Solent (and other) hazards

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

what's the bembridge ledge, a hidden reef?

hope they find the woman...

Stephen,

There are plenty of these ledges around the IOW, along with all the sand banks, thats what can make this area very dangerous. Not only do you get shallow rock formations you also get the resultant dangerous wave patterns that go with them.

Sad news indeed.

Nick R.

[ian mcconnell]

I have tended to avoid that area on all tides and steer down the channel turning around the cardinal marks, i have seen on many occasions all soughts of boats driving straight down the middle, I have avoided the temptation to follow.

does the ledge show its self at low tide or does it remain submerged. If it stays submerged it would explain at high tides why people take this route.

Also are there other places to avoid like this in the Solent.

[Biggles]

Ian quite a lot of it drys out but not all of it. It also runs South West for some quite considerable distance. Like you I try and stay to the deeper water and use the Cardinal mark to navigate that area. I have seen plenty of people cut it with no problems but I would need to be sure what I was doing before I knowingly did that sort of thing.

Other places worth watching out for include:-

A massive rock on a sandbank 1/2 mile off shore west of Langstone Entrance.

The submarine barrier at Southsea.

Sandbanks at Chichester, Langstone, Ryde, Warsash. Seems like every harbour entrance has sandbanks which can cause problems.

Hopefully someone else will post a few more.

Nick R.

[genoa]

Loads on the Island side of the solent!
From needles to cowes -
Warden Pt, Black rock, Hamstead,Salt Mead, Gurnard all have an offlying rock form.
Don't even look at going close in on the South West side unless you have a detailed chart, or a good local with you.

You don't need to go as far out as the cardinals or cans though in most places at most states of the tide - check a chart first. I won't post my view /what I do as it will probably come back to bite me!

[AndrewH]

Originally Posted by Biggles

Hopefully someone else will post a few more.

Nick R.

A few Poole based ones:

- Hook Sands just to the eastern side of Poole Harbour entrance
- Stone Island (rocks and sandbar) on the western side of the main channel as you enter Poole Harbour before you get to Brownsea
- The Training bank that runs in a straight line from the end of Shell Bay towards Old Harry rocks (marked with a line of poles)
- Anywhere in between the Main, North and Wych channels within Poole Harbour

[genoa]

2 very good books :
Wight Hazards and Solent Hazards, both by Peter Bruce, give some great arial photos of some of the best/worst bits and very useful narative on transits etc to help avoid them on the water ...

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by genoa

2 very good books :
Wight Hazards and Solent Hazards, both by Peter Bruce, give some great arial photos of some of the best/worst bits and very useful narative on transits etc to help avoid them on the water ...

Agreed. As a pair they are quite expensive. Anyone got a cheap source for them please PM me.

NR.

[Richard B]

I have the video which is currently with Hugh Jardon.

[Hugh Jardon]

we must get together for a beer so i can give you your vids back, i have only had them for the last 15 years!!!!!

i think i might study em again a couple of time first!

terrible news below,,,,hope they find her

[ian mcconnell]

Keep the info coming Guys and Girls, as an Oxford boy i only get to see the Solent mainly at high tide & through my plotter, thankfully i went on my intermediate Power boat course before i started to venture out too far which gave me a good understanding of maps, tides & navigation. But ive got to say even the chap i purchased the engine from knew no more than how to start it and how fast it went, had no life jackets, maps or plotter, he had owned the speed boat for 2 years and regularly ventured around the solent

Worrying isnt it