Visitors moorings/pontoon Lyme Regis

[Tomaret]

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.

To endorse what Seajet said in an earlier post, we sailed across the bay in very calm conditions under cruising chute and then bounced around all night on a mooring at Lyme Regis.

As to the Bill, I think the key is to commit to one or the other. If there are questions about the weather, or the tide times are not right for the inshore route, I'd go south. I've done the inshore route a few times and it has always been exhilarating and quick - timing is everything. I was once crew on a yacht where we avoided the inshore route but didn't go far enough south. Not dangerous in the conditions, but very unpleasant.

I've always gone into Weymouth coming east, but I think that's more to do with fish and chips from the restaurant by the bridge than passage making. If time is of the essence, or the firing range is active, it does actually add quite a bit of sailing time to a passage.

 

[James_Calvert]

Wondering how the planned passage went...

 

[misterjenkins]

So, thought I'd give you an update on how sniffyjenkins and I got on, and to thank you all for the great advice.
Having digested all your advice and spent a lot of time poring over charts, we decided to go from Dartmouth to Lyme Regis, then offshore round the bill. It may seem like an odd choice, and it adds a lot of miles, but with tide times on the bill, and a slow boat, we would have had to sail all night to do it in one, and with night time temperatures as low as they are at the moment, we felt it wasn't wise.

So, we had two perfect days of sailing - all daytime and almost all sunny, and a beautiful night on a visitor's buoy in Lyme Regis (the only boat there). We kept about 5 miles clear of the bill, and it was fine. Moderate swell, but nothing to write home about.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Seajet]

Thanks for the update, I'm sure I was one of several wondering how you got on.

Glad it went well :encouragement:

 

[sniffyjenkins]

So, thought I'd give you an update on how sniffyjenkins and I got on, and to thank you all for the great advice.
Having digested all your advice and spent a lot of time poring over charts, we decided to go from Dartmouth to Lyme Regis, then offshore round the bill. It may seem like an odd choice, and it adds a lot of miles, but with tide times on the bill, and a slow boat, we would have had to sail all night to do it in one, and with night time temperatures as low as they are at the moment, we felt it wasn't wise.

So, we had two perfect days of sailing - all daytime and almost all sunny, and a beautiful night on a visitor's buoy in Lyme Regis (the only boat there). We kept about 5 miles clear of the bill, and it was fine. Moderate swell, but nothing to write home about.

Thanks again everyone!

What he said

Thanks all for great advice etc. We had a wonderful couple of days sailing, despite our slightly odd way of getting across Lyme Bay and around The Bill. It worked for us.

Marschallin is now tied up at Portland Marina, and this Friday to Sunday we will be bringing her to her new home mooring in Langstone Harbour. Having said that, XC Weather is showing steady easterlies all weekend soooo...

I will miss the West Country sailing terribly when we're in The Solent, you know.

Anyway. Onwards!

 

[SimonFa]

What he said

Thanks all for great advice etc. We had a wonderful couple of days sailing, despite our slightly odd way of getting across Lyme Bay and around The Bill. It worked for us.

Marschallin is now tied up at Portland Marina, and this Friday to Sunday we will be bringing her to her new home mooring in Langstone Harbour. Having said that, XC Weather is showing steady easterlies all weekend soooo...

I will miss the West Country sailing terribly when we're in The Solent, you know.

Anyway. Onwards!

Portland is bleak and not comfortable in any sort of blow. If you haven't already paid you should consider going round to Weymouth harbour. Its a bit noisier but more to do and sheltered. Failing that, if you've got time on your hands you could:

Get a bus to the top of the hill and then walk round the Portland coast path. Its very pleasant and with the Bill at the halfway point there's somewhere for lunch or afternoon tea. Also, make sure you stop off here: http://learningstone.org/?page_id=23933

Walk to Billy Winters at the north end of the causeway. Its a lovely place to sit and have a beer whilst watching the kite surfers and other activities in the harbour.

Give the Cove Inn a ring and book a table. Its pub grub done well and a nice place to while away an evening.

Its a pleasant walk in to Weymouth via the Rodwell Trail or even round the coast path.

Anyway, enjoy your stay and the rest of your trip.

 

[sniffyjenkins]

Portland is bleak and not comfortable in any sort of blow. If you haven't already paid you should consider going round to Weymouth harbour. Its a bit noisier but more to do and sheltered. Failing that, if you've got time on your hands you could:

Get a bus to the top of the hill and then walk round the Portland coast path. Its very pleasant and with the Bill at the halfway point there's somewhere for lunch or afternoon tea. Also, make sure you stop off here: http://learningstone.org/?page_id=23933

Walk to Billy Winters at the north end of the causeway. Its a lovely place to sit and have a beer whilst watching the kite surfers and other activities in the harbour.

Give the Cove Inn a ring and book a table. Its pub grub done well and a nice place to while away an evening.

Its a pleasant walk in to Weymouth via the Rodwell Trail or even round the coast path.

Anyway, enjoy your stay and the rest of your trip.

Thanks Simon

The boat is in Portland and we're in Brighton now, left yesterday afternoon, and will be back to the sailing on Thursday evening. We spent Saturday night aboard in a bit of a blow, and were actually extremely comfortable. Or maybe we were just comparing it to the very bouncy night we spent on a mooring at Lyme Regis the night before We were the only boaty visitors in Lyme that evening, it was weird.

Would love to do the walk you suggest - that nature park looks AMAZING - but I think we'll likely just set off next Friday for Studland. Though with the crazy amount of Easterlies currently predicted we may just be doing boat maintenance all weekend!

 

[colhel]

In my opinion if there's any East in the wind I'd stay put or, if you fancied something a change of scenery spend a night on Weymouth Quay.

 

[Seajet]

The OP says they have a comfortable berth in Portland Marina; I'd suggest get the bus or taxi, rather than get embroiled in unarmed combat rafting, as they are trying to get to the East !

Weymouth is a nice place to stroll around for a while I agree but maybe not when the clock is ticking; if temporarily stuck by headwinds get the bus.