Solent to Scillies - 30 July to 1 August & 8 to 10 August 2008

MarkBarker · 08 July 2008, 11:05

I have to get my boat to Tresco for 1 August for the family holiday, returning on August 8th.
Last year, I trailered it down to Penzance, chickened out on day 1 as there was an F8 blowing and the Newlyn fishermen were staying put, but made it across a horrible lump the following day (not much less wind either).

This year, as that was not adventurous enough, I plan to take the RIB from Chichester by sea all the way. I will have a couple of kids in tow, so was planning to do a max of 4 - 5 hours a day so somewhere between 120 and 150 miles which should get me to about Salcombe on day 1. Not sure whether to use the next day to hole up on the mainland before the final push across, or go for it in one day, any thoughts? If I go for a 3 day run, then I will probably stop around Penzance for the night.

I then leave the Scillies on 8 August for the reverse trip.

Does anyone want to come along for all or part of the journey. 2 RIBS better than 1.

Trying not to think about the fuel cost.

Mark

bedajim · 08 July 2008, 11:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkBarker

I have to get my boat to Tresco for 1 August for the family holiday, returning on August 8th.
Last year, I trailered it down to Penzance, chickened out on day 1 as there was an F8 blowing and the Newlyn fishermen were staying put, but made it across a horrible lump the following day (not much less wind either).

This year, as that was not adventurous enough, I plan to take the RIB from Chichester by sea all the way. I will have a couple of kids in tow, so was planning to do a max of 4 - 5 hours a day so somewhere between 120 and 150 miles which should get me to about Salcombe on day 1. Not sure whether to use the next day to hole up on the mainland before the final push across, or go for it in one day, any thoughts? If I go for a 3 day run, then I will probably stop around Penzance for the night.

I then leave the Scillies on 8 August for the reverse trip.

Does anyone want to come along for all or part of the journey. 2 RIBS better than 1.

Trying not to think about the fuel cost.

Mark

Trip planned here

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=25308&page=5

and the same one here

http://www.cornwall247.co.uk/forum/v...=7&thread_id=3

but looking for a weather window so may still be waiting on the 8th

Jim

Cookee · 08 July 2008, 12:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkBarker

I have to get my boat to Tresco for 1 August for the family holiday, returning on August 8th.
Last year, I trailered it down to Penzance, chickened out on day 1 as there was an F8 blowing and the Newlyn fishermen were staying put, but made it across a horrible lump the following day (not much less wind either).

This year, as that was not adventurous enough, I plan to take the RIB from Chichester by sea all the way. I will have a couple of kids in tow, so was planning to do a max of 4 - 5 hours a day so somewhere between 120 and 150 miles which should get me to about Salcombe on day 1. Not sure whether to use the next day to hole up on the mainland before the final push across, or go for it in one day, any thoughts? If I go for a 3 day run, then I will probably stop around Penzance for the night.

I then leave the Scillies on 8 August for the reverse trip.

Does anyone want to come along for all or part of the journey. 2 RIBS better than 1.

Trying not to think about the fuel cost.

Mark

If you need any help with Salcombe please ask - I live there!

MarkBarker · 08 July 2008, 12:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by bedajim

Trip planned here

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=25308&page=5

and the same one here

http://www.cornwall247.co.uk/forum/v...=7&thread_id=3

but looking for a weather window so may still be waiting on the 8th

Jim

Saw those, sadly timings don't work for me unless delayed further as I have house booked on Tresco from 1 August.

I now know that my boat will happily take some reasonably big seas but if it is looking horrible nearer the time I will have to trailer it down to Pz again and hope for a Window once it is in the water. Hopefully it can't be as bad as last year when the A30 was closed and the A38 had a bad smash around Plymouth. It took 10 hours to get there from Sussex.

MarkBarker · 08 July 2008, 12:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookee

If you need any help with Salcombe please ask - I live there!

Cookee,

I hope to take you up on that. I presume it will be near impossible to find a couple of rooms B&B or hotel for the night of the 30th?

Mark

Cookee · 08 July 2008, 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkBarker

Cookee,

I hope to take you up on that. I presume it will be near impossible to find a couple of rooms B&B or hotel for the night of the 30th?

Mark

Living here I don't have much use for B+B, but the tourist office are very helpful people!

