Proposed Seagull Marathon early next summer 2011 May/June

[Horsley-Anarak]

A very nice trip, a little cold but great.

16 mile trip took about 3 hours, with trusty 102.

Launched the boat no probs, launch fee and harbour dues were £12.00

We set off after the tidal flow had calmed down a bit, we think it must have been coming in at about 3-4 knots.

We managed about 3 MPH whilst getting out through the channel.

But once we were out we got up to a massive 6 MPH.

The open sea bit was a little lumpy and I took us about a mile offshore to avoid the breakers.

The swell was between 5 and 6 feet which made it quite exciting at times, I did remind Charles that we did not want to get wet in the solent in February. The skipper of an RNLI rib did ask us if we were OK , they must have thought we were mad. I have been told that survival time in the solent in winter is 4 Minutes.

Once we got back into Chichester it was easy. got under the bridge with loads of water.

Got past the old railway bridge.

Then raced back to the slip at up to 7.4 MPH.

Pulled out no problems, and Markhld arrived and bought us a pint.

All in all a good day.

I think that this is a good venue for an event, the only problem may be busy slip and crowded carpark.

This should not be an issue if if people get there early.

H-A

[Robin Anderson]

Well done bold proof of concept pioneers. That wee boat is more of a skiff than sea going vessel so glad the 102 did the business for you. I returned to Chi on Sunday on the tide after a few days away and the rollers were certainly doing their thing. Hope you can get it all together for the marathon. If the weather is nice Langstone slip does get very congested with lesser engines and their owners but hopefully they will defer to finer specimens and give you sea room.

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

[Horsley-Anarak]

That wee boat is more of a skiff than sea going vessel

How rude. It is 14 foot.

It has masses of inbuilt bouyancy compartment, I have not tried to sink it, but doubt if it would.

The Scandinavian design copes very well with rough water, and is rated for 5 Adults and a 6HP outboard.

Skiff indeed.

H-A

[Robin Anderson]

It is even made plastic - heavens!
What is the sea- going world coming to? And you being a Series One Landie person - your correspondents were surely deserving of at least a clinker built beauty or a carvel launch resplendent with burnished varnish and flying the appropriate penant and defaced ensign. And as for the crew - well there must be a fault with my browser as there appears to be a young oil rig functionary in one of the pictures on my screen. Perhaps he was a seagoing rozzer checking for smuggled backy or whatever they search for amongst the Langstone longshore men these days. But I can see the attractons of the nice Scandinavian lady crew person and am pleased that she handles well although I am not sure that the net nanny should have allowed such a posting before the watershed

Robin

[Charles uk]

Robin whatever you say about H A's plastic boat, I'd take it around the Isle of White without any hesitation.

Once around Hayling Island looks like a nice cruise, with a bit of a swell over the sand spits, plenty of seaweed in Chichester harbour & a bit of a tidal flow in both entrances, enough obstacles to make it deserving of the title Marathon, but the ferry is logistically an awkward place to launch & park & the Ferry pub didn't sell coffee or tea.

As it looks like we will have overseas entrants, H A has rightly suggested that adding non industrial estate scenery might be a nice thing to do. He suggested launching at West Itchenor 2 ish hours before high tide & then circumnavigating Hayling Island in an clockwise direction giving a 20 mile course.

I believe you have some experience of of the area do you have any advice regarding camp sites, parking, launching, ease of access from the motorway, or just general suitability for our purpose?

[Robin Anderson]

Hi Charles, I jest of course - all my boats have been plastic. She has fine lines and is shapely, and the boat is not bad looking either .
Lots of options for fair and foul weather days on the water in Chi/Langstone but surprisingly limited if you want to do the island circuit and return to cars/trailers. Ferry point as you say has some drawbacks but enables you to launch/recover same day.
The hard at Itchenor is a lovely spot with a good wide slipway. Very scenic and an advantage is that you could have a good day on the water there in a gale as it is very sheltered and you could cruise easily to Dell Quay or down to East Head if the open sea leg was not viable. Facilities limited. There are no shops, only one pub and no street parking in season. You can however park in the public pay and display car park up behind the Northshore Shipyard - about 1/4 mile from the slip. I am not sure if there is a ban on campervans etc ovenighting there - can check.The car park fills up by mid day in good weather. The Harbour Conservancy pontoon offers 15 minute alongside berth for safety boats etc. Loo facilities limited! The slip is accessible at all tides as it is onto hard shingle - safe for recovery at all tides. Itchenor is reached from the A286, about 7 miles from the A27, Witterings roundabout. On the way down to Itchenor you pass Dell Quay - a historic and delightful spot - once the fourth busiest port in all England - now a delightful very tidal backwater. Dell Quay has a great pub/restaurant and a slip. You could probably secure parking by arrangement at the Wyche Marine boatyard - the pub car park is tiny and little by way of street parking. You need water there however - you would not get back up on the same tide so I think it would not do for the island circuit jump off point. There are many camp sites dotted around the West Witterings area - but not my specialist subject.
Moving round the harbour I would discount Bosham - delightful spot, easliy accessible from A 27 but too tidal and very congested - similar thoughts apply to Emsworth. Thornham might be an option - it is off the beaten track but only by a few miles on Thorney Island and has good facilities. Come off the A 27, pass Emsworth Marina to starboard and take a narrow winding road to Thornham Marina. No problem with parking. Current state of the slipway escapes me but can ask a friend for detail. Tidal and I don't think you could get back to the slip in time after the circuit. You would need permission from the private Marina company.
Nothing of use up the Emsworth channel to Northney and I don't think Hayling yacht company have a suitable slipway - it is very tidal. A slight chance option might be to launch and recover at Hayling Island Sailing Club at Sparkes Marina. Lots of facilities at the Marina - coffee shop etc. Posh place. No problems with water there so might be possibly be worth an exploratory approach to the Sec. (Tel. 02392463768. Sorry I don't have any contacts there.)
Langstone has a big public launching slip on the West shore- opposite the Ferry side. Shingle can build up ther after gales but easy for launch/recovery - not attractive however and nil facilities. Gets busy with the water-skiing/ sea scooter brigade. Launch fees. Southsea Marina has holding pontoons but no slip.
Well worth an approach however would be the Eastney Cruising Association just North of the public slip. They have a club house, parking, full facilities, slip winch etc and their members probably own a few Seagulls. They don't have a pontoon but do have a few moorings off the beach - ideal for the safety boats. (Tel. 023 9273 4103) Nothing else in Langstone Harbour methinks. A last option to explore might be Langstone Sailing Club up at the top of thr harbour near Chichester. They have a slip and yacht club facilities. I don't have any contacts there but for a half tide launch or recovery it would be fine if the Club Secretary could perhaps be shmoozled. Tel. 023 9248 4577.) Great pub/ restaurant across the (very busy) road, just before the bridge.

