Weymouth anchoring?

milltech

milltech

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 May 2001
Messages
2,518
Location
Worcester
www.italkfm.com
I'm looking for a spot to wait a tide and get some sleep going West from the Solent and Weymouth is as good as anywhere, but I was wondering if the holding is good north of the harbour and whether it's comfortable. Any other suggestions welcome.

I could of course go in and pay, but I haven't looked at the tides yet and I don't want to be trying to get out of a cats cradle at 2.00 a.m. Simple and easy arriving and departing.

I haven't been to Weymouth for years, I guess it's still berthing to the wall?

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com
 
I've anchored in Weymouth Bay overnight a couple of times. Excellent holding on sand. Shallow, so you need to be some way out; also a little exposed, swell tends to make it rolly if there is wind anywhere around.

Alternatives are (i) Castle Cove on the north side Portland Harbour. Yacht moorings now fill the old anchorage, but can be used by arrangement, or its still possible to anchor well into the harbour to the west of them. To be honest, I've just picked up a vacant mooring when waiting for the tide. (ii) Lulworth Cove, more sheltered than Weymouth Bay except from the south, but often crowded in summer and somewhat dodgy holding.

There is a tiny anchorage near the end of Portland Bill on the eastern side called Church Cove, that can be handy while waiting for the tide to go west through the inshore passage. Exposed and rolly though, I've not over-nighted there, nor would want to.

Weymouth is the same old pandemonium of swaying raft-outs, even if you do now moor against a pontoon rather than the wall itself. They do now attempt to limit rafting. OK if you're in the mood for a jolly, noisy night. The marina through the bridge is sound, but dull and out of it, also the bridge doesn't open at night.

But I don't often stop there these days as it means a bit of diversion between Solent and West Country, with the Portland race to negotiate, generally easier just to keep going outside.
 
My original thought was Studland and then a straight hack outside everything, but it does make for a long sector to Salcombe, (my first necessary port of call), Weymouths a better division of the distance.

Actually I'm in the middle of a ybw search on Portland to see if I'm brave enough for the inshore passage. Over the years I've been up and down many times but always 5 miles off.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com
 
Just make sure you can throw things at the rocks as you go past. Others will have better knowledge, but last time I went round the tide line on the water made the passage easy to see.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
I haveto say I have never considered it worth making teh detour to Weymouth. It is usually possible to judge a departure which takes you through Hurst and round Portland with a fair tide.

When singlehanding I occasionally stop at Yarmouth, to give me greater felexibility, but more often wait anchor for a tide and a couple of hours sleep in Studland Bay, which makes the passage to Torquay, Dartmouth or Salcombe quite comfortable.

<hr width=100% size=1>JJ
 
Well James my presence here is a bit of a fraud because yes I will be single handed, but the boat is a motor boat, actually ex RNLI. However most of the mobo site and experience is a whole lot faster than my 7 knot cruising, which is probably fast here, but very slow there.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com
 
My regular passage west is to leave Yarmouth IOW around dawn on the start of the ebb, and arrive in Start Bay late evening to anchor overnight before continuing westwards. That is quite achievable at an average of 5½ knots.

The Portland inshore passage quite definitely requires arrival at the correct time, about an hour before LW going west. Keeping as close in as you dare minimises time spent in the rough water. Do not use this passage in heavy weather - it simply ceases to exist.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
My big weakness, (I have many), is light recognition so I like to plan passages so I don't have to close the shore at night.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com
 
The Weymouth & Portland options have been covered but like James I wouldn't bother. If you stop in Studland though, you can leave there at say 1.5hrs before HWD and take the inshore back eddy to St Albans, arriving about slack water with the tide turning west going, you now have 6hrs of favourable tide and another of not a lot, with the tide help and at 7kts you will be almost across Lyme Bay and not far off Dartmouth. We do this trip regularly every year on our way to S Brittany and reckon on +/- 10hrs at 6-6.5kts, there is a lot of tide assist. We then cross Dartmouth to Camaret which may be your intention too if you are headed for the Brest thingy.

The inshore route from Weymouth inside the Bill will allow you to cross Lyme Bay easily on one tide at 7kts (from memoryI think it's 42mls to Dartmouth from the Bill). If you use this route beware of the hundreds of pots off the Bill in the inshore passage, plus sometimes half the areas divers as well. We have been asked once by a dive boat to take a wide detour via the really rough water to avoid his divers! We declined and called Portland CG who after a fishing boat told them the same sent the Weymouth Lifeboat down to sort the divers out - I think they were having a spear fishing competion or something and chose to comandeer the entire inshore passage at the same time as the west going hordes arrived from Weymouth!

We choose Dartmouth rather than Salcombe to cross to Camaret because although Salcombe is a tad closer to France (but farther from Poole), it has a door which shuts behind you as you leave if you had to return, because of low water on the Bar. Dartmouth also has easier refuelling facilities, shops & restaurants too for last minute shopping (and a water taxi service). We did use Salcombe once (as a change of scene whilst waiting for better weather) and when we eventually left they put out a new gale warning ' but soon decreasing', we felt inclined to continue even though it was rough but realised if we left it another hour the return option was gone, we could go to Plymouth or Dartmouth but both of those would mean going father back than where we started from. We went back reluctantly and lost another day, another boat we met again later who didn't hear the gale warning carried on south and told us they had a good fast sail, we went a day later and motored the whole way with no wind.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
 
What day are you leaving? Im heading down that way m'self leaving on the west going from P'mouth on Thursday, give me a wave as you pass! (Looks like westerlies tho later this week)

Regds Nick ( Halberdier 'Fairweather')

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Call in at Weymouth for cheap diesel, don't know about anchoring. Also the inshore passage around the bill is easy, just stay a stones throw off the land, but watch out for pot buoys. It's the only route I've ever taken and has always been very easy, but always in calm conditions.

BTW don't plan on refuelling in Salcombe, one of the most expensive places on the south coast!

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
I'm actually going on to Fowey for the lifeboat rally July 3rd I think, and back home (by train) for a little work and weather watching prior to a Brest departure about the 8th.

Arriving at Salcombe at the bottom of the tide isn't such a good idea I know, maybe it would be worth pushing a bit of water towards the end anyway. It's ages since I went in there but the almanac's on the boat.

Thanks for so much helpful information


<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by milltech on 22/06/2004 15:26 (server time).</FONT></P>
 
i've anchored there several times rather than raft up 15 deep in the harbour and get no sleep at all ... and its free ... holding is v. good

dredged from memory (details are in the shell channel pilot) get the yellow buoy just to the N of the north pier in line with the church spire and anchor just off to the NE ... short dinghy ride to the pier where i tie the thing up

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Thanks for that, looks like I'll do Studland and the direct run, but I'm sure to take advantage of your advice later in the year.


<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

P
Bringing my new boat from Netherlands to Ireland next year
2
Replies
33
Views
1K
xyachtdave
xyachtdave

Share this page

Top