Southampton to Falmouth

[Solent-Salted]

I have been a'thinkin' for next Year....

As a bit of a treat to myself, am thinking of loading up a mates rib, filling up the tanks and then heading on down to Falmouth from Southampton by sea.

This is to coincide with my friends and family camping down near the Old King Harry Ferry (just up from the oyster farm).

Any advice is welcome.

[Observer]

That's a heck of long way in a small, open boat. What's the cruising speed of your mate's boat?

[willk]

Originally Posted by Observer

That's a heck of long way in a small, open boat.

Is your mate's rib a "small open boat"?

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Solent-Salted

Next Year....

As a bit of a treat to myself, am thinking of loading up a mates rib, filling up the tanks and then heading on down to Falmouth from Southampton by sea.

This is to coincide with my friends and family camping down near the Old King Harry Ferry (just up from the oyster farm).

Any advice is welcome.

Sounds good.

It's a rope mussel farm.

Where are they camping? I don't know of any sites up there.

[Solent-Salted]

Will be borrowing a 8.5 metre red bay with a 300 on ze back

Probably be three of us going down, do some night navigation too.

Me bro in law has a farmer who lets us use a field with a tap (all mod cons).

Just have to hump my kit into his SIB so I can anchor out deep.

Will be taking out a small mortgage to for fuel but it'll be worth it

[willk]

... with a thin little smile, Solent Salted flips over his cards. Four Aces & a Redbay 8.4! A sharp intake of breath cuts the silence. All eyes flick towards the door, counting the steps to the open air and comfort for their flaming red faces...

_____________________________
Mind yerself in that wee open boat

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by Solent-Salted

Will be taking out a small mortgage to for fuel but it'll be worth it

Cheap fuel at Mylor Yacht Harbour.

[Solent-Salted]

Now,

Will also be needing to work out where we are going to stop along the way to sleep and refuel.

As it's going to be three lads, we'll be wanting to make a bit of an excursion of it.
E.G. first night Weymouth,

Also, there is no set timescale and will need to take into account possible delays because of conditions etc etc.

Also, list of equipment for journey.

Auxiliary,
epirb,
Charts,
Tidal info,
flares,
at least 2 radios (on-top of boat one),
heavy weather gear,
Change of pants.
..... RIB.
Still in the early stages, looking at feasibility.

Once I've gone over all the info gained with me other two shipwrecks, will make a decision....

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by Solent-Salted

Any advice is welcome.

Keep the brown stuff on the right

OK it's a glib answer, but it's really all you need to do. It's not a difficult trip given a decent boat and some half decent weather. A bit of passage planning would be sensible, but don't get too bogged down - it's only 150 miles or so, with no major hazards.

Once you're past the Needles you've only got St Alban's Head, Portland Bill and Start Point to interrupt a straight course all the way to Falmouth. Lyme Bay can be challenging in a stiff wouthwesterly, but if you're sensible with the weather it shouldn't be a problem. A copy of West Country Cruising by Mark Fishwick has lots of good information and is a good investment.

It's easily doable in a day, but you'll be passing a lot of good places so why not take in a few of them. You've already identified Weymouth as a stopover, but you might like to add Dartmouth or Salcombe, them maybe Fowey before heading on to Falmouth. There are plenty more options if you decide you really want to explore - if you want to go somewhere slightly less obvious how about West Bay or Lyme Regis?

Have fun

[Leapy]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Cheap fuel at Mylor Yacht Harbour.

Yes, very cheap