Hayling to Weymouth

Trimix · 11 August 2014, 09:12

Im planning a mini cruise from Hayling Island to Weymouth, staying the night, then back the next day.

Taking in all the sights on the way (any recommendations) and experimenting with my plotter now its connected to the engines and sonar.

But as a safety bail out, can anyone advise where I can get fuel (Petrol) on the way. I know of Yarmouth and Poole, but is there any at Swanage and am I correct in assuming Petrol is easy to find in Weymouth ?

Can anyone recommend which Marina to use in Weymouth - the one in town, or the one at Portland.

Cheers.

Low Flyer · 11 August 2014, 09:19

We wandered around Portland the other day,the one in Weymouth looked quite sheltered,we are planning a trip to Torquay and I wanted to look at Portland Bill to see how close you can run in to avoid worse of the race,we were staying in Babbacombe so called in on way back to Portsmouth.

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Trimix · 11 August 2014, 09:40

Im actually lookking forward to the bumpy bits off Portland

Aries · 11 August 2014, 10:01

Portland Marina has petrol.

Nice cafe/bar in the complex as well.

Trimix · 11 August 2014, 10:14

Cheers, thats good to know. Im still unsure how far I can go on a full tank.

Just need to find a B&B now.

CUSAC · 11 August 2014, 10:20

Fuel berth at Portland has limited opening hours (I assume due to need to qualified staff) so worth checking times if you are planning to be there late and leave early. Have been caught out before!

Quite a few B&Bs in Castletown a 5 min walk from the marina from the very cheap and basic to a bit nicer. Also the RYA accommodation (portland house).

Trimix · 11 August 2014, 10:37

Cheers, thats good to know. I will make some phone calls.

paulbrown22 · 11 August 2014, 11:49

Haven't yet done it in the RIB, but have sailed past the Bill numerous times on yachts. From memory the pilot books and almanacs describe the inner passage as "go close enough so you can reach out and touch the rock face". That's certainly what we always do, and it avoids all the bumpy stuff. Either stay very close in, or go several miles out - trying to go through the middle at the wrong state of tide will be very unpleasant!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Low Flyer

We wandered around Portland the other day,the one in Weymouth looked quite sheltered,we are planning a trip to Torquay and I wanted to look at Portland Bill to see how close you can run in to avoid worse of the race,we were staying in Babbacombe so called in on way back to Portsmouth.

Sent from my iPad using RIB Net

paulbrown22 · 11 August 2014, 11:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trimix

Im planning a mini cruise from Hayling Island to Weymouth, staying the night, then back the next day.

Taking in all the sights on the way (any recommendations) and experimenting with my plotter now its connected to the engines and sonar.

But as a safety bail out, can anyone advise where I can get fuel (Petrol) on the way. I know of Yarmouth and Poole, but is there any at Swanage and am I correct in assuming Petrol is easy to find in Weymouth ?

Can anyone recommend which Marina to use in Weymouth - the one in town, or the one at Portland.

Cheers.

Personally I prefer Weymouth town - much more traditional, and there's things to do. Portland marina is a nice marina, but nothing really there apart from that, and many people end up taking bus/taxi into Weymouth! Weymouth isn't a marina as such, but loads of pontoons to raft up on, and very good facilities in the harbour master's office on the quay side.

portlandphil · 11 August 2014, 12:14

Weymouth is a great place to stop for the day- £6 for a short stay permit and you are literally right amongst it all in the harbour with fish and chips, etc. and a short walk to the beach / shops and Nothe Fort. It's a short hop over to Portland Harbour and worth a quick tour of the breakwaters to see all the historic buildings. Go round the coast of Portland and you get to see a side of it you will never see from the land- poodle round to the Bill and and you will see sea caves, rock climbers, wartime defences etc. I often takes my little (4.5m) RIB round the Bill- the race is no problem if you keep close in. Not much to see really beyond Chesil beach unless you want to go all the way over to West Bay etc.

