Anchoring of Dungeness?

[Gitane]

The plan is to again head west this summer and I am looking for anchorages on the south coast.

(A bit outside East Coast I know.)

Has anyone tried to anchor for the night or to wait for the tide off Dungeness? This would be on the east side given a SW wind.

Is this doable?

Are there any further anchorages for an overnight stay between, say, Ramsgate and Chichester Harbour?

 

[Poignard]

The plan is to again head west this summer and I am looking for anchorages on the south coast.

(A bit outside East Coast I know.)

Has anyone tried to anchor for the night or to wait for the tide off Dungeness? This would be on the east side giving a SW wind.

Is this doable?

Are there any further anchorages for an overnight stay between, say, Ramsgate and Chichester Harbour?

You'd have to look it up but I seem to remember there's an anchorage east of Selsey Bill called The Park

 

[Talulah]

I’ve done trip several times. Obviously it depends how far West you get from Ramsgate. But I’ve anchored off Eastbourne Town before. Just East of Beachy Head. Also anchored outside of Brighton Marina at the East end.

 

[hennypenny]

Hi, I recently asked a similar question about a trip I am planning in early June it might be of some help to you:
Thoughts on going from the Orwell to Falmouth?

 

[Pye_End]

The plan is to again head west this summer and I am looking for anchorages on the south coast.

(A bit outside East Coast I know.)

Has anyone tried to anchor for the night or to wait for the tide off Dungeness? This would be on the east side giving a SW wind.

Is this doable?

Are there any further anchorages for an overnight stay between, say, Ramsgate and Chichester Harbour?

I have done it once in good weather. Light breeze from the west at the time, and it was smooth on the east.

The last few times I have preferred to stop at Dover (missing out Ramsgate), and then stop at Brighton.

Suspect much of that section of coast you could anchor up if the weather is kind enough.

 

[Malish]

Further towards the IoW you may find this site useful:
The tightwad sailor

 

[Gwylan]

We were in Rye for a few years.

Waiting for the tide you can anchor off Jury's Gap outside the exclusion zone in an area with a guaranteed depth of 5m.
Do the sums, all my years in the Bristol Channel made something possible.

Or you can go to Pett Levels and anchor. Do the sums for your depth.

All a complete bugger if the wind from SW gets up.

Or you could take the TOP of the tide and stop next to the HM Office. For a tide and move on.

 

[Gargleblaster]

I often anchor of Dungeness, mostly on the east side when I miss the tide or need a sleep as I am coming up the channel returning to teh East Coast. As I round Dungeness, I go about a mile north and drop the hook. At high tide this can be in as much as 9 metres of water. On my Garmin electronic charts it is shwon as a recognised anchorage. I have also anchored off Rye in a north easterly somewhere to teh east of the main channel leading into Rye. Once again felt nice and safe for the night.

Have tried anchoring off Eastbourne but in a F7 westerly got a bit lumpy during the night and was uncomfortable.

Have anchored very comfortably off Seaford but in light conditions. Also tried off Littlehampton and one of my favourites is just NE of Bognor Rocks. In an F7 Easterly I was asked to move by the Coastgurad however because of the number of emergency calls from OAPs on Borgnor Pier complaining of a boat in trouble. It was a bit bouncy but I was perfectly comfortable. Took a bit to get my anchor up as my 7HP engine couldn't stem an F7 breeze. Finally managed it and retired to Osbourne Bay off the IOW.

I also often anchor off Deal, very good in a westerly. Also there is a designated anchorage just to the south of Ramsgate breakwater but the harbourmaster will send out the lifeboat if you don't tell him/her that you have anchored there even if you are displaying an anchor light.

All of the anchorages mentioned are shown on my Garmin charts as recognised anchorages.

 

[Black Sheep]

I anchored both sides last season (18 foot boat).

Going downchannel in a easterly, I tucked in just to the west of the danger area, near Rye entrance (must have been Jury's Gap that Gwylan mentions). It was really uncomfortable and rolly - I won't do that again unless there's a reasonable amount of North in the wind.

Coming back in a South Westerly, I dropped the hook somewhere around St Mary's bay, I think. That was lovely.

 

[LittleSister]

Also there is a designated anchorage just to the south of Ramsgate breakwater but the harbourmaster will send out the lifeboat if you don't tell him/her that you have anchored there even if you are displaying an anchor light.

I've anchored there one night. It took three goes to get the anchor to bite. Was somewhat rolly. Winds weren't strong, but I can't remember direction, possibly south-west-ish because I remember thinking how hard, sharp and rather close the breakwater looked! I hadn't notified the harbourmaster, and wasn't visited by the lifeboat or anyone else.

 

[Gargleblaster]

I've anchored there one night. It took three goes to get the anchor to bite. Was somewhat rolly. Winds weren't strong, but I can't remember direction, possibly south-west-ish because I remember thinking how hard, sharp and rather close the breakwater looked! I hadn't notified the harbourmaster, and wasn't visited by the lifeboat or anyone else.

I think in a strong southwesterly I would go closer to Deal. Can still be a bit rolly but it reduces the wind.

 

[PeterWright]

I used to have an office overlooking the shingle point at Dungeness. Although I've never tried it, I would not want to lie to an anchor there in anything more than a F4, it's really quite bouncy, especially when the wind blows over the tide1 If I want an overnight stop, I try to arrange my passage to get me into Ramsgate, Dover or Eastbourne, even though the latter incurs quite a few hours delay. The other alternative is to go non stop, the last down channel trip we did Suffolk Yacