Week's sailing from Chi Harbour: where oh where to go..?

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kilkerr1

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Week\'s sailing from Chi Harbour: where oh where to go..?

Hi all - my dearest HWMO and I have finally bribed/threatened our way to having some annual leave, so are free from next weekend, all that week, until Sunday. We want to be on the boat for that time so question is, where should we head from Chichester Harbour for the week?

We thought we may just potter about the Isle of Wight, nothing too strenuous like, visit a few places there like Newtown/Bembridge/Ryde. But we've also been thinking about the possibility of heading off to Alderney for the week. Bit more adventurous stylee. We've not been before, nor have we ventured across the Channel, so wondered if any kind soul would proffer some advice. How long roughly, (weather permitting, of course, and not too roughly...) would it take our little 22-footer to get across, for example? What should we be looking out for, avoiding? Etc. and bla.

Or...are there any other suggestions for places we could pootle off to? I was thinking maybe heading West, but don't really know if there's anything within reasonable reach - we don't want to have to sail constantly for three days, spend a couple of hours in a place and then have a straight three-day sail back to Chi. Summat nice and leisurely, with a few stop offs and then back again. Not yet looked in details at tides, just needing some general observations/advice at this point.

What say you, good sirs and madams? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Oh, and I also need to be in a pub on Saturday watching Chelsea beating the pants off Arsenal, so do bear that in mind... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: Week\'s sailing from Chi Harbour: where oh where to go..?

Yarmouth, Poole, Studland, Weymouth. All easy day sails and lovely places to visit. If you go to Poole go and anchor somewhere in the Southern Part of the Harbour. South Deep or Shipstall Point. Much better than the town but nowhere to watch the footy.
 
Re: Week\'s sailing from Chi Harbour: where oh where to go..?

Cross-channel could be a great adventure, but I'd consider doing Cherbourg the first time as it's a bit closer to you than Alderney, much more room for error on your landfall and you'll be able to completely relax in a marina when you get there, which you might appreciate.

How long - well the longest I've taken was in a 22 footer as pretty much a passenger in my father's boat in pre-GPS days, and we somehow managed to take 24 hours.

Realistically though, I'd suggest leaving seeing whether you have a weather window (haven't checked for this week) and calculating it all at about 3 knots, and that will take a lot less time. Take plenty of fuel so you can motor the whole way if its calm without having fuel as an extra worry.

The big question is - is this a sail that you and your crew want to do, even if it could mean a bit of sailing at night. If so, then go for it, there's nothing like stepping off your boat into a foreign town for the first time.
 
Re: Week\'s sailing from Chi Harbour: where oh where to go..?

Long way cross channel and back again in a 22 footer if the weather is not really settled.
Like DJE suggested, Poole H is great if you avoid the ripoff marina that replaced Town Quay. Go up the Ware to Wareham or if its calm or Northerlies still try Swanage and half day sails along to Chapmans Pool, Kimeridge, Lulworth etc along the Coast to Weymouth.
 
Re: Week\'s sailing from Chi Harbour: where oh where to go..?

We did something like this on our hols, during the week before Cowes week, so hopefully you'll get better weather than us. We didn't make it out of the Solent, in a week there are more places to visit than you can fit in, though if you get as far as Lymington or Yarmouth before Wednesday then Weymouth beckons.

If you want a change of scenery without going across the channel, then why not try heading from Chichester harbour around the St Catherine's to Yarmouth? Obviously you have to get the tide right at the Hurst narrows, but the scenery is great and it is the "real" sea. If you fancy a longer trip and the wind isn't westerly or nonexistent, then keep heading west and you will get you to Weymouth, you should be able to catch the west-going tide around past St Catherine's then get to St. Alban's head as the last of the easterly flood weakens. That leaves you with a leisurely trip back "downhill", without retracing your steps.
 
Re: Week\'s sailing from Chi Harbour: where oh where to go..?

Alderney is lovely but a long way for a 22-footer. If the weather looks good I'd recommend leaving from e.g. Yarmouth to cut down the distance (60-65miles?). You could certainly do the majority in daylight - I'd recommend arriving whilst still light if the tides permit. The tides do run strong so a bit of planning is essential. What sort of speed do you think you could maintain?
 
Re: Week\'s sailing from Chi Harbour: where oh where to go..?

I would go round IOW clockwise and come in through Needles which is usually great scenary. Then choose from Yarmouth IOw (great walks on coast) , Lymington - nice little town, or Beulieu (or however its spelt!) - lovely peaceful river , bird spotting etc. Then head off for Poole harbour and up river to Wareham or alternatively provided you have westerlies try Swanage bay for traditional seaside attractions (v. friendly sailing club behind the Pier for some social). Hope this helps.
 
Re: Week\'s sailing from Chi Harbour: where oh where to go..?

Personally, I'd always go round the IOW anti-clockwise as you can do the windward legs as short hops in the Solent using tide, then choose your moment to leave Lymington/Yarmouth/Keyhaven on the last of the ebb to the Needles and then round carrying the new flood tide around the back of the Island on a pleasant downwind drift...
 
Re: Week\'s sailing from Chi Harbour: where oh where to go..?

Dear all - thanks for the detailed replies, lots to think on here. After this, I think we're probably going to leave the more hardcore cross-channel adventuring for another time (and possibly the bigger boat...), so it's away West for us, can't wait!!

Cheers, and fair winds to y'all, J
 
Re: Week\'s sailing from Chi Harbour: where oh where to go..?

Having had similar ideas in my 23ft'r yrs ago .... I found that we ended up doing the Solent ..... WHY ?

Tides and currents can make getting out of solent a rewal bind if wind etc. is not in your favour.

Our first intention was Langstone to Swanage bay .... ended up in Yarmouth. So next day decided to do the creeks etc. So off to Newtown creek .... then across to Beaulieu, from there it was to Folly ..... but now I would pass Folly and do Newport instead ....

There's Ryde, Wootton Creek, Bembridge .....

I can think of a lot of places outside solent - but end of day its reasonably relaxing, as you do over the weekdays - you can hit the real weekend popular spots so that you avoid the crazy rush for berth slots ....

For a week .......... I'd plump for doing the Solent circuit .... a 22ft'r in a week can be great or uncomfortable ... I know - having had a 19 and a 23 trying to do it in .....

Have a great time and let us have a story after you complete !!
 
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