Anchorages in sloent

[robertj]

Thinking of heading to Solent area and need some free anchorage areas.
Not interested in marinas prefer to be achored away from it all and if there are any free areas that a 35 footer can get into I would appreciate any help.

 

[EugeneR]

Have a search through the forum, there has been several chains on this topic before.

For us, the nicest place to anchor is Newtown Creek / Clamerkin Lake. You may at times be asked for an optional donation; you have to pay if you use the provided moorings though.

 

[chubby]

There are lots of free anchorages along the IOW shore, Whitecliffe bay, Priory Bay, off Ryde, Osbourn Bay, Thorness Bay, off Newtown entrance, off Yarmouth, Colwell, Totland and Alum bay, just choose somewhere sheltered from the current and forecast wind, so not Priory bay in an easterly etc, A little less choice on the mainland side but Stokes bay, near calshot etc, some of these places are beter lunchtime than overnight stops but I have certainly overnighted off Yarmouth, Thorness and Newtown. Most are well away from facilites but that may be what you want and are perhaps quieter at night when the traffic dies down.

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

Thinking of heading to Solent area and need some free anchorage areas.
Not interested in marinas prefer to be achored away from it all and if there are any free areas that a 35 footer can get into I would appreciate any help.

http://www.troppo.co.uk/tightwad/tightwad.htm

Thorness Bay
E of Hurst Spit
East of Yarmouth
Stokes Bay
Osbourne Bay

 

[robertj]

Ok thanks for that. No anchorages up the rivers? I draw 6' fin

 

[ChrisE]

You can anchor in the Beaulieu and be charged a fiver.

If you are really brave you can also anchor in my home river Keyhaven. It is a small anchorage ust inside the mouth of the river and you have to be careful with the shallow areas that surround it but perfectly safe.

Both delightful places especially this time of the year with fewer boats around.

 

[Seajet]

Not quite The Solent, but in Chichester - best to regard East Head as overcrowded with no space left unless mid-week - a very good place to anchor is the stretch down the western side of the Emsworth Channel, straight ahead as you come in and keep going !

Beware there is a joggle in the channel at the N end, to stbd then port ( it's smooth, not a chicane ! ) as one gets to the head of Sweare Deep - this will be important with your draught.

In the channel S of this, it's a case of keeping to the W side as far as draught allows. It's very quiet at night, but the occasional fishing boat is possible, I'd definitely want an anchor light.

This anchorage allows going into Northney Marina 02392 466321 from which the village of Langstone can be walked to across Hayling Bridge, 2 good pubs serving food.

There is a small nature sanctuary and long beach walk - with genuine smuggler lane, Pook Lane, heading off N, the interesting old partly nautical graveyard at Warblington right to Emsworth but maybe 5M - all past the further pub, the Royal Oak, then follow along the path past the mill. At all but HW one can join the path from the front of the Ship Inn.

Alternatively you could pick up a mooring - ( Chichester Conservancy 01243 512301 VHF 14 ) in Emwsworth Channel - most are fore & aft trots at your draught but it would be a case of looking around, there will be something, there is a visitors pontoon further down to port but I think too shallow for you - anyway from there Emsworth is reachable by tender - have spare fuel it's a fair distance.

I can't think of a place with more pubs ! To left up the hill, The BlueBell, very nice, good but pricey food, often needs booking, dead ahead the Ship Hotel, OK, or follow round to right and down hill, The Lord Raglan, nice pub, good food, good value.

There's the chandlery at Emsworth Marina 01243 375500 - walk along mill pond past Lord Raglan, and in town there are cash points, ironmongers, small supermarket, late night one-stop, and not least the best fish & chip shop going ! For that, head for the railway sation ( gasometer daymark ! ).

Excellent restaurants inc Inn on The Quay ( if you want to know the prices, you're in the wrong place ! ) There are others inc' Indian, and 2 v.good cafe's serving breakfasts.

 

[bedouin]

Ok thanks for that. No anchorages up the rivers? I draw 6' fin

Not many - most places that might be good to anchor are taken up with permanent moorings.

At most times of year there is a good chance of being able to pick up a vacant mooring buoy in places like Chi, Portsmouth and the like provided that you are sensitive to the fact that it is someone's home

There are a few places to anchor in the harbours, plus the mouth of the Beaulieu river (for a cost as mentioned)

 

[Angele]

Not many - most places that might be good to anchor are taken up with permanent moorings.

At most times of year there is a good chance of being able to pick up a vacant mooring buoy in places like Chi, Portsmouth and the like provided that you are sensitive to the fact that it is someone's home

There are a few places to anchor in the harbours, plus the mouth of the Beaulieu river (for a cost as mentioned)

As others have said, few river anchorages in the Solent:

The Beaulieu is fine (at a price) but, even then, most of the sheltered areas are full of moorings. Keyhaven and Newtown are anchorages, although neither is strictly a river (and you will be asked for money in Newtown).