Mollers · 08 July 2008, 17:42

Salcombe to the Scillies would be around 100Nm I guess which is a decent days run. Stopping off in Penzance wouldn't make much sense as it's only another 25Nm to the islands. Fowey or Falmouth would make more sense as mid-points.

John Kennett · 09 July 2008, 09:20

Mark

How old are the children, and how keen are they? How much time have you got?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

Fowey or Falmouth would make more sense as mid-points.

. . . and they're much nicer places to visit too.

If you're not in a rush you could have a fantastic few days of real cruising:

Chichester to Weymouth (maybe Yarmouth or Christchurch for lunch)
Weymouth to Dartmouth (via Babbacombe Bay, Torquay or Brixham)
Dartmouth to Fowey (via Salcombe and/or Newton Ferrers)
Fowey to Scilly

This would allow you time to explore a bit on the way rather than just blatting offshore.

Don't forget that if you do decide to go from Chichester to Salcombe, as an alternative to the Solent it's the same distance to go round the back of the Island - then it's a straight run from St Catherines to Salcombe. It would take you further offshore but avoiding the Solent and Portland Bill can make for a more comfortable ride.

John

MarkBarker · 10 July 2008, 09:51

Thans John,

The 2 that I am taking are 16 & 12 so quite resilient. Rest of the brood travelling down with the Missus. I am not sure that I have enough time to cruise down so slowly, but I take your point regarding routing.

If I can get to somewhere south of Exmouth on Day 1, then a more leisurely run around Cornwall on day 2, followed by the final Blat across on day 3 probably makes sense. I will aim to finish day 2 somewhere between Fowey and Falmouth, probably driven by where I can get rooms for 1 night in high season.

My almanac is on the boat at the moment, so does anyone know the most westerly point where I can buy petrol on the water? I am guessing Falmouth.

Mark

John Kennett · 10 July 2008, 11:36

Sounds like a good plan. I think you're probably right about fuel.

Torquay may be a better bet than Dartmouth or Salcombe for B&B availability
(and price). Likewise you may be better off at Falmouth than Fowey. Definitely worth trying to book ahead though, tempting as it may be to keep your options open!

John

MarkBarker · 10 July 2008, 16:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Likewise you may be better off at Falmouth than Fowey. Definitely worth trying to book ahead though, tempting as it may be to keep your options open!

Any thoughts on berthing in / around Falmouth? I just spoke to Premier there as I get free nights from my Chichester berthing, but as they are 100% full they won't take bookings and suggest that they turn away more people than they let in. I have booked rooms in Falmouth so keen to find somewhere to park the boat.

Mark

John Kennett · 10 July 2008, 18:06

There is a dedicated "Visitors Yacht Haven" run by the harbour authority. Give the Moorings Officer a call 01326 312285 and they should sort you out.

John

Mollers · 10 July 2008, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kennett

There is a dedicated "Visitors Yacht Haven" run by the harbour authority. Give the Moorings Officer a call 01326 312285 and they should sort you out.

John

..and it has petrol.
Where are your digs? Mylor is a better facility also with petrol, but it's a bit of a run back to Fal by road. It might be easier to pop around to Mylor to fill-up prior to leaving.

MarkBarker · 11 July 2008, 12:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

..and it has petrol.
Where are your digs? Mylor is a better facility also with petrol, but it's a bit of a run back to Fal by road. It might be easier to pop around to Mylor to fill-up prior to leaving.

Staying at the Greenbank on the harbourside in Falmouth so keen to moor up as near to town centre as possible. I am sure that I will get something sorted, just dont want to be messing about with tenders etc if I can avoid it. With my fuel tanks/consumption, the cheapest supplier wins!

Mark

Mollers · 14 July 2008, 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkBarker

Staying at the Greenbank on the harbourside in Falmouth so keen to moor up as near to town centre as possible. I am sure that I will get something sorted, just dont want to be messing about with tenders etc if I can avoid it. With my fuel tanks/consumption, the cheapest supplier wins!

Mark

The Greenbank has it's own moorings, but no means of getting ashore. The Yacht Haven is about half a mile away at the other end of the town. You may need to cab it to the hotel. Nice hotel

, it belonged to a good mate of mine for 18yrs, he still owns the moorings.