The new marina in Portland Harbour, established as part of the preparations for the Sailing Events of the London Olympics, has turned this gigantic old Royal Navy facility into a convenient alternative to Weymouth for yachtsmen and power boaters. Enter via the North Ship Channel, or the East Ship Channel if there are no shipping movements (the South channel is blocked), and head across to the western side to find the marina.

Protected by a breakwater, the new facility offers excellent modern facilities and good shelter while avoiding the need to negotiate the bridge into the marina at Weymouth. Not surprisingly it is already popular. The downside is that the immediate hinterland offers few attractions while Weymouth is a longish bus or taxi ride away. Fortunately the on-site café-restaurant, The Boat that Rocks, is good (T 01305 823000, book at weekends), and during the day you can sit out on the terrace enjoying the lovely views of the Dorset coastline around Lulworth Cove. Basic provisions are available at the chandlers, otherwise it’s a long trek up-hill to the Co-op in Fortuneswell where there are also other restaurants.

For either Portland or Weymouth, if you are coming from the west you will need to negotiate Portland Bill and its notorious Race. This area of confused water extending for up to 3 miles off the tip of Portland Bill is caused by tidal streams diverted out to sea by the Bill meeting the main east or west going Channel stream. Consequently the location of the Race varies from slightly west of the Bill if the main stream is running west to slightly east if it is running east.

The best solution is generally to give the Bill a wide berth and avoid the worst of the Race by passing about 3 miles out. Make sure you time your passage so that the ferocious tidal stream is flowing in the direction you want to travel and that you are not set into an area of danger by the streams. The Race is much worse at springs and in high winds, especially against the tide.

The alternative is to take the inshore passage where there is an area of relatively calm water about a quarter of a mile wide between the Bill and the Race. This is best done close to slack water when there is least danger of inadvertently being set into the Race. Don’t use the inshore passage at night, in strong winds or with the wind against the tide. At other times the potential dangers need to be set against the rather small saving of time, given that the strong streams down the Isle of Portland will carry you out to relatively safe waters pretty quickly anyway.

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