Visitors moorings/pontoon Lyme Regis

sniffyjenkins

sniffyjenkins

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Me again

We're setting off from Dartmouth on Friday morning to Lyme Regis on the next leg of our Falmouth - Langstone adventure. I was just wondering: is there now a deep water visitor's pontoon there? And deep water visitor's moorings just outside the harbour? Also, being that it's the start of May, is calling ahead to book a good idea?

Thanks :)
 
When we were on the short plastic visitor pontoon by the Cobb there was little in the way of swell but the whole pontoon was lurching about and after half an hour we had enough and moved onto one of the visitor moorings that were perfectly comfortable. Good anchoring also in the shelter from the harbour wall
closer in. I think the problem with plastic pontoons is they have high buoyancy but little weight to stabilise them. Bridport has drying visitor pontoon also and even though that is also plastic it was not too bad when we were there.
 
I've found that in conditions where Lyme Regis is viable, any progress across Lyme Bay will probably be under engine, ie pretty light airs and offshore.

Also being there tends to attract one to the inshore passage around Portland; I found out the very hard way this is a Bad Idea from the west; in the relatively long time taken to get there, committed up north into the bay due to tides through the race, weather can go severely downhill against forecast - I got the most frightening sailing experience of my life so far, doing that.

Personally I set off from Brixham at First Light or soon after and go straight across the bay, aiming well outside The Race then slant in for Studland ( beware the safety range ).

I have done this in daylight ( to South Deep in Poole or Studland ) several times in a 22' in moderate conditions, ie not gale propelled or anything.

The tide will be foul at some point ( which obviously needs discerning & judgement ), but it will be fair too at other points and at least one can leave Brixham and enter Studland without worrying about depths.

I'm not worried about night sailing but at these places it's nice to have light to see pot buoys etc.
 
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Seajet said:
I've found that in conditions where Lyme Regis is viable, any progress across Lyme Bay will probably be under engine, ie pretty light airs and offshore.

Also being there tends to attract one to the inshore passage around Portland; I found out the very hard way this is a Bad Idea from the west; in the relatively long time taken to get there, committed up north into the bay due to tides through the race, weather can go severely downhill against forecast - I got the most frightening sailing experience of my life so far, doing that.

Personally I set off from Brixham at First Light or soon after and go straight across the bay, aiming well outside The Race then slant in for Studland ( beware the safety range ).

I have done this in daylight ( to South Deep in Poole or Studland ) several times in a 22' in moderate conditions, ie not gale propelled or anything.

The tide will be foul at some point ( which obviously needs discerning & judgement ), but it will be fair too at other points and at least one can leave Brixham and enter Studland without worrying about depths.

I'm not worried about night sailing but at these places it's nice to have light to see pot buoys etc.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this.

How long does it typically take you to cross Lyme Bay and get to Studland?

Pete and I have agonised over charts, the channel pilot, tidal atlases, websites, forum posts, you name it. For weeks, if not months about crossing Lyme Bay/rounding The Bill. The main thing we quickly decided was that we are going offshore. However, we are fairly new to this and risk-averse, and the idea of sailing at night terrifies me to be honest. From Lyme Regis to 5NM south of The Bill may sound a bit nutty (that's the current plan, does it sound ridiculous?) but the super long sail straight across the Bay scares me because of the possibility of sailing/arriving at Portland Marina in the dark. As I said, we are new(ish) to this and still getting to know the boat and our capabilities.

*wrings hands some more*
 
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Basically, I would skip Lyme Regis if there is anything with E in it. I have some video of the floating pontoon in an easterly blow which would put you off for life. Also I think a lot less than 2M at LWS. As other mentioned, in benign conditions the vistor moorings are a much better idea; if you are stuck you can dry out against the wall inside the harbour but where there use to be room for the odd yacht now seems totally taken up by fishing boats.
 
sniffyjenkins,

your concerns are completely understandable, and your caution + good sense reading it all up and taking it seriously is to be commended.

