Tides around St Alban's head

[Anita]

Tides around St Alban\'s head

We're heading from Poole to Dartmouth on Sunday, does anyone know about the tidal behaviour between Poole and St Alban's Head? We want to leave before the tide turns if possible, and I seem to remember reading that there was a back eddy close in to shore?

 

[bilbobaggins]

Re: Tides around St Alban\'s head

Consult a copy of 'Inshore Along the Dorset Coast' by Peter Bruce.
Invaluable. Just what you need.

However, there are two serious ledges you need to be aware of - one just south of Swanage - which is dangerous - and one running SW from St Albans Head, which is hazardous.

The above book has all the info.

 

[Oldhand]

Re: Tides around St Alban\'s head

The back eddy runs against the ebb from Anvil Point and is really close inshore and not particularly strong. Have only used it when racing Weymouth to Poole. No help for going in the other direction and a "normal" track would take you outside it into the ebb stream. I presume your main concern is catching at least the last hour of the ebb round Portland Bill. If you want to leave Poole before the start of the ebb you may be best to anchor in Studalnd/Swanage Bays on Saturday night to avoid a slog out of the Haven and Swash against the current.

'Fraid forecast for Sunday is wind on the nose... in which case you may consider breaking the journey at Weymouth or Portland Harbour.

 

[oldharry]

Re: Tides around St Alban\'s head

Agree - Peter Bruce has it all in his book. You will find the inshore passage at St Albans is unreliable, and in onshore winds soon vanishes altogether. Coming East against the tide it is worth hugging the cliffs between St Albans and Anvil point to get a strong reverse eddy - maybe this is what you have heard about? East and North of Anvil though you MUST hold out in the stream to avoid Peverill Ledge.

Personally I would not try to clear Anvil point before the tide turns west: Particularly round Peverill Ledge (keep east of the buoy - dont follow the fishing boats!) and Anvil Point, the tide runs very hard for quite a distance offshore, and doesnt slack off much until you get west of Portland.

'This 'Escalator' current as its known in our boat makes the difference between a fast enjoyable passage between Swanage and Portland, or a slow painful crawl along the coast, heading currents of 2kts and more.

Pick up the first of the ebb in Poole bay around my namesake , and enjoy a fast ride, clearing St Albans by around 4 miles for smooth water, then west and clear of the Portland Race. I find that if you cut the corner and go in close to St Albans you will have several miles sailing down the ledge where it is at best bumpy and uncomfortable, and with the risk of being sucked in to the Portland Race. You will meet the new flood tide in Lyme Bay, but the streams are much weaker than East of Portland, and you will lose much less time.

If you want to see the 'Jurassic Coast' between St A's and Lulworth, which is worth while if you are not in a hurry, then read Peters book first and watch out for the Kimmeridge Ledges! But you are then committed to the tidal window of the Bill Inshore passage, and will almost certainly have to hang around in Weymouth Bay.

 

[Anita]

Re: Tides around St Alban\'s head

Thanks to everyone - really useful advice! Let's hope the wind picks up on Sunday.....