SAILING THE NOTORIOUS PORTLAND BILL! Ep. 7. We're anxious!

[@tattootony1000]

Geat days sailing..love Brixham used to holiday a lot there when we were younger ,stay safe and enjoy guys

[@sailinghjem]

Brixham, one of those lovely little places that not a lot of people have heard of! So much character and of course, so much history being an old port on the Channel. Foreign armies landed there and spurred on revolution in our lands! Nowadays we see great pubs, independent restaurants and artists all creating a great vibe for those lucky enough to stumble upon it. A cracking place to spend a few days!

[@dsfarmer1]

I keep my yacht ln Portland and sailed as far as the lighthouse but have yet to round the Bill. I found your video very informative enjoyable and interesting to watch. I have been told that the tidal race is powerful enough to buckle ships. Fair weather and safe sailing!

[@karhukivi]

Very enjoyable - thanks! I was in Portland during May and was surprised to hear the Race, I always presumed it was so far out that it was just white water, but the roaring was really something!

[@sailinghjem]

Wow that sounds incredible! Oh yes, in the ‘right’ conditions, it can be a race that extends for two miles from close to the shore outwards. I’ve seen some of the photos when this is the case, frightening! Thankfully we picked our window and we sailed through with nothing to report - just how we like it!

[@marianalulova8832]

Love your videos! Thanks for the lighthouse pics and all the updates!! I’d love to be a dog in your family 😍 Happy sailing ❤️

[@sailinghjem]

Thank you Mariana and great to talk to you recently too! Loved to hear about how well you are doing! We make our videos to keep our friends and family up to date with our travels - that was the most asked for thing before we set off. And there's also the added benefit that we get to have these video diaries to look back upon and remember what we've been up to. I think about what it'll be like to look at these videos in 25 years time. I think they will bring great happiness as reminders of how we tried to live our lives to the full! So expect a lot more episodes and we hope you continue to enjoy! 👍

[@georgeh1352]

In the 60's I was stationed at the Royal Navy Wireless Station at the Bill and had a perfect view of the Portland Race. Saw many a Warship being tossed around whilst negotiating the Race, not a crossing I'd wish to do in a yacht / small boat.

[@sailinghjem]

Wow, I bet that kind of view never gets old. I’ve heard lots of stories of ships coming a cropper, I never imagined a warship would have trouble. We were so thankful to be there in such calm conditions. Even still, we could still see the race in the distance and it still looked mean!

[@martinbirdiebrain1912]

Really enjoying you three on your adventures, I know you are sort of beginners at this sailing lark, just like me(1000 nm sailed so far), I’m about to round The Bill on neaps next week, the same direction you went in, You mention HW, I’m assuming that was HW Dover? Local knowledge and the Reeds Almanac says 4hrs after HW Portland, which is 40mins prior to HW Dover, Thanks

[@sailinghjem]

@@martinbirdiebrain1912 thanks a lot Martini! The best time for going westward round The Bill is HW Dover -1 to HW Dover +2, so a three hour window. It takes about an hour to get there from Weymouth or Portland Marina, so it’s good to leave at HW Dover -2. Hope that helps! Have a look at the ecoeanics reference: eoceanic.com/sailing/routes/51/rounding_portland_bill_by_the_%27inner_passage%27 Greetings from Spain (gulp!) 🙌

[@martinbirdiebrain1912]

Thanks guys, I’ll take a look at that link 👍🏻 Spain! Wow, hopefully it’s nice and sunny there? Absolutely peeing down here in good old UK Lol

[@sailinghjem]

@@martinbirdiebrain1912 it certainly is very nice, yes!

[@1962gms]

The inside passage is a proper 'right of passage', you got the timings right but it can be hell. Always worth doing what you did to go to the Bill, especially if it is on a blowy day. The other point worth considering is to call the NCI (National Coastwatch Institute) who have 59 stations around the coast of England & Wales (as a Scot, not entirely National!!). They are great to call from Weymouth to get a clear view of the conditions - helps avoid going out and coming back!!

[@sailinghjem]

Our conditions were just perfect! It’s alway nice to get a good look at a certain feature and picture ourselves under passage. Added benefit with this one was that we got to go on a bus from the marina and have a lovely walk to it as well. We gave great respect to all of the headlands and races etc around the UK, but The Bill was the one that for some reason we had the most trepidation. Which is not bad as it meant that we were very selective of when to go. The locals of Portland and Weymouth were also more than happy to have a chat about a rounding, giving nuggets of tips in doing so 😀 Great tip on the Institute, thank you!

[@robertparkinson6919]

Give any headland a good offing and be safe and a fair tide 😊

[@sailinghjem]

Very sound advice, thank you very much!