Riding the Eddy on 21st June 2014.
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Four boats went on this trip. Gosshawk, Impressive, MPH boat and Heatwave.
Four boats went on this trip. Gosshawk, Impressive, MPH boat and Heatwave.
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Before you Click on the Play Button to see what went on. Note the following elapsed time points for the conclusion below. 2:57 mins. Rounding Bill Westbound.
4:50 Rounding the Bill East Bound. Too far Out. 5:42 Being swept into race. Calm today. Altered course. I consider useful information can be gained from it to transit Portland Bill. Video is still no where near good enough but I will keep trying. Below is a Conclusion to this fantastic sail which was due to the people who were able to make it. |
Conclusion:
What made this trip so good was the weather and the fact that we had a team who though very experienced had not transited the Bill.
Because of neap tides and calm weather it was very easy. However get it wrong and you could be in serious trouble. See Stuart Morris video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiiK0fyIyDA . Of course no one would be out in that weather??.
So to transit the Bill safely you are dependent on Tide, Direction Of travel, your vessel capability and draft to bottom of keel(This gives you a stand off to consider), weather with particular attention to wind direction, other traffic and of course Pot Bouys which could be submerged by the drag on the Tide. In the Stuart Morris video the wind is against tide and this creates the huge stopper waves.
Reed's gives transit gates of
Westbound 1/2 an hour before HW Dover to 2 and 1/2 Hours after HW Dover.
Eastbound 4 and 1/2 hours after HW Dover to 5 hours before HW Dover.
always try to aim for slack water at the Bill.
That said I believe that these gates can be wider or close up depending on prevailing conditions. Stay in close to avoid being swept into race but watch your stand off to clear hidden rocks.
Don't do it at night or with a heavy South West swell.
If in any doubt go around offshore about 4 miles off with a course that will avoid being swept into race.
So from The video the west bound transit was fine but the eastbound was too far out. This occurred as we were waiting to get a suitable tack line up the east side as we were not on engine. We got away with it. Another day??. Should have had my engine on.
The objectives of riding the eddy were met and I did note an increase of speed as we started to enter Lyme Bay and the tide was again with us down the west side of Portland. Times were within 10 minutes.
Take Care
Hope to see some new faces on the next Trip.
regards
Brendan.
What made this trip so good was the weather and the fact that we had a team who though very experienced had not transited the Bill.
Because of neap tides and calm weather it was very easy. However get it wrong and you could be in serious trouble. See Stuart Morris video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiiK0fyIyDA . Of course no one would be out in that weather??.
So to transit the Bill safely you are dependent on Tide, Direction Of travel, your vessel capability and draft to bottom of keel(This gives you a stand off to consider), weather with particular attention to wind direction, other traffic and of course Pot Bouys which could be submerged by the drag on the Tide. In the Stuart Morris video the wind is against tide and this creates the huge stopper waves.
Reed's gives transit gates of
Westbound 1/2 an hour before HW Dover to 2 and 1/2 Hours after HW Dover.
Eastbound 4 and 1/2 hours after HW Dover to 5 hours before HW Dover.
always try to aim for slack water at the Bill.
That said I believe that these gates can be wider or close up depending on prevailing conditions. Stay in close to avoid being swept into race but watch your stand off to clear hidden rocks.
Don't do it at night or with a heavy South West swell.
If in any doubt go around offshore about 4 miles off with a course that will avoid being swept into race.
So from The video the west bound transit was fine but the eastbound was too far out. This occurred as we were waiting to get a suitable tack line up the east side as we were not on engine. We got away with it. Another day??. Should have had my engine on.
The objectives of riding the eddy were met and I did note an increase of speed as we started to enter Lyme Bay and the tide was again with us down the west side of Portland. Times were within 10 minutes.
Take Care
Hope to see some new faces on the next Trip.
regards
Brendan.