Solent Hazards

[tim griffin]

Peter j
sorry , i was replying to the original question yes this is a great place to find things out, local knowledge can be great and i am sure you will get out on a ribnet cruise oneday i have tried a couple of times and always end up teaching, but like you will make it oneday.
regards Tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

[powerskiper]

The Solent can be great fun, but watch spring tide flows, they are bad around entrance to Cowes, and Portsmouth, watch how the ferry's approach those ports with a strong tide flowing and you will see what I mean.

Do watch wind over tide, if they flow in the same direction as you are going it will be a nice run, but when you turn it is not, It may seem silly but it works go so far a long your intended route and the turn around retracing your steps a short while, just to test the conditions, then you can decide on the length of your trip.And know when the tide is going to turn.

[tim griffin]

Originally Posted by powerskiper

Do watch wind over tide, if they flow in the same direction as you are going it will be a nice run, but when you turn it is not, It may seem silly but it works go so far a long your intended route and the turn around retracing your steps a short while, just to test the conditions, then you can decide on the length of your trip.And know when the tide is going to turn.

Or you could just get a weather forcast look up the time of high tide study your tidal stream atlas or tidal diamonds and work it out yourself in advance
Tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

[robin]

Regarding the question about the anti submarine blocks.......based on the premise a picture paints a thousand etc.....some pictures

Taken from the inner boat gap towards the dog leg and fort
and from the inner boat gap to shore.

Pictures taken today at LWS Portsmouth (1.0)

[Ribald]

Sharp little bu**ers aren't they - caught out many a raggie in the past

[robin]

They are.

When I were a lad I used to spearfish along the blocks.
Caught many a nice sole and flounder off the bottom there.
Would just drift with the tide.
Wouldnt do it now though because some bugger in a Rib or jetski would mow me down!!

[Paul Knowlson]

Lobster pots, unlit sailing marks (and they are huge and metal), speed limit marker buoys etc! On a recent trip from Bembridge to Sandown I marked 67 unlit obstructions in my chartplotter. This does make my regular trips in the dark somewhat interesting but surley my human right of free passage is being infringed! Can't be long before someone suffers serious damage and resorts to consulting an amulance chasing solicitor.
Paul

[Rogue Wave]

Originally Posted by powerskiper

, It may seem silly but it works go so far a long your intended route and the turn around retracing your steps a short while, just to test the conditions, then you can decide on the length of your trip.And know when the tide is going to turn.

I was 13 miles off the nab February this year radar testing, the test had finished and was told to return to base. So I turned round into wind, tide and Hail. It was so painful i was considering going home in reverse