SOLENT CRUISING
SOLENT CRUISING
Photo: Beken of Cowes
The volume of boats, both power and sail, during busy summer weekends and holidays mean that it can be difficult finding a berth in the popular areas and it is sensible to book ahead if possible or risk being unable to find a vacant berth or mooring, or even space to anchor. Solent tidal streams always make it worthwhile working the tide in small boats, especially near Springs, but the location of the western Solent harbours makes them convenient for cross-tide visits. So if the tide doesn’t serve for a passage from Lymington to Beaulieu, Newtown, or Cowes, a trip across to Yarmouth for lunch until the tide turns is an attractive detour. When punching tide along the Solent, the greatest tidal relief is found to the north of the channel where the bottom is less steep-to than on the Island shore. When fighting tide along the Island shore beware Gurnard, Salt Mead, and Hamstead Ledges and make sure that you calculate the height of tide carefully if you choose to stay close to the shore. Tidal streams in excess of 3.5 knots are experienced around Spring tides, particularly between Gurnard Ledge and Cowes, and between Yarmouth and Hurst Narrows. In strong wind against tide conditions, most commonly when an ebb stream meets a strong west or southwesterly wind, the seas in the western Solent can be steep and breaking, uncomfortable conditions for small to medium sized yachts
allspars
Specialist Riggers & Spar Manufacturers Dinghy - Keelboat - Yacht Experience & advice second to none State of the art workshops & fully mobile rigging teams allspars Solent: 01489 876876 Bldg 9, Premier Marina, Swanwick, Southampton, S031 1ZL allspars Head Office: Plymouth 01752 266766
www.allspars.co.uk
sales@allspars.co.uk www.SolentHandbook.com
27