To the scillies !?

[Scillypete]

If you’re struggling to sleep some video of a trip from the solent to Scilly in a Hunter horizon 273 that I brought to the islands in December 2008

I have kept a boat afloat on the moorings a few times through the winter, they are exposed but with good gear it is possible to sail all year round but you either get lucky with the winter weather or not and there’s nothing worse than standing on the shore watching your boat leaping and straining on the moorings, but I haven’t lost any sleep over it yet.

 

[Robin]

You wont make the Solent to Waymouth in one tide, but you should make it to Chapmans Pool, just!
Leaving Chapmans Pool is great for timing your arrival at Portland Bill.

If you get past ST Albans head to go to Chapmans Pool you are into the slack enough waters of the bay to go to Portland or Weymouth if you wish, OR better still stopover in Studland. Time St Albans inshore passage (CLOSE in) about 30 minutes before high water dover and go straight to Dartmouth in one hop, we used to do this regularly with a 33ft and later 41 footer in under 10 hrs keeping up 6 kts boatspeed, you will have a foul tide short of Dartmouth for last 2hrs but not that strong, sets you a bit north of rhumb line though so allow for that. we planned to pass 4 mls south of Portland Bill There is an inshore tide eddy along from Old harry/Studland to St. Albans that runs contrary to main offshore tide, mostly means you see slackish rather than a fast flow either with or against you. We have done that trip in just 8 hours with a free wind, even did it once in a 30 footer on a spi reach. with a head wind and decent donk, 10 hrs is still feasible albeit teeth jarring. If doing the direct trip above forget any idea of going pot buoy dodging inshore at Portland Bill.

 

[Caladh]

You wont make the Solent to Waymouth in one tide, but you should make it to Chapmans Pool, just!
Leaving Chapmans Pool is great for timing your arrival at Portland Bill.

Have done western Solent to Weymouth several times with no problems. Good tide pushes if you get it right.

 

[Fimacca]

Great trip, with a job at the end !
I plan the same this year, but with a new tub yet to arrive in my paws this month I may end up in 2022 while I get used to how she behaves in poor weather .

Keep us posted on how you get on. As ever, the boats are usually up to it, its just the skipper and crew that sometimes have either time or confidence issues !

 

[Eygthene]

Do aim to round the Lizard as the tide is turning in your favour. You will need a tender as there is no pontoon where you can moor on the Scillies and a short stay alongside in Hughtown is allowed for water and diesel.

 

[boatmike]

They have been very welcoming to us, but then we don't mind walking around piles of pots nor the smell of fish.
The more yacht oriented Penzance is lovely, but not so helpful w.r.t. tides.

Yes exactly. If you are after marina style berthing go elsewhere but its convenient and I have always found the local fishermen friendly and welcoming and only too happy to share local knowledge and advice. I only ever used it as an overnight stay from which to plan best time of departure though. Not somewhere to visit for its own sake. Its a fishing village not a poncey marina! Personally I love the place and the culture but it kind of depends what you are looking for.