I live at Portland Castletown Slipway and it's great for me as I launch for free, but not really a place to bring a big boat into as there's only one small private jetty.

Phil

Aries · 11 August 2014, 12:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulbrown22

Haven't yet done it in the RIB, but have sailed past the Bill numerous times on yachts. From memory the pilot books and almanacs describe the inner passage as "go close enough so you can reach out and touch the rock face". That's certainly what we always do, and it avoids all the bumpy stuff. Either stay very close in, or go several miles out - trying to go through the middle at the wrong state of tide will be very unpleasant!

Been there done that......"very unpleasant".

cgf10 · 16 August 2014, 22:22

If you do stay in Weymouth and need to refuel then try and moor up in the inner harbour as far back in as possible - from there you could walk to a nearby BP petrol station or take a cab if you need a lot of fuel. I think we walked our fuel on a marina trolley last time. Worked ok for us.

Maximus · 17 August 2014, 09:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trimix

Im actually lookking forward to the bumpy bits off Portland

Be Carful what you wish for

In all seriousness, the good things about Portland Race is you can Generally taylor your excitement levels to suit your own "needs"...
Unless conditions are quite bad (when your just glad to get round with a minimum of Fuss!)
Often Close inshore is best..you can generally dip in and out of the Rough,and skirt the stuff you'd rather avoid

Like all large Race's it's totally confused,and demands respect,and is VERY variable!
It does move around quite a bit depending again on the Tide and Conditions...from close inshore to some way off,so keep a good lookout!..
Have a great Cruise

Searider · 17 August 2014, 09:51

Are you going eastabout to Weymouth?

Last time I went from the Solent to Weymouth I don't remember going through the Portland race!

Depending on weather/ tide, St Albans ledge can also have nasty overfalls.

Trimix · 17 August 2014, 10:39

Your correct, Portland race is not on the way to Weymouth from the Solent

But having dived off the Bill loads of times I would just like to take the RIB round it for a look.

I was out yesterday and the morning it was quite calm, in the afternoon it got bumpy. On the way back from Yarmouth I must have heard 4-5 MayDays. Just as we were leaving Yarmouth the lifeboat raced out, followed by the Helicopter - out towards the Needles, someone had hit the shingle bank.

I got a good chance to play about in the larger waves, both trying to surf the big rollers and dodge the troughs.

The trip out was all at 35-40kts, the way back was 15-20kts.

Hightower · 17 August 2014, 11:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trimix

I was out yesterday and the morning it was quite calm, in the afternoon it got bumpy. On the way back from Yarmouth I must have heard 4-5 MayDays. Just as we were leaving Yarmouth the lifeboat raced out, followed by the Helicopter - out towards the Needles, someone had hit the shingle bank.

I heard on another forum that a Fishing charter boat the Dulci T out of keyhaven sank near the Needles, apparently all rescued and accounted for.

jumpinjack · 17 August 2014, 12:12

I was out fishing out of keyhaven last Thursday! Fishing was poor, but we didn't sink!

ShinyShoe · 17 August 2014, 13:21

Sounds like the CG were a touch busy yesterday...

Coastguard round-up: Man attempts to sail to America, fishing boat caught, and boats capsize (From Dorset Echo)

And that doesn't even include Dulci T I don't think... (Sunk with 7 rescued by a passing fishing boat before transfer to Yarmouth Lifeboat)

Trimix · 17 August 2014, 13:24

That was probably it then, we listened in with interest and heard the coastguard say it had gone without a trace ! Also they asked how much fuel was on board - out of environmental concerns I presume.

Watching the lifeboat race out of Yarmouth was a spectacle. They basically opened it up right away - the little harbourmaster / water taxi boats scrambled to tell a couple of yatchs messing about in the entrance to shift it. One turned about and moved out of the harbour entrance as fast as its engine would go, the other dived towards the pontoon. The lifeboat seemed to be flat out even as it left the entrance.

Quite a sight close up.

Trimix · 17 August 2014, 13:28

Wow - just read that Coastguard round up link. Are they always that busy ?