The River Yar in Yarmouth, Lymington and the River Hamble all have a "no anchoring" rule.

There is also an anchoring ban in Cowes Harbour, which I know extends some way beyond the power station up the River Medina. The nearest to the river entrance where anchoring is permitted (I believe) and which is not clogged up with moorings/pontoons would be to the south of the Folly Inn. I have seen some boats anchor there, but I'm almost certain with your draft that would not be possible at low water, even on the smallest of neaps.

I don't think you can anchor anywhere on the River Test in Southampton (it is either part of the busy port or it dries). Not sure about the Itchen. I know anchoring is banned either side of the Itchen Bridge, but I'm unsure whether there is anywhere to drop the hook higher up.

Wootton Creek and Bembridge - not strictly rivers anymore, I believe. In any case, neither possible for you to anchor in with your draft. In theory I think it is possible to anchor outside of the fairway in both, but not if you can't take the ground. Ashlett Creek is also out of bounds for you.

And that is about it for rivers/small creeks. (Anyone think of any I have missed?)

Good shelter, as has already been mentioned, in Chichester Harbour. Also, there are places to anchor in Portsmouth and Langstone. Apart from that you would be mostly looking to tuck yourself into relatively sheltered areas close to the shore in the Solent or up Southampton Water - the main ones have already been mentioned. All of these are exposed to certain wind directions and most will suffer from swell when the big ships pass (west Solent better here, because only the smaller ships go that way, but anchorages here tend to be more exposed to the prevailing wind).

 

[prv]

If you are really brave you can also anchor in my home river Keyhaven. It is a small anchorage ust inside the mouth of the river and you have to be careful with the shallow areas that surround it but perfectly safe.

I've also spent the night just outside Keyhaven's entrance; I think the pilot book mentions a transit between the castle and something else to make sure you're in the most sheltered spot.

(and you will be asked for money in Newtown).

...but they have no legal basis to charge it, and these days they admit that and call it voluntary. You do have to pay if you use a mooring rather than anchor.

I know anchoring is banned either side of the Itchen Bridge, but I'm unsure whether there is anywhere to drop the hook higher up.

My berth is pretty much at the top of the navigation (for those with masts, anyway) and I can't think of anywhere I pass where you could reasonably anchor. It's all docks, boatyards, scraggly pontoons, and a couple of marinas (one posh, one not). There are some shallow areas on the bends where a bilge keeler could maybe sit in the mud for a night, but even then I'd be concerned about coming down on top of old wreckage.

(Anyone think of any I have missed?)

Owers Lake, right underneath Fawley Power Station, is a convenient Friday-night pitstop for me when I want to make an early start into the Solent on Saturday. I can't remember the depths but would probably be OK for the OP except perhaps to get in or out at very low tide. Nothing at all shoreside to recommend the place though - a muddy beach and an oil-fired power station!

Pete

 

[sailor211]

http://www.troppo.co.uk/tightwad/tightwad.htm

Thorness Bay
E of Hurst Spit
East of Yarmouth
Stokes Bay
Osbourne Bay

I agree that there are lots of space to anchor if you do not wish to walk ashore. I anchour for the night in theses bay, if the wind is ok. Most times after i drop the hook on my lonesome i find someone will join me.
Hurst can be busy, as can Alum bay but warren or Totland are quiet but open to the west.

Is i Totland that has the chip shop??

 

[Twister_Ken]

Is it Totland that has the chip shop??

Yep.

If the wind's in the North, you can also anchor off the tower at Lepe.

Used to be you could anchor behind Calshot spit, but maybe that's all moorings nowadays.

In an easterly there are (were?) one or two places off of Netley where you could drop the hook, but it get rolly with wash each time a ship goes by.

 

[Pleiades]

Solent anchorages

If a picture paints a 1000 words do 2 pictures paint 2000?
At either end of the Solent, Whitecliff Bay and Alum Bay in the right weather are hard to beat:-

Happy hooking.

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

 

[AndrewB]

I don't think you can anchor anywhere on the River Test in Southampton (it is either part of the busy port or it dries). Not sure about the Itchen. I know anchoring is banned either side of the Itchen Bridge, but I'm unsure whether there is anywhere to drop the hook higher up.

I've regularly anchored up the Test when visiting the Solent. There is a mooring area off Marchwood where you can anchor on the edge, or for even more shelter go further up to the edge of the Bury Holding Area on the approach to Eling.

The only place in the Itchen is right at the entrance just off Weston Shelf, but it's exposed. Further up is too crowded and the currents too strong, even above Northiam bridge. If you are cheeky you can pick up a vacant pile mooring in the river - but don't be surprised if you get kicked off, specially near Kemps Marina.

 

[lenseman]

. . . . If you are really brave you can also anchor in my home river Keyhaven.

You just gotta be very brave to get a 6' fin keel up there!

Just had a quick look on the chart and there is only one place where the depth is 9.8 feet and that is at 50° 43.362N 001° 33.922W everywhere else dries!