Circumnavigation:
Portsea Island

Route Distance: ~11 nm / 20.4 km
Prevailing direction: CCW
Record: 2021 - 01:58:08
Solo: 23
Team: 10

Records

Brendan Reese
K1M_Ski01:58:082021
Ralph Baker
K1M_Ski01:59:402018
Image

Portsea Island, along with its close neighbour - Hayling Island, seems tailor made as an introduction to the world of island circumnavigations. A relatively short round trip, it still incorporates the necessity of tidal planning in order to set a good time - and to avoid a low bridge or a muddy walk!

For a real challenge try for the double - Portsea and Hayling combined!

Note: Portsmouth Harbour is a landlocked natural harbour with a narrow entrance. It contains a busy commercial port, ferry terminals, a military range and a Royal Navy Dockyard.
You MUST check for shipping movements and follow QHM Regulations throughout - notably crossing using the recommended Small Boat Channel:

QHM Portsmouth
Portsmouth Harbour Entrance (Royal Navy)
Practical Boat Owner

We know this route is paddled regularly by local paddlers and highlight that. Do not jeopardise local paddling by irresponsible trip routing.
Ensure you understand and follow the specific crossing point regs for small boats!

Alternatively, just paddle around Hayling Island instead!


Though part of this trip is within the more sheltered waters of Portsmouth and Langstone Harbours, it is fully exposed along the south coast of the island, please read the thoughts on safety: Safety - Info Page

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Circumnavigation: Portsea Island

Solo

Click column header to sort.
Posn.K1WCatPaddlerElapsedDateBoatTideDirNoteVerifiedLink1
1K1M_SkiBrendan Reese01:58:0810-Nov-21Knysna Genius
CCWYes
2K1M_SkiRalph Baker01:59:4017-Oct-18Custom_Kayaks Icon
CCWYes
3K1MJon Needham02:17:5213-Jul-22Rockpool Taran 18
CWYes
4K1MJon Needham02:22:1308-Jul-22Rockpool Taran 18
CWYes
5K1MBrendan Reese02:22:5705-Nov-21Rockpool Taran 18
CCWYes
6K1MJon Needham02:38:0023-Feb-23Rockpool Taran 18
CWYes
7K1MJon Needham02:40:5909-Feb-23Rockpool Taran 18
CWYes
8K1MJon Needham02:41:2128-Feb-21Rockpool Taran 18
CWYes
9K1MJon Needham02:43:1525-Jan-23P+H Scorpio Mk2
CWYes
10K1MJon Needham02:43:5016-Jun-22Rockpool Taran 18
CCWYes
11K1MPhil Smith02:54:3313-Dec-22Perception Essence 16
CWYes
12K1MPhil Smith02:57:1117-Dec-22Perception Essence 16
CWYes
13K1MPhil Smith03:05:5311-Sep-23CWInfinity LoopYes
14K1MPhil Smith03:06:2118-Jan-24CWYes
15K1MPhil Smith03:14:3528-Jan-23Perception Essence 16
CWYes
16K1MPhil Smith03:20:2616-Aug-23Perception Essence 16
CWYes
17K1MPhil Smith03:21:1328-Jan-24CWInfinity LoopYes
18K1MFred Curtin-Sewell03:23:5224-Jan-21Perception Essence 16
CCWYes
19K1MAndy Ironside03:31:3014-Jun-22CCWYes
20K1MPhil Smith03:32:1216-Jan-24CWYes
21K1MPeter Gater03:47:3216-Aug-23P+H Leo HV
CCWInfinity LoopYes
22K1MPeter Miller03:49:3624-Aug-22Perception Essence 16
CCWYes
23K1MJon Needham06:14:2007-Sep-23Rockpool Taran 18
CCWFig 8 LoopYes

23 solo paddlers

Teams

Click column header to sort.
Posn.CatPaddlerElapsedDateBoatTideDirNoteVerifiedLink1
1TeamJon Needham
Dave Phillips		02:23:1416-Apr-22Rockpool Taran 18
Rockpool Taran 18
CWYes
2TeamDavid Copp
Giles Hudson		02:31:5613-Sep-20Rockpool Taran 18

CCWYes
3TeamJon Needham
Dave Phillips		02:33:0229-Dec-19

CCWYes
4TeamFred Curtin-Sewell
Phil Smith		03:07:4322-Aug-23Perception Essence 17
Perception Essence 17
CWInfinity LoopYes
5TeamBen Cowans
Fred Curtin-Sewell
Phil Smith		03:43:3725-Apr-22Perception Essence 17
Valley Nordkapp
P+H Scorpio MV
CCWInfinity LoopYes
6TeamPaul Barrett
Rhys Hunt		03:51:1727-Dec-22

CWNoteYes
7TeamPaul Barrett
Rhys Hunt		04:15:3304-Dec-22

CWNoteYes
8TeamPaul Barrett
Rhys Hunt		04:34:2302-Apr-21

CWNoteYes
9TeamPeter Miller
Andy Ironside		04:34:2605-May-22

CWYes
10TeamBen Cowans
Phil Smith
Chris Turner
_ unnamed group		06:19:2920-Sep-22Perception Essence 17
P+H Scorpio MV


CCWNoteYes

10 Teams -- 23 Paddlers

Notes

Paul Barrett / Rhys Hunt (02-Apr-21)
Note.
Start/finish in Cowes, IOW.
Paul Barrett / Rhys Hunt (04-Dec-22)
Note.
Start/finish IOW.
Paul Barrett / Rhys Hunt (27-Dec-22)
Note.
Rhys then carried on to complete a Portsea/Hayling infinty loop.
Ben Cowans / Fred Curtin-Sewell / Phil Smith (25-Apr-22)
Infinity Loop.
Part of an 'Infinity Lap' of Portsea and Hayling together
Ben Cowans / Phil Smith / Chris Turner / _ unnamed group (20-Sep-22)
Note.
Includes a crossing to the Isle of Wight and back.
Fred Curtin-Sewell / Phil Smith (22-Aug-23)
Infinity Loop.
Part of an 'Infinity Lap' of Portsea and Hayling together
Peter Gater (16-Aug-23)
Infinity Loop.
The 2nd lap of an 'Infinity Loop' of Hayling and Portsea islands in one paddle (03:26:16 for Hayling).
Jon Needham (07-Sep-23)
Fig 8 Loop.
Starting from Haslar Marina Jon completed a Fig 8 lap of Portsea and Hayling. This time INCLUDES the 03:19:12 lap of Hayling Island too.
Phil Smith (11-Sep-23)
Infinity Loop.
Phil Smith (28-Jan-24)
Infinity Loop.
The first island of the Portsea/Hayling Infinity Loop - total for both island together: 06:56:26

Summary:

Circumnavigation: Portsea Island

Solo paddlers: 23
Team paddlers: 23
Teams: 10

Recorded Start Points:
    • Cowes (1)
    • Esplanade (1)
    • Ferry Road (14)
    • Fort Blockhouse (1)
    • Gosport (3)
    • Hardway (3)
    • Haslar Marina (2)
    • Langstone Channel (1)
    • Nettlestone (1)
    • Off Southsea (1)
    • Portsmouth Harbour (1)
    • South Parade Pier (3)
    • Southsea (1)

How To Submit A Time/Paddle.

SAFETY