Anchorages east & west of solent (& around Isle of wight)

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meathome

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Dear All. This year want to go do something little different & sail from berth (Brighton Marina) to Dorset (Lulworth Cove or Portland) WITHOUT using marina or visitor bouy (i.e. anchor only). I need to consider potential sites / areas to east & west of Solent (& indeed anywhere near Isle of Wight). Having trouble thinking of suitable locations & so far only got east Head, Chichester & Lulworth (not near Solent & not good in south wind). Any spots you know of east / west Solent (or indeed anywhere round Isle of Wight) much appreciated. Whilst Poole is an obvious candidate it's a big place & any knowledge of where to go (or avoid) is welcome. Thanks
 
try Lnagstone Harbour - can anchor in any weather there. Also on east of IoW - White sands bay - fine in NW to South. Sandown bay (Outside Bembridge) - good in S to West. Osborne Bay just outside Cowes. Outside Newton Creek, INside Hurst castle, Swanage, warrbarrow bay - there are dozens of good places depending on Wind direction and sea state.

good luck...
 
There are books on the subject, which list all anchorages and harbours but if its recommendations you're after then: Whitecliff bay is good, but not in a southerly or anything easterly. Further around towards Bembridge and Seaview is more sheltered. If you can take the ground then try the beach inside Bembridge harbour. Osborne bay is popular, but no landing allowed. Then of course there is Newtown creek. On the Hampshire coast there is Hayling bay, which is open to the south, but close to the fleshpots of Hayliong Island if its calm enough to land on the beach. Several remote but pretty spots in Chichester harbour and Langstone harbours, Ashlett creek under picturesque Fawley and the Beaulieu river, where you will be charged for anchoring. There are others further west, as well as the huge inland sea of Poole harbour.
 
In Poole Blood Alley south of Brownsea is good in Northerleys; and lovely walks on Brownsea. There is always somewhere sheltered in South Deep (keep clear of the cables on the seabed) but it is difficult to get ashore. If you are shallow enough to tackle the Upper Wych Channel then Shipstal Point is very good just behind Long Island. Easy to get ashore at Shipstal except for low water and again lovely walks on Arne Heath. If you are deep draught then go round the North side of Brownsea and anchor at Pottery Pier; this is also a good spot to wait for the tide to get up to Shipstal Point.

Best of all no charges for anchoring in Poole.
 
Not so far mentioned - but none offer perfect shelter

Priory Bay (nr Bembridge)
Off Ventnor (back of Wight)
Off Freshwater (back of Wight)
Off beach between Calshot and Lepe
Inside Calshot Spit
East of Wooton Creek entrance and several smaller dents between there and Osborne
Alum Bay
Totland Bay
Studland
Swanage
 
OK
not tried overnight there but have never been charged before for a short stay!
You do pay if you go into Newtown river though, assuming that you can find any space there, such a shame as it is one of my favourites.
 
Legally you don't have to pay in Newtown, as long as you lie to your own anchor. But it's owned by the National Trust, and the warden will ask for a contribution - usually only a few quid so it won't hurt, and you get that nice feeling of spending money wisely (as opposed to giving it to some inept harbour corporation who don't know one end of a boat from the other).
Not mentioned above is a small anchorage just south of the Folly up the R Medina - motor past the line of pile moorings on stb side as you head towards Newport. There are about 6 swinging moorings when the piles end, and just enough space for a few boats to anchor just around there, but don't anchor in the navigable channel (clearly marked with greens and reds). Obviously very sheltered as its so far up the river.
 
Just outside bembridge IOW to North . ROLLY
Osborne Bay north of IOW. Same
Thorness Bay West of Gurnard north of IOW
Outside Newtown River just to west
In Beaulieu river just downstream of His Lordship's patch and before the cables. This one is probably imaginary
Anchor inside the moorings at Yarmouth
Behind Calshot Spit (near lifeboat)
And quite a lot of the East side of Southampton Water provided you dont mind being rolled every 1 to 15 minutes.

Anywhere you arrive at 2200 and depart by 0700 :-)
 
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