but would like to be in Plymouth by Sunday / Monday.
bendyone
Well-known member
Well we did it. Top of the Hamble to Yarmouth on Thursday, tide over wind in the Solent but the boat handled well, 55l of Petrol. Yarmouth for the night £44. Friday set off at 11am, out thought the Neddles and off outside Portland race, East wind and west flowing tide. Stopped the engine just the other side of Portland to eat some lunch and drifed at 4Kn for half and hour in the right dirrection. Got going again to Salcombe, Start race was rougher than Portland. but neither were bad, sea about 1 m from behind and a westerly light wind 2 - 4 . Total time 4.7Hours 95 miles and 280l of Petrol between 22 - 26 Kns speed. Night in Salcombe £22.50. Next day to Plymouth Brwakfast in the Royal William Yard marines (£15 / 4hours ) then on to Sutton Harbour ( Home Berth) Hamble petrol £2.07 Yarmouth £2.10 and Salcombe £2.29. Overall a good trip and far better than going by road. The owner can now steer a compass corse after chasing the Lubber's line for a while. 
I can confirm that my back prefers a sailing boat.
I can confirm that my back prefers a sailing boat.
colhel
Well-known member
Sounds a good trip, thanks for the update.
Couple of things, I would have thought more than 95 miles. And Yarmouth, £44! There's inflation!
Couple of things, I would have thought more than 95 miles. And Yarmouth, £44! There's inflation!
bendyone
Well-known member
95 miles Yarmouth top Salcombe leg.
colhel
Well-known member
Ah 
Martxer
Active member
Thanks for the update 