In fact night sailing is not a problem at all, in fact very pleasant; as long as you choose the weather and place !

At your level of confidence it's a good idea to avoid if poss, but if say you found yourself delayed and it getting dark, don't let it make you over apprehensive.

Portland marina ( which is new since I was last along there ) will have good lights, and the approach is clear.

However I am a great fan of the ' carry on to Studland / Poole ' school of thought; by the time one has got around The Race - and maybe beam on to seas & winds on the northward leg - you could probably be off Anvil Point or even at Studland.

Anvil Point and Poole Fairway then entrance are very clearly lit - and it is extremely rare for it to be fully dark at sea.

I would be a bit bothered about being set east into The Race from Lyme Regis, it would take quite a severely southerly course to clear the Race end.

However, trying to stay in daylight, I'm afraid I can't give very accurate times as I did these trips a few years ago now, but typically I'd be actually on the move motoring out of Brixham by say 06:00 or earlier if poss, and at Studland or in Poole quite well before dark, say 6-8 PM approx.

My boat is relatively fast under sail for 22' but don't let that bother you, under engine she's lucky to be just on 5 knots through smoothish water, and I do remember the last trip Brixham - South Deep was entirely under engine in very light airs.

I forget what sort of engine you have but do carry plenty of fuel to motor all the way if necessary, no point hanging about being a purist sailing at 2-3 knots in Lyme Bay...

Also for such a trip I wouldn't hesitate to motor sail in light winds, if newish to your boat you may be amazed by the speeds possible this way.

Beware the usual spoof of ' predicted progress says we'll be there hours early '

We all still fall for this !

Sod's Law always counters this later on, so it's a good idea to make hay while the sun shines and use any opportunity of faster progress while it's there.

I wish I could come along but I have to be places; you'll actually find it very enjoyable in the right weather, and if it's not the right weather there is no shame in staying put.

The only way to really get in trouble sailing is if one tries sailing to a schedule, I bet most of the experienced people here have had, earlier in their careers an unpleasant trip after falling for ' Got To Be At The Office Monday Syndrome '...

There's always something to look at in Lyme Bay, from the tankers anchored off, fishing boats doing their thing to ships in the inshore E-W lane.

If you should become delayed - hope you don't but as I say no shame in staying if dubious - PM me if you want a crew.

In fact I think you'll really enjoy it, one of the classic trips we're lucky to have on the South Coast.
 
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if you are going to Lyme, then the inshore passage round the Bill is much better. shorter and more predictable. As said lyme can be exposed, but on both occasions I have been there I have dried out (in my eventide 26 - smaller cousin of your boat) inside by the harbour wall. You will have to check with the harbourmaster if this is still possible. From there, calculate your ideal arrival time north of the Bill and this sets your departure time from Lyme with a bit to spare. Once you get into the inshore passage it is like being on a moving pavement and you will be round in no time at all wondering what all the fuss is about. Once round you can either carry on north and go into Portland or Weymouth, or go straight to Studland. While best to round the Bill in daylight, night sailing to Poole or Studland is no big deal.
 
Tranona,

that's spiffing but as I mentioned does leave one heavily committed to the inshore passage.

I chose to go that way from Brixham once a long time ago, perfect forecast so I went up north into the bay; then the wind increased to SW6-7, totally against the forecast.

With just a novice girlfriend as crew I reckoned fatigue a big problem if I tried to turn and fight wind and tide back to Lyme Regis or even Brixham / Dartmouth, so carried on.

The hours spent watching the broken water at the tip of the Bill as we approached were truly frightening.

Okay we were through very quickly when in the actual passage; there was a tremendous set S into the Race just at the SW tip of the Bill but wind power overcame this - and some terrific overfalls which we slalomed through using all the boat's ample rudder authority.

It was not fun, even in retrospect.

Sniffyjenkins is right to choose to go outside.
 
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Only done the inshore passage from Lyme once so others may have better knowledge, but it seems to me you'd be mad to aim outside the race from that point of departure: if anything goes wrong with timings or your boat you'd be drawn into the worst of it.
 
