Hamble to Torquay - Help and advice appreciated

[sprocker]

Following on from Stu's 'Season Start' thread, and to save de-railing his thread.......

In March/April we are due to take our Sessa from her current berth up the Hamble around the coast to her home berth in Torquay.

This will be our longest ever cruising 'adventure' so far, and we intend to take it over 2 or 3 days, and maybe visit a few ports along the way.

As we are new to the Solent and the Dorset coast, I would very much appreciate any help, advice and experiences that you may be able to offer.

[Ianfs]

I suspect the main worries on your radar are, The Shingles and The Needles Channel, Portland Bill and Lyme Bay.

For info, the winds around here are predominantly SW although they have been swinging a lot over Winter. Now I think, Colin, Matt, Ed, Anton, Martin, James and Nick T would all agree to head out to leave the Needles to Port say about 100m at slack with an F3-4 max heading Sw until you clear the SW Shingles Marker, although with no wind at all, its a different matter. I can see the overfalls at the Shingle Bank regularly from the cliff top and from Hurst the race is predominant. Having said that I was out threading the Needles the other day with a double high tide and it was benign.

Portland is a different kettle of fish, some people say its a nightmare and others a piece of cake. I've only ever been round it twice in a boat, but seen it kick up several times from land, the race is out to sea a bit 5nm should clear it on an offshore passage. I've seen a vid made by Tom Cunliffe, albeit he's a sailor, but his advice on the inshore passage and taking it at slack, for me is spot on. Hold up in Weymouth (its about 50 nm from your berth in the Hamble so should be all OK) and try to get to Portland at slack, then head round on the inshore passage, both times it was better than expected. As you are in a stable Sessa though,

Lyme Bay can be either big or benign too, luckily I've only ever seen it calm so not really much help there. I've just plotted a direct course and its about 30nm form the Bill to Torbay or 53nm for an inshore passage, so not too bad.

Let's see what the others have to say.

[sprocker]

Thankyou Ian, a few things there for me to think about. I have researched Portland Bill as there is lots of info around, although most of it is pertaining to sailing rather than motor boats. I have watched a few of Tom Cunliff's videos., including the Portland Bill one, I really like his laid back style of presenting.

I'll take on board (pun intended) your advise about the Needles & Shingles area, that is one thing I hadn't thought about. I am hoping that we will have a few weeks to explore the Solent before our trip around to Torquay, so I will make a point of checking out that area.

My initial plan is:- Day 1 - Hamble to Weymouth/Portland. Day 2 - Round the Bill and head for Lyme Regis/Bridport. Day 3 - On to Torquay. That way hopefully it will be a relaxing trip where we can enjoy the stunning coastline.

A look at Google Earth also made me think about St Albans Head, are there any do's/don'ts required there?

[antlouhay]

st Albans head ...... be sure to research it! not been around it enough to give you advice but have been there at the WRONG time and it aint pleasant !
also check the Lulworth gun range live fire times or you will have to be a very long way out

[Centaur]

I would agree with all that Ianfs has said above.

Try and pick calm weather above all else - the Needles or Hurst are lovely in fine weather but can be really rough in wind against tide. Likewise, Portland Bill - I have only ever sailed that but the inshore passage (really close in) is lovely in fine weather, with great views and it is a much shorter passage (especially if you overnight in Weymouth or Portland). However, with wind against tide in stormy weather it is truly horrific, even far offshore... but that's another (long) story!

St Albans Head is nothing like as bad but, again, can be rough in wind against tide. Usually, though, in fine weather it simply generates a series of standing waves that vary in size depending on the speed of the tide. Traversing them can feel a bit like being on a roller coaster but just keep your forward hatch closed and you should be fine - don't ask me how I know!

A good point from Antlouhay about the Lulworth Firing Range - check the firing times and plan to either go around or anchor at Chapman's Pool and wait it out. If you have enough time, you can take a tender ashore and walk up to the Square & Compass, a fascinating little pub at Worth Matravers.

I once went around the Bill and across Lyme bay when it was millpond-calm and sunny but foggy inshore all around the coast. It was a Cowes-Torbay powerboat race day, though, and our peaceful trip was interruped by loads of powerboats screaming past, with a TV helicopter in close persuit. It was worse for those in Torbay, however, as the powerboats didn't slow down when they reached the fog and had a few near misses with anchored boats! Listening on the VHF, one boater asked the coastguard if the race could be called off, as a powerboat had only just missed him - the reply came back a little while later that, yes the organisers could call off the race but, unfortunately, there was no way of contacting the participants and so they would not stop until they got back to Cowes....

I passed a 9/10 submerged fridge-freezer along the way too (who would have thought that one would float?), which would have caused some serious damage had anybody hit it. I called that in to the coastguard too but the participants would have been oblivious!

[sprocker]

Thankyou for your replies gents, all much appreciated.

I have noted the need to look out for partly submerged fridge/freezers Mark.......

[Ianfs]

Sprocker......Don't watch this.



Is this what is called wind over tide? It's actually quite soulful and mesmerising at the same time.

[BruceK]

Just a typical Brit day at the beach that. Nothing to get one's knickers in a knot over. Hell just chuck a couple of inflatable armbands on and hit the surf.

[ColinR]

I love that place when there's a storm blowing. Not the place to be at sea though if you get the tide wrong.

Round to the West of the lighthouse there is one of the best dive sites in the world in my opinion. Sheer drop offs and canyons from 10 to 30 m deep.

We did a dive through the race after a morning wreck dive once. We had been on the Salsette (I think that's the right spelling) which is 10 or so miles off shore lying in 40+m . On the way back we dropped in near the end of the flood to the West of the Bill and drifted East on a 3 knot tide. Very spectacular. No chance of stopping to look around though!

Not sure if I would fancy that sort of diving now though. A long and tiring day on a manky old fishing boat that stank of dead fish. Even the tea tasted fishy!

[sprocker]

Sprocker......Don't watch this.

Whoa!!! Excellent video Ian. Can't put me off that easily though...........