Studland -> Lymington: Best Route at Springs

S

SimonFa

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 Feb 2013
Messages
6,434
Location
Me North Dorset. Venezia in Portland.
Visit site
I'm planning on sailing from Studland to Lymington on Monday morning (20/5) and note that its Springs. I would normally choose my route based on wind direction so that I can maximise sailing. Windguru reckons a North Westerly so in theory I could sail both the Needles and North channels.

I've never done the North channel at Springs and know it can get messy at the best of times times so I assume its worse at Springs.

I'm aiming to get to Hurst Point about 11am (1.5 hours before slack) so there's still about 2.5kn (I suspect it will be faster) in the North Channel according to the tidal atlas. I'm aiming at 1.5 hours in case I'm slower than planned and don't want to miss the tidal gate.

Unless the wind shifts significantly I'll probably use the Needles channel, but I was wondering if I've missed anything?
 
north channel easy and choppy bits are common to both needles and north channel. On a rising tide near local hw you can even cut inside n head buoy if you want. look out for 'black can man's' prop/rudder traps on the channel entrance.
 
Robin said:
north channel easy and choppy bits are common to both needles and north channel. On a rising tide near local hw you can even cut inside n head buoy if you want. look out for 'black can man's' prop/rudder traps on the channel entrance.
Click to expand...

Being single handed I tend to be very cautious when it comes to cutting inside buoys. Trying to keep an eye on the iPad chart and watch out for prop/rudder traps in a channel is too stressful. Although unless something has gone wrong the prop won't be spinning.
 
If the wind is strong avoid the Needles channel. Leave after lw (possibly around 0530) and you should have the flood until around 1130 ish. Don't get to close to Hurst beach as you could end up in back eddies against you if tide is still flooding. As Robin has said keep an eye open for pot markers and north head buoy you can go either side.
 
The wind seems to be forecast up to F4 Max Northerly or light NW for Sun and Mon.
No reason not to just carry the tide up the Needles Channel in any reasonbly seaworthy boat.
So long as you avoid strong wind over tide situations, I think the Needles is far more pleasant than the N Channel, which involves getting way too close to the Suburbs of Bournemouth for too long IMHO.
 
SimonFa said:
Being single handed I tend to be very cautious when it comes to cutting inside buoys. Trying to keep an eye on the iPad chart and watch out for prop/rudder traps in a channel is too stressful.
Click to expand...

Looking at the chart before you leave should alleviate any fear of leaving north head to port in settled weather at more than half tide. No monitoring an iPad required if you jot down a safe angle on NE shingles (or hurst if you can't pick it out) after North head is less than say 10 degrees.

The problem with that dogleg round north head with wind from the WNW (as we had when I made this trip with a friend a couple weeks ago) is you could end up doing 2 gybes you don't really need.

On the other hand the tide seems to run harder north of north head so wind aside, some of the extra time you think you're taking will be made back by the extra push.
 
lw395 said:
The wind seems to be forecast up to F4 Max Northerly or light NW for Sun and Mon.
No reason not to just carry the tide up the Needles Channel in any reasonbly seaworthy boat.
So long as you avoid strong wind over tide situations, I think the Needles is far more pleasant than the N Channel, which involves getting way too close to the Suburbs of Bournemouth for too long IMHO.
Click to expand...

Unless you wear blinkers on port side there is no difference in the view on either track unless you are3 thinking of the track between the shortcut from Poole entrance rather than from Poole Bar/number 3 buoy or Studland.:p

PS if light northerlies expected most likely there will be calm or light southerly sea breezes in place by late morning,
 
Last edited:
North Head doesn't really mark anything in particular any more:

B4pa5F3l.png


In fact, the whole bank west of the North Channel shows a least depth of more than three metres, so on a calm day you could scoot across any point of it at dead low-water springs. Add a bit of tide and you're laughing.

I do still tend to head up towards the northern end of things because the banks around there do move a bit and there's no point tempting fate, but it's definitely not the case that you're taking a risk by passing vaguely near North Head on the "wrong" side.

Pete
 
Robin said:
Watch out for left-right cross tide as you go into Lymington as far as the wavebreak/LYH area, very easy to get pushed into shallows although Venetia is shallow draught which helps.
Click to expand...

I've done it quite a few times, quite an enjoyable experience, as I say never at springs so I'll pay attention. Draught is 1.7m.

laika said:
Looking at the chart before you leave should alleviate any fear of leaving north head to port in settled weather at more than half tide. No monitoring an iPad required if you jot down a safe angle on NE shingles (or hurst if you can't pick it out) after North head is less than say 10 degrees.

The problem with that dogleg round north head with wind from the WNW (as we had when I made this trip with a friend a couple weeks ago) is you could end up doing 2 gybes you don't really need.

On the other hand the tide seems to run harder north of north head so wind aside, some of the extra time you think you're taking will be made back by the extra push.
Click to expand...
(My emphasis)

That did cross my mind and will be one pf the considerations when I make my final plan on Monday morning after checking the latest forecasts.
 
My preference would be N Channel but that's me.
Don't get close to Hengistbury Head, though you probably won't anyway with that tide/wind.
Biggest problem, apart from dodging pot floats etc, and shallow bits off Lymington which look as if they should be deep, will be finding a space on the town quay pontoon and a table in the King's Head; at least it's not a w/e so should be OK.
 
blackbeard said:
My preference would be N Channel but that's me.
Don't get close to Hengistbury Head, though you probably won't anyway with that tide/wind.
Biggest problem, apart from dodging pot floats etc, and shallow bits off Lymington which look as if they should be deep, will be finding a space on the town quay pontoon and a table in the King's Head; at least it's not a w/e so should be OK.
Click to expand...

I've found Sunday nights are usually very quiet, except in school hols, and so am hoping Monday lunchtime will as well. If not I can always turn round and get the tide back to Studland. I'll probably give the HM office a call before I start going up the river, to be on the safe side.

(My theory is that all the school boats, weekenders and weekend charters have all gone home).
 
I only draw 1.5m so from Hengistbury Head / Christchurch Ledges I aim for just N of NE Shingles cardinal missing out N Head and North Channel unless sea is very upperty.
Depth isn't an issue as I aim to get there a couple of hours before HW.

N Head.png
 
SimonFa said:
I might look at that one.
Click to expand...

I used that track both ways from Poole (usually from no. 3 buoy) with 2.1 metres draught but generally cautious to recommend to others having watched a clubmate take a hitch to join another in Needles Channel and grounding on the Shingles in rough water for his pain. On th reverse track it can allow laying Poole fairway on one tack in a Southwesterly:encouragement:

PS pretty sure Venetia was a Parkstone YC boat back in the dim and distant last century when we had a W33 ketch 'Heartbeat', so pre 2000 when we moved to a Jeanneau sun Legende 41, also called 'Heartbeat.
 
Last edited:
LadyInBed said:
I only draw 1.5m so from Hengistbury Head / Christchurch Ledges I aim for just N of NE Shingles cardinal missing out N Head and North Channel unless sea is very upperty.
Depth isn't an issue as I aim to get there a couple of hours before HW.

View attachment 77894
Click to expand...

I use that route all the time even close to low water. Fort Albert just open north of NE Shingles Buoy is a useful visual check.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

T
Notices to Mariners - Week 50
Replies
2
Views
639
tillergirl
T

Share this page

Top