Cowes to Poole Harbour
Day Skipper · Solent and Dorset
A classic daylight coastal hop west through the Solent, out of Hurst Narrows and across Poole Bay.
Training data only — not for navigation. Use official charts, tide tables and almanacs.
Distance
29.2 nm
Time @ 5 kn
5h 50m
ETA
—
Waypoints and legs
| # | Name | Lat | Lon | Leg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | start | ||||
| 2 | 10.2 nm · 249°T | ||||
| 3 | 2.5 nm · 232°T | ||||
| 4 | 12.2 nm · 263°T | ||||
| 5 | 4.2 nm · 322°T |
Tidal gates & timing
- Leave Cowes so you carry the west-going Solent stream through Hurst Narrows (it turns about HW Portsmouth -1, check the tidal atlas).
- Poole entrance runs hard on the ebb; aim to arrive on the young flood.
Hazards
- Shingles bank and wind-against-tide overfalls off Hurst
- Commercial traffic and the chain ferry at Poole entrance
- Busy small-craft traffic in the Solent
Pilotage
- Use the North Channel inside the Shingles in fair weather
- Swash Channel to Poole: follow the buoyed channel, give way to the ferry
Ports of refuge
- Yarmouth
- Lymington
- Keyhaven (shallow)
Suggested departure
- Morning, with a fair west-going stream in the Solent
Harbour guides (VisitMyHarbour)
Each guide covers the approach, chart, berthing, facilities and tides for that harbour.
- Cowes ↗ — Departure: precautionary area, ferries and berthing.
- Yarmouth (refuge) ↗ — All-tide bolt-hole on the Island side.
- Lymington (refuge) ↗ — River refuge with entrance marks and ferry.
- Keyhaven (refuge) ↗ — Sheltered behind Hurst spit; mind the ebb overfalls outside.
- Poole marinas ↗ — Arrival: Swash Channel, chain ferry and marina options.
- Poole anchorages ↗ — Brownsea, South Deep and Studland alternatives to a marina.
Checklist
- Forecast and outlook checked
- Crew briefed, watch plan set
- Boat, engine, fuel and water checked
- Safety kit and VHF/DSC tested
- Passage plan left ashore