Weymuff or Portland for a yacht in transit west ?????

AIDY

AIDY

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intend to stop in the area next weekend in transit west. i don't normally stop and punch the minimal tide in lyme bay. I hate going into weymuff if I'm not staying, cos of the extra mileage round the bill and rafting always cause problems who's going when. I note portland marina is now open but I'm in half a mind giving them £35 + £3.50 connection fee when town quay is only 25 squid. is it worth the extra expense ? or should i anchor just north of weymuff pier off the beach or in portland harbour itself.

options please....... don't need to get ashore really..
 
We are attempting to do the same thing starting from the solent at sparrow fart on saturday morning 4th July. The tide starts flowing west at around 8am, I think, and one should therefore be down past Anvil well before it turns.

Weymouth/Portland - I agree about Weymouth, always on the wrong side of a raft to get out. Not sure what the earliest on Sunday Morning is for Portland inshore passage, but is probalbly around 8 am (no tables handy).

Depending on the wind direction etc, but if favourable for either Dartmouth or Ushant, I would then probably plug the tide going well south of the Bill. If not, I thought we would put a hook down in Portland( soleless place) or just off the beach at Weymouth.

When are you off?
 
similar thoughts 2 U from Solent. not looked into anything yet. i normally do yarmuff then straight to dartmouth. but thinking of gosport portland area on saturday then heading West / SW across the puddle. but depends on crew / wind.... still pondering /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
You say you aren't bothered about going ashore. If the weather is settled and wind from the right direction, why not Lulworth Cove (or Chapman's Pool, etc)?

1. It is about 8 nm short of Weymouth, so an extra hour for G&Ts before the sun sets, but the distance from Lulworth to Portland Bill is almost the same as the distance from Weymouth to the headland for the following morning.

2. It is free!!!

Spent a lovely night there a couple of years ago. Ok, I know the ground has reputedly poor holding, but we didn't move from where we dug the hook in.
 
Or bang a seahorse on the head in Studland and then go straight to Dartmouth. You can leave Studland at -1.75hr HW Dover and use the back eddy right inshore to reach At Albans which gives you 7hrs of favourable tide to get well into and across Lyme.

Otherwise drop the hook in the N - NE corner of Portland outside of the moorings off Castle Cove beach unless you want to spend lots of wine vouchers in Weymouth or the new Portland marina. The holding is very good even without a spade or Rocna /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Both Angele and Robin's advise is good.
I would go for Lulworth as my preference as I like it there! (and it knocks a few miles off the passage).
You can anchor just outside Weymouth, just N of the entrance, I've done that several times when on my own and saving £££.
 
Another option if it is calm is Balaclava Bay on the outside of the Southern Breakwater were it joins the shore. In the corner is a pebble beach which leads down into the water and a flat hard sandy bottom. Be aware that on the outside of the southern Breakwater there are a series of obstructions and barges stretching for 70m out that the RN dumped there years ago. We sometimes use the area for diver training as it is quiet with no boat traffic and sheltered from tides. Stay 100m from the sea wall and you should be fine. Depth is in single figures.

Harbour authority might catch you for dues unless you are in and out quick. Note cable across Southern enterance.

http://www.portland-port.co.uk/leisure/documents/DLLeafletRulesandMapforLeisureUsersv7.pdf

Pete
 
QThe holding is very good even without a spade or Rocna Q

or Manson.....

Seriously - I presume the race takes any swell out of the sea on this anchorage? - I loath rolling.
edit
Didn't read the location properly - in Prtland Harbour so my comment is irrelevant. I was thinking that there was a small anchorage down towards the bill itself, where you could hole up for the tide. - Any one know?
 
If you get delayed, conditions are fair without a strong South or S.Westerly, then consider anchoring in the North East corner of Worbarrow Bay.50deg 37'.05 2deg 11'.22 Just West of St Albans head, and East of Lulworth Cove.http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/worbar.htm
It's fairly idyllic for an overnighter and seeing as its neaps you would expect a secure night. Especially if you have a good anchor, aye Craig! ? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
On anchorages, I think the choice between Lulworth, Worbarrow Bay or Chapman's Pool is really down to wind direction, innit?

Because of moorings, the only bit of Lulworth you can anchor in is the eastern part. Fine, except in S or SW winds. I think the same is true of Chapman's Pool.

I've not stayed there, but my almanac says Worbarrow provides shelter from either E or W winds according to whichever end of the bay you choose to drop the hook.

However, I think with each of these three, when the wind blows from the S, you are a bit stuck. In that circumstance, one of the other suggestions would be a wiser choice.
 
Also bear in mind that the Squib nationals start in Weymouth this sunday, so 110 boats with no engines....
 
Go through the Northern Entrance into Portland Harbour and either pick up a local mooring or anchor just south of the moorings on the Northern Shore just below Sandsfoot Castle.

last week an Irish boat lay at anchor there for the whole week. I would be very surprised if you had to pay anything at all. The holding is excellent.
 
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