YM and Lyme Bay

[doris]

Reading the latest comic about Lyme Bay I couldn't help but be disappointed at the content. I have carried the pilotage articles from YM many times but only referred to them rarely.

Not often I know about the places described but the lack of mention of the new town quay beside Haldon Pier in Torquay seems a fairly fundamental omission. Lots of room with power and water and makes the place a much more acceptable destination..
Also the need to be 7 miles off Portland Bill to avoid the race??? Even Reeds says only 3-5 miles! The Cape Horn header seems a trifle OTT but then it is, only, a comic I suppose.

I'm sure that there is a disclaimer somewhere saying 'Not to be used for navigation' but it should be easy to get these things better. If people have further input be marvellous to update some other bits.

 

[shmoo]

We usually go round Portland Bill on the inside because we are going/coming to/from Weymouth but this time were heading from Brixham direct to Swanage we elected to go "outside". About 3 miles off, east-going spring tide, wind SW F5:we made 9.5 kt over the ground[1]. If only all sailing were like that...

If you are going to go 7 miles off you may as well go to Alderney.

[1] not all the way obviously. But for quite a while off Portland.

 

[Poignard]

Also the need to be 7 miles off Portland Bill to avoid the race???

Huh! 7 miles - much too far out. Last time i rounded it, someone on the cliff top chucked a cigarette end into our cockpit.

 

[lw395]

If you are seeking to avoid Portland entirely, such as when going from the Needles to Dartmouth, 7 miles South of the Bill is pretty reasonable. Better to have this as a WP than one which only just clears the overfalls, then finding the wind drops/shifts and you end up having to steer a lot of south. There can be a lot of north in the current. The benefits of aiming closer are not great in many cases. It's a case of lot of variables. I expect we can discuss this in more words than the mag article, which was trying to cover more than rounding the Bill I expect. I haven't read it BTW.

 

[snooks]

Also the need to be 7 miles off Portland Bill to avoid the race??? Even Reeds says only 3-5 miles!

Talk about take things out of context ...If you read the bit before it says

"In fresh strong winds and on big spring tides, the race extent much further to seaward - up to 7 miles - and nasty overfall can stretch all the way east across the Shambles"

Not unreasonable in strong wind and springs in my opinion

@parsifal
The inshore passage is also explained, it's just unfortunate anyone reading Doris's post might think that YM were saying the only way to go around the Bill was to give it 7 miles grace....which is not the case

 

[doris]

Oi Snooks!

I have re-read the article and the 7 miles off bit is still OTT, IMHO of course, if the text is to be read by someone who does not know the area and is using the text as a pilotage aid.

However the main point was the inaccuracy by omission of what Torquay has to offer. It is rare that you chaps write about places that I know thereby letting me see the wholesomeness of your data. It would be sad if people missed out Torquay because they thought the only moorings were in a MDL enclave. I know well that there are conspiracy theorists that MDL and IPC are in cahoots but I'm sure that is not the case.

I will now get my coat

 

[snooks]

Wouldn't you like to keep some places for yourself, rather than everyone filling the place up??

Needless to say I'm keeping my fav restaurant in Cherbourg under wraps, cos it's small, and I'd like to be able to go in without having to make a reservation

It's selfish I know, but squeezing in is just possible at the mo without telling everyone about it