Hope that does not bamboozle.

Cheers,
Robin

[Charles uk]

Robin thanks.

So H A's right, Itchenor seems to be the favourite, looks like I'll get another ride in H A's boat checking that route out. Better fill my wallet this time I had no cash on Sunday makes for very cheap boating, thanks Allan.

The only negatives I can see is, car parking so far from water 1/2 a mile is a long way to walk in full wet gear with the sun shining to get a forgotten 1/4" spanner, the other being that by the time the flock reach the open sea 4 miles later they will be spread over quite a distance, harder work for the safety boats in the highest risk area.

That might merit the start point moving to, in front of the lifeboat station at East head.

[Robin Anderson]

Hi Charles, the walk from the car park at Itchenor Reach is a pleasant stroll - probably somewhat less than 1/4 mile. It has nice pontoon for camp followers etc and as H-A says is a good spot to consider for Moonbase Alpha. The helpful Harbour staff have their office/boats there. No sweetie shops nor nuffin much else other than the pub however.The Lansdale Marine boat shop sell Ribs and big outboards but not much by way of Seagull goodies nowadays.The final approach to the slip past the pub is a single carriageway road with yellow lines and gets very busy on good days but certainly do- able. East Head itself is not approachable by car but is as previous posters have mentioned a great place for a beach invasion. In the entrance to Chi Harbour there is the Hayling Island ILB station but no slip or good shore side access there. The very similar looking Portsmouth ILB station is in Langstone entrance just North from the Eastney Cruising Association /public slip and for a start point that certainly has more in favour than the equivalent Chi side - but the approach and general area are not picturesque in the way that Itchenor is.

More cheers
Robin

[Charles uk]

If we launch at Itchenor & start at the life boat station an hour before high tide what's the tidal flow like & how long will it take to get to the starting point at 5 mph?

[Robin Anderson]

Hi Charles,
Fast mid tide at Itchenor pontoon and slip but easy once in Chi Channel, past Chalkdock, Camber and East Head to the entrance. 50 mins down there agin last of flood. More difficult at end of day back up - bit of a slog from Chalkdock to the Itchenor hard so maybe 1 hr 20 from the Fishery buoy at end of circumnavigation back up to the Reach hard.
Cheers

Robin

[Robin Anderson]

PS - the Chi Harbour web set is a mine of information. You can download a pdf chart and play tidal simulators- try the one showing the tide draining away from Dell Quay - Birdham looking west view for example.

http://conservancy.co.uk/

Cheer
Robin

[rosbullterier]

'Permissable Motor Types'

Does this mean in accordance with stock motor authenticity that two motors can be mounted - one on each gunwale?

Seagull side bracket.jpg (34.55 KiB) Viewed 2262 times

[Hugz]

Do they have Port and Starboard brackets or is the bottom thrust block able to be inverted?

[Charles uk]

We were thinking of making it mandatory in your case, all parts must be authentically original, so your going to need 2 x SD's & 2 side mount transom brackets.

With a bit of luck it might slow that hull of yours down to the harbour speed limit.

Welcome back, where u bin?

Hugo the bottom thrust block rotates & those brackets weigh almost as much as a featherweight.

[rosbullterier]

'(Page from 1952 Parts Identification List from the War OfficeP'

- well - we wouldn't want anything but awfentic . . .
- maybe use an AC with an AD on the Port side and a D with an SD on Starboard.

With your beautifully graphic pics I should be able to knock up a couple of those industrial looking brackets. (1/8" x 1" mild steel bar?) Yes, green hammerite and you'd never know they were'nt 70 years old. Bet you've never seen the tandem versions?

Anyway, when is this bloody jaunt. Do I have to send you the £1.50 to purchase Tide Tables. Here, you can buy one in the local shop . . .
Need to organise the crew to be sober.