As I said from Lyme one would have to steer - and make good progress on - a pretty radical southerly course to clear the end of The Race.

As you say, if anything happened to impede that progress, watch out !

I did read the local lifeboat cox a while ago advise any yacht which finds itself in The Race getting a pasting, the idea is to get the sails down & secure then batten down with everyone below until the boat pops out the other side.

I'd rather keep active control to get through if at all possible but that depends on boat and conditions...
 
It is a long slog across Lyme Bay. I've done Dartmouth to Portland (home base) in a long day. I don't think Lyme Regis will be viable this weekend looking at the weather unless you can take the ground in the harbour (I can't, so have used the moorings in very calm conditions).
I've been inshore at Portland many times in calm weather, but also seen what it kicks up like. I'd go offshore from Portland. As has been said 5 miles is great and that makes Portland/Weymouth a long slog in. As the Army ranges are closed over the weekend you could come into Worbarrow Bay and anchor for the night. I suspect you'll need the Mupe end of the bay this weekend. Then, in daylight, you could do St Albans (I suggest the inshore route) and on to Swanage and Poole.
If you do chose Portland Marina it is OK for entering in the dark. The biggest problem are the lights on the main road which make it difficult to see moored boats on the moorings to starboard which are some way from the marina wall. Once inside the visitor pontoons are easy to find and moor on. The marina team are great should you need any help.
 
If it's any interest, if you look at the website in my sig below, go to
' Owner's Comments ' - the first article is by a very experienced ( transat racer ) sailor taking his Anderson 22 into Bridport in 2007.

I know the entrance has been modified with baffles since then; but have a look at the pic of the boat heeled right over, they only need 9" of mud to sink the ballast bulb with the keel up, to stay upright.

More to the points, I have never crossed Lyme Bay from the west and thought Bridport viable - having weather to suit both seems rare -or a good stop even in a calm if trying to make progress.

It also commits one even more to Portland inshore passage.

As Sniffyjenkins seems to want to make progess east, this seems another reason to me to just go straight outside The Race and not mess about with Portland marina ( let alone Lyme Regis or Bridport / West Bay ) & just go for Studland / Poole.
 
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RE Portland Bill and The Race. I have transited that particular 'tidal gate' a few dozen times - as have many others - and there is much advice on what to avoid and when. The almanacs all show hourly tidestream flow-charts around the Bill, as does 'Reeve-Foulkes' and the local bible 'Inshore Along The Dorset Coast' by Peter Bruce.

One especial point he makes is that there is a strong southerly tide-set running down the west side of the 'Island' at ALL stages of the ebb and flood. ( except for two hours when the strong ebb running SW on the east side of the headland would prevent any further progress to the east, anyway )

There is nothing to be concerned about, entering Portland Harbour ( apart from the blocked south 'entrance ) and approaching the Marina. However, Weymouth Harbour is only a couple of miles further on - although it is likely to be 'heaving' this coming weekend.

Do give the NCI lookout on the hillside behind the PBL lighthouse a call on Ch65, or on their telephone: 01305 860178
 
Interesting comments.

To the OP, I suggest a quick dose of courage and think about the inshore route. I can't remember the last time I went outside the race and the inshore route is safe and interesting. You can get VERY close inshore and watch the race safely.

And I've been round in many boats from 25' to over 50'. Day or night, the inshore route for me, although its a little eery when the light is shining over your head.

Just remember to choose reasonably good conditions. Its in big tides and gales that the race is very dangerous. I try not to go sailing in gales hence why I invariably take the inshore route. It also cuts at least an hour off your passage time.
 
I made a mental note years ago never to use the inshore passage at night; it's hard enough in daylight to see the lobster pot buoys, as they're often towed just under the surface by the current.

I suggest you read my post #11 about approaching from the west, committing to the inshore passage then the weather changing badly, against forecast.

Hopefully Sniffyjenkins will be crossing the bay about now.
 
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