Canoeing in the Solent to get to Beaulieu
Discussion
Not sure if this is a "fitness" threads or "boats" thread so mods, feel free to shift.
I'm planning on taking my inflatable canoe from Lepe, along the coast a little way, up the river to Beaulieu and back. Now so far I have done lots of river stuff, camping on the Thames, mild white water stuff down the Wye - so I'm not "new" but have never been where I have to worry about waves, off shore winds and tides!
My plan was to stay VERY close to shore and go up the river on the inbound tide and come back on the outbound tide....my concerns where - what are the waves like, am I going to get tossed about....winds, could I get blown to the Isle Of White - Tides, will I get stuck in the mud????
I may be over thinking this but my experience of the sea is Devon as a kid and Baywatch. I'd rather be prepared!
Anyone live down that way and can advise on conditions to watch out for? (I'll have a G Shock with a compass function and am powerfully built built so should be fine)
I'm planning on taking my inflatable canoe from Lepe, along the coast a little way, up the river to Beaulieu and back. Now so far I have done lots of river stuff, camping on the Thames, mild white water stuff down the Wye - so I'm not "new" but have never been where I have to worry about waves, off shore winds and tides!
My plan was to stay VERY close to shore and go up the river on the inbound tide and come back on the outbound tide....my concerns where - what are the waves like, am I going to get tossed about....winds, could I get blown to the Isle Of White - Tides, will I get stuck in the mud????
I may be over thinking this but my experience of the sea is Devon as a kid and Baywatch. I'd rather be prepared!
Anyone live down that way and can advise on conditions to watch out for? (I'll have a G Shock with a compass function and am powerfully built built so should be fine)
Where are you thinking of launching from Lepe? If you go around the corner, it's pretty much straight up the river....
Do it on a neap and you'll be fine, once you get so far up the river, you'll see loads of canoes, Liquid Logistics operate up near Baileys Hard and they're always out and about.
I've just got back from Bucklers Hard this morning, it's blowing a little down there today....
On a spring the tide is quite fierce on the river, around 2-3 knots down the middle, so plan your day well!
Do it on a neap and you'll be fine, once you get so far up the river, you'll see loads of canoes, Liquid Logistics operate up near Baileys Hard and they're always out and about.
I've just got back from Bucklers Hard this morning, it's blowing a little down there today....
On a spring the tide is quite fierce on the river, around 2-3 knots down the middle, so plan your day well!
Fittster said:
Remember to tell someone where you are going and what time you'll be back. If you don't check in they can contact the emergency services.
I'm always in constant contact with the wife via iPhone and she tracks me online using that - normally to see how where I am on the Thames if I've been out all day.Tiggsy said:
Fittster said:
Remember to tell someone where you are going and what time you'll be back. If you don't check in they can contact the emergency services.
I'm always in constant contact with the wife via iPhone and she tracks me online using that - normally to see how where I am on the Thames if I've been out all day.As for starting at the car park, no worries at all. Launch on the beach, and pretty much paddle straight up the river. The estuary is a bit strange, it's effectively open to sea for about a mile, but it's a very shallow (exposed at LW) sand bank, with a small channel right at the end near Lepe. Perfect for paddling. Less perfect for those with big keels.
Tiggsy said:
The google map shows a lot of exposed (or very shallow) areas just west of Lepe - is that an issue for a paddler staying close to shore? From the air it looks like a maze of sand!
And if I come back on LT will that leave me miles from the carpark - how far out does the sea go there?
See my bit above. ^^^And if I come back on LT will that leave me miles from the carpark - how far out does the sea go there?
That's the sandbank. There's a ruddy great deep channel down the middle of the river, minimum 3-4m deep even on a low spring.
The only bit you have to be careful of in a yacht is the bar, which is actually about 1/4 mile out to sea, just past the last entrance marker. Goes down to about 1.5m on a low spring here.
If in doubt, don't look at google maps, get a chart!
Tiggsy said:
so theres no danger of paddling over the sandbank on an outgoing tide and ending up "stuck" on it or in a giant puddle!
If you're sensible, no. 
You shouldn't go over the bar in a sailing yacht on an ebb tide, but a canoe, avoiding the (obvious) sandbank, you'll be fine.
When are you thinking of doing this?
maser_spyder said:
If you're sensible, no.
You shouldn't go over the bar in a sailing yacht on an ebb tide, but a canoe, avoiding the (obvious) sandbank, you'll be fine.
When are you thinking of doing this?
Weekend after next - this weekend is Henley - Cookham with an overnight on Cookham Lock, far less to worry about! Just me and my 4 year old.You shouldn't go over the bar in a sailing yacht on an ebb tide, but a canoe, avoiding the (obvious) sandbank, you'll be fine.
When are you thinking of doing this?
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff