Ramsgate to the Solent

The coastline

The coastline is quite varied, from the chalk cliffs of North and South Foreland, to the shingle of Dungeness, the flat hinterland of Rye, then Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters, before the coast subsides again to the lowlying land around Selsey Bill.

The Seven Sisters

There are very few off-lying hazards, except around Selsey Bill, which needs to be treated with caution since there are a lot of off lying shoals. Perhaps the Dover ferries also count as a hazard, and you should call Dover Port Control on VHF Channel 7 before passing the harbour - and certainly before entering.

There are, however, several tidal gates which, if you get them wrong, you will regret it! This means the timing of your journey will be governed very much by the tides. The main 'gates' are Selsey Bill, Beachy Head, Dungeness and South Foreland. Between these headlands you can move in close to the coast where an adverse tide may be a little less.

There is a tidal oddity around Dungeness, which unfortunately only works going east. If you take the flood from Brighton or Eastbourne up to Dungeness, then you can take the ebb towards Dover and Ramsgate, getting around ten hours of favourable tide!

Harbours

Some harbours are more accessible than others. Ramsgate, Dover, Newhaven and Brighton can be entered on all states of the tide. Eastbourne can also be accessed at all states of the tide, but only via a lock. Rye, Shoreham and Littlehampton are very much tidal harbours.

Also beware Brighton in a brisk southerly or southwesterly. The entrance will not necessarily be dangerous, but may well be distinctly uncomfortable.

Travelling west from Dover, there is Folkestone, which doesn't cater for yachts, then the headland of Dungeness, with its nuclear station. Then you are into Rye Bay (beware the ranges at Lydd; you may be hailed by a range boat and asked to keep clear, but any diversion would be small). Rye harbour itself is very tidal, and not a place to venture into unless you are prepared to dry out at low water.

Going west from Eastbourne means rounding Beachy Head. This really needs to be done with an ebb or west flowing tide, and with any wind from the west, there can be some very nasty overfalls. There isn't much of an inshore passage; instead, you are best heading out to sea for a couple of miles. You will also get a better tide that way.

Beachy Head from the east.

Past Beachy Head we come to Newhaven and Brighton. Newhaven is accessible at all states of the tide. Newhaven Marina website can be found here.

Brighton entrance is to be treated with care if there is any swell or sea. The walls are very good reflectors and the result can be some confused and lumpy seas as you approach. Plenty of shelter inside, and plenty of room to park. Call up the marina before entry on Channel 80 to be allocated a berth. Excellent supermarket just a short walk away.

West of Brighton there is only Shoreham and Littlehampton, both very much tidal harbours. Selsey Bill needs some careful navigation to find the Looe Channel - there are drying patches quite close to the channel on the shore side.

And then you are in the Solent.

Ramsgate.

There are quite a few ferry movements from the outer harbour, and before entering or leaving, you should call VTS on Channel 14. As a consequence of all the new windfarms in the Thames estuary, there are quite a few support vessels which use Ramsgate as a base, which increases the traffic.

You can also call the marina for a berth before you enter, although you are likely to be directed just to a particular pontoon rather than a specific berth.

Entrance to the outer harbour is straightforward enough, but you need to be careful going into the inner harbour. There has been considerable shoaling, and particularly near low water, keep well over to the port side.

Facilities are nothing special, and the immediate surroundings are not that impressive. It's not cheap for what you get, to put it another way. Try and avoid tying up near the entrance, as swell can roll in with the wind in the wrong direction. It's also a good idea to be well fendered, as the traffic in the harbour has increased, and the pilot boats in particular create quite a wash.

The town itself is very Victorian/Edwardian, and attractive enough in its own way. It doesn't seem that prosperous, but there is a good Waitrose not far away. The shopping area as a whole is quite useful for the intinerant sailor. There are also some reasonable chandleries and generally boaty shops in the arches along the road leading up from the harbour.

Website of Ramsgate marina.

Dover

Dover entrance

There are two entrances, and you do not want to choose the wrong one - unless you like being run down by ferries! You need to ask permission from port control before you enter on VHF Channel 74. There are red lights at the entrance, and you must call again when you are about two hundred metres away, and they will switch them to green especially for your benefit.

Entrance to Wellington Dock and the marina.

The entrance into the marina is shown above - it's not all that obvious, but if you follow your nose, you can't really go wrong. There is a tidal basin, but it's only really suitable for an overnight stop. Alternatively, you can lock into one of the other two basins. Here is the website of the marina section of the port of Dover. A chart of the marina is on your right - click on the image for a larger pop out.

Dover cliffs and castle.

Eastbourne

If coming from the west, then it is straightforward enough: turn left and Beachy Head, past the town, and you will see the new development. You do need to be cautious at low water, or with a brisk east or south east wind.

The Martello Tower at Langney Point is now used as a lighthouse to indicate the marina. Its light (Fl(3)15s) is visible both day and night. There is a Safe Water Mark (LFl.10s) at 50° 47.37N 000° 20.81E, which marks the start of the entrance channel. The channel is buoyed with two green starboard buoys (Fl.G.3s and Fl.G.5s) which mark a World War One wreck, visible at LW Springs. You can contact the marina for the time of the next lock on VHF Ch 17.

These are the locks: there are pontoons at the usual height to tie onto, and the whole procedure is relatively painless.

The marina is rather in the middle of nowhere: there are bars and restaurants, but not much else in convenient walking distance. Sovereign Harbour website.

Eastbourne sea front.