A cold shoulder at Lymington

[capnsensible]

Around 25 or something years ago, I was teaching a weekend course on a school yacht in the Solent at this time of year. Left Cowes, sailed to Yarmouth. Full, got turned away. Went over to Lymington. Full, got turned away. Went back to Cowes......at least we got a couple of night hours in.

So. No change there then!

 

[Seajet]

One of the many advantages of a 22' lift keeler is it would be hard not to find somewhere to go in the Medina, Bembridge or Lymington ( town quay or on a spare mooring, fine as long as someone handy stays aboard ).

I've tried owning and sailing larger boats and the answer always comes down to ' if you want to bring a houseful of junk with you, it will either cost £ or won't fit in 1960's designed spaces '...

It IS possible to live without treble aft cabins, loos and showers and concentrate on sailing a much better handling boat...

 

[capnsensible]

One of the many advantages of a 22' lift keeler is it would be hard not to find somewhere to go in the Medina, Bembridge or Lymington ( town quay or on a spare mooring, fine as long as someone handy stays aboard ).

I've tried owning and sailing larger boats and the answer always comes down to ' if you want to bring a houseful of junk with you, it will either cost £ or won't fit in 1960's designed spaces '...

It IS possible to live without treble aft cabins, loos and showers and concentrate on sailing a much better handling boat...

Yeah but Ive lived on my 3 cabin boat for nearly 20 years and taken her across the Atlantic and back twice. And the water she swims on is bluey rather than muddy.

 

[Seajet]

I've lived on my two cabin boat with 3 adults in midwinter UK, the water beneath her is not always muddy, she has done her miles and three of these boats have raced across the Atlantic.

My point is that people - usually inexperienced but with money to burn - forget the actual ' sailing ' - if they ever actually realised what that is anyway - and want to bring their house with them on silly oversized boats, I would regard a 40' boat for a couple generally weekend sailing in the Solent as a hindrance rather than ' keeping up with Oliver and Olivia at the club '

 

[jac]

I've lived on my two cabin boat with 3 adults in midwinter UK, the water beneath her is not always muddy, she has done her miles and three of these boats have raced across the Atlantic.

My point is that people - usually inexperienced but with money to burn - forget the actual ' sailing ' - if they ever actually realised what that is anyway - and want to bring their house with them on silly oversized boats, I would regard a 40' boat for a couple generally weekend sailing in the Solent as a hindrance rather than ' keeping up with Oliver and Olivia at the club '

But it depends what people want to do with their spare time.

IF you want pure sailing then why not go down the dinghy or foiling skiff route - absolutely no frills there!
For others it's the chance to be on the water in comfort even in the UK with typical UK weather - witness the popularity of Fishers, Nauticats etc, let alone the countless other smaller makes of true Motor sailor.
For most though, they want something in between those two extremes.

As for 35-40 footer being a hindrance. I don't think it is. The draft is little more than many smaller boats but even quite large boats often have shallow keels and may draw less than 1.5m. Of course, how many really use shallow draft features anyway.

Most marinas in the Solent seem to major on boats around the 10-12m bracket ( so high 30's feet) so no issue turning up in 40 or in a 23 - it's the same pontoon slot you slot into. You will use the same number of visitors buoys and whilst your swinging circle at anchor may be smaller it's won't be much.

Of course gear is heavier on a 40 footer than a 22 but with modern handling aids that makes no difference.

In all - once I think you get above trailer sailor size, i'm not convinced that the boat gets any harder to handle. Some things are easier as the boat carries way better, other are harder as the boat is less immediately responsive.


SO all things being equal, why not take the boat that is faster, handles strong wind better, is more roomy and can carry you in more comfort.

 

[Seajet]

I would argue with the ' handles strong winds better ' and ' with modern handling aids that makes no difference '...

The first point comes down to individual boat design.

The second re size, moving a 25' + boat in a marina or on a mooring etc in strong wind and / or tide becomes a serious enginnering exercise; likewise sheets are highly loaded, and windlasses required for anchors.

A 22' can be pushed and pulled around without risk of damage to herself or other boats, in all but near a gale or strong tides.

All combined with larger boats giving much less rewarding sailing and ' feel '.

I have done my bit on high performance dinghies and am now probably not fit enough anyway; but when I swapped my Anderson 22 for a faster, posier Carter 30 which handled like crap in comparison, I thought ' why am I paying to cart a load of furniture around on a boat which is less fun to sail ? '

So sold it and was lucky to get my A22 back.

I've sailed plenty of +/- 40 - 50 - 78' boats to know even if all the kit works it's a recipe for more grey hairs taking out a novice girlfriend and close quarters ( the boats ! ) in marinas and locks etc.

It is I believe known as ' the FUN factor, which a great many people, as I said usually inexperienced, mistake for POSE...

 

[aquaplane]

There isn't much in this thread to encourage a Scottish sailor to come South to see what all the fuss is about sailing in the Solent.

 

[awol]

There isn't much in this thread to encourage a Scottish sailor to come South to see what all the fuss is about sailing in the Solent.

I reckon it is actually idyllic down there with golden beaches, anchorages with seahorses gamboling in the fronds of seagrass, blue skies, flat water, gentle breezes and a plethora of attractive destinations for fine wining and dining unlike the dreary, rock strewn, drizzly, wind blasted misery of the north. It's just misinformation to guard their paradise from the northern barbarians - and who could blame them?

 

[jac]

I reckon it is actually idyllic down there with golden beaches, anchorages with seahorses gamboling in the fronds of seagrass, blue skies, flat water, gentle breezes and a plethora of attractive destinations for fine wining and dining unlike the dreary, rock strewn, drizzly, wind blasted misery of the north. It's just misinformation to guard their paradise from the northern barbarians - and who could blame them?

Quite right. And no midges.

You northern heathens should stay away. You won't like it.

 

[Seajet]

Having sailed the Forth, Dysart to Port Edgar, and seen a lot of Portpatrick from on shore, I'm very happy with the Solent ta !

You've seen the worst of it in this thread, but it's still fantastic with so much choice - and as sailing is falling in popularity that helps too, one just has to be realistic and not go for obvious places on Bank holidays; the way round this is to be self employed or retired as I and my chums are, but even with a 9-5 job there's plenty of scope once one knows the hidden gems.

 

[Robin]

Quite right. And no midges.

You northern heathens should stay away. You won't like it.

not to mention exchange rate differences to come perhaps and high tariffs increasing prices of scottish wine.:wink-new:

 

[Seajet]

Forget the Cod and Scallop Wars, imagine the tariffs once England withdraw their subsidy to Haggis farmers, shepherds and hunters...

 

[awol]

Forget the Cod and Scallop Wars, imagine the tariffs once England withdraw their subsidy to Haggis farmers, shepherds and hunters...

And I thought the subsidies came from the EU.

 

[Fascadale]

I'm a West Coast of Scotland sailor who has just spent a week in the Solent.

What a place. Thin water. Strong tides. Vessels everywhere. Yarmouth has an overcrowded marina. Cowes was like a boaty circus. Lymington Yacht Haven is a bit sterile.

But I did enjoy it. Everyone I met was very friendly and cheerful, the showers at Lymington Yacht Haven are wonderful, the sun shines, there are great boats to be seen. Dodging the ferries in Cowes, Yarmouth and Lymington was fun. Reversing onto pontoons with strong tides swirling around was a challenge. Having less than two metres under the keel was different. The distances are short. A really enjoyable week

But I'm back to the West Coast next week

 

[jac]

I'm a West Coast of Scotland sailor who has just spent a week in the Solent.

What a place. Thin water. Strong tides. Vessels everywhere. Yarmouth has an overcrowded marina. Cowes was like a boaty circus. Lymington Yacht Haven is a bit sterile.

But I did enjoy it. Everyone I met was very friendly and cheerful, the showers at Lymington Yacht Haven are wonderful, the sun shines, there are great boats to be seen. Dodging the ferries in Cowes, Yarmouth and Lymington was fun. Reversing onto pontoons with strong tides swirling around was a challenge. Having less than two metres under the keel was different. The distances are short. A really enjoyable week

But I'm back to the West Coast next week

I think that's a pretty good and fair description.

Is it better than other places or different?

 

[Seajet]

Fascadale,

when in Cowes did you go to East Cowes Marina ( which admittedly at the moment involves the fun of the chain ferry ' will the thing make it to the other side ' - like a minor version of Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan ) or up the Medina River to the Folly Inn and pontoons ?

It's a common, understandable mistake to go for the first marina and berths to starboard as one enters, but these are for Hooray Henries and blokes with highlights in their hair - all seem to be called Jamie - also still exposed to ferry and ship wash.

Up-river a bit is much more civilised and calm, more interesting too.

in over 48 years I've never been into Lymington Yacht Haven, Berthons yes, but the town quay is much more interesting and I've met some great people on various boats there.

Yarmouth isn't a marina as such but beginning to try to be one; it's a nice place but always has tended to get full up for decades now, I just avoid it and go to Lymington which has far more to offer, never had trouble finding a berth at 22'.

Bembridge is a great harbour with lots to see - but tidally restricted - Portsmouth has a lot of variety too; but if you really wanted to show your fellow Scots sailors ( BTW my father is from Strathdon ) the very worst of the Solent, and probably how they imagine it is, the Hamble is a lovely river long since turned ghastly, row upon row of marinas - it can't be long before they make it multi-storey.

Then there's Chichester Harbour, which can seem manically busy at times, but has quite lovely scenery and even in those busy times one can be alone at anchor with the seals playing, it's just knowing where and where not to be !

 

[Sans Bateau]

Whenever we visited Lymington, we used the trot moorings at the town quay, only once did we use Berthon, when Big Nick was the manager there.

 

[Fascadale]

I think that's a pretty good and fair description.

Is it better than other places or different?

I'm not sure that I would describe the Solent as "better" than elsewhere: different certainly, and fun for a while.

If I lived in the southeast and had to choose between the East Coast rivers, the Medway and the Solent then I would choose to keep a boat in the Solent.

If I had to choose between the Solent and the South West of England then it would be the South West.

But I have the advantage of living close to the West Coast of Scotland so there is no competition.

 

[Fascadale]

Fascadale,

when in Cowes did you go to East Cowes Marina

Berthons ,

Yarmouth isn't a marina as such but beginning to try to be one; it's a nice place but always has tended to get full up for decades now,

Bembridge is a great harbour with lots to see

Portsmouth has a lot of variety too;

the Hamble is a lovely river long since turned ghastly, row upon row of marinas - it can't be long before they make it multi-storey.

Then there's Chichester Harbour,

East Cowes Marina, yes and I did enjoy dodging the chain ferry

Berthons, yes, a better class of shower to be had there

Yarmouth, yes, the best part is the entrance, exciting cross tides.

Portsmouth, yes, lots of interesting boaty sightseeing

The Hamble, yes, and they already dry stack boats!

Bembridge, no, not yet, but I have heard good things about it. Did Dylan W not set off from there on KTL?

CHichester, no, not yet but I think I will enjoy it when I do get there

 

[Seajet]

Fascadale,

when you're next down give me a PM and I'll tell you the good bits of Chichester - and where to avoid !

Yes I'm sure you'd enjoy it; Bembridge is fantastic if you like long walks and history ( beginning to sound like a dating site - 'Good Sense of humour ' ) ...