Weekend weather, Solent/Poole

BlueSkyNick

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The latest forecast to come from weatherweb.net (I have subscribed to their weekly e-mail which is excellent), is predicting W/WNW 18-25knots for Saturday.

As the tide is higher than MHWS, would I be sensible to avoid going out through the Needles channel on the ebb?

Will the North Channel be OK? We would have to go through Hurst Narrows either way.

I will have a crew of 4 chaps, 2 of which have not sailed before.

I know that I am the skipper and have to make my own decisions - but I am still willing to listen to the views of others.

(PS My post was made at the same time as simonjk's by complete coincidence - honest!)
 

tcm

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yes, agree all yr suggestions. With HW soton at midday bst you should go early against the tide for flat water and hug the southern coasts for for the same reason. 6-7 am in the north channel i might see you.
 

jimi

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You'd be OK but I'd clip on before you get to the Bridge. OTOH the north Channel is the shortest way to Poole and will be fine. With A strong crew I'd whizz out the Needles, with the family I'd go North Channel
 

Robin

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Hi Nick

The Needles Channel is only worthwhile when heading for Poole IMO when the wind is blowing directly down it, ie you use the strong tide and multiple tacks to get out then port tack should allow you to lay Poole in one. However really closewinded boats can lay Poole directly from Hurst/North Head in a SW wind so even then it is not necessary. With the forecast you quoted that is pretty well right on the nose and with tide and boatspeed the apparent wind will be 25-30kts, do-able but pretty unpleasant and the seas will be boisterous especially around Christchurch Ledge where you would be better offshore than inshore in your sequence of tacks unless you like cold green ones in the face!

If you are leaving the Solent (Hurst) around HW with time to make Poole WITH the tide then you don't actually need to go all the way to N Head up the North Channel. Just get into North Channel proper (say 200yds) then head for Poole directly, there will be plenty of depth and it will save losing ground offwind by going right ot to N Head before hardening up. If arriving at Poole after 2nd HW Poole (1440 on Saturday 10/4) use the main channel entrance from No 3 (2nd starboard) buoy rather than the short cut inshore via the Looe channel off Sandbanks which will be very shallow in the approach to it, the sand is very hard to bump on.

The only good thing about a wind from due West is that as you approach Poole it is offshore and more sheltered the closer you get, otherwise SW or NW is much easier.

I would use N Channel for the return too and again you should be able to cut the corner at N Head if you will be arriving with a rising tide as is most likely.

Have fun!

Robin
 

BlueSkyNick

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ROBIN !! Where have you been? We haven't heard from you in weeks !!

Thanks for the detailed response. I am planning to go out via the North Channel during the HW stand, and get over to Poole mid afternoon. However, if its grim (a technical word for the comibination of temperature, wind, sea state, and precipitation) I might just go into Yarmouth. This will allow us to start the run ashore by watching the Grand National in a warm pub!
 

john_morris_uk

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You might find that the conditions are perfect for putting your new crew off sailing?

North Channel is the way to go - you might go and have a look at it, but bear in mind that being skipper also gives you the right to say, 'We've had enough, lets go back to Yarmouth!'.
 

Robin

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We have been out in the Who Yes of Hay buying shares in West Marine and a few golf stores and hacking around a few courses pretending we can play like Monty and Anika. Now have another chart plotter to install this weekend and lots of other little goodies (Navman 5600 colour plotter for around £380!!!!).

Robin
 

doris

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Yarmouth

Stopping in Yarmouth must be the most sensible comment on thei thread so far. Solent to Poole this Saturday will be an wet, icey cold beat to get to the boaty equivilant of a pikey's camp. Hope the heater on board is working. If not get the national right, sort out the bookies and win enuf to get a new hot water bottle!
 
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theyr.net shows the weekend northerly blast moving through today and Friday.

The weekend looks breezy and cold but not the savage artic blast forecast earlier.
 

cgull

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And I am planning around Isle Of Wight, Saturday. (Soton/East/St Cath/Needles but probably enter via N Channel. Hope theres a space left in Yarmouth for the night.
 

Robin

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Boat is in and raring to go, we launched back in March before going relative hunting in the USA. I looked ever so hard for them all every day last week on the golf course but I think they must not have taken it up yet. Still jet lagged and the lovely lady (she did finally find her hordes of kids and grandkids after we came off the course) has a not so lovely yankee cold so we may watch the Masters from our berth whilst I fit the new plotter this weekend but with the fan heater on it seems too. Having spent much monies in West Marine and Crooked Stick GC (this year's Solheim Cup venue) I can't afford to pay for a shore-powered heater berth in the sunny Solent this weekend!

I see Nick has taken the smart decision for the weekend too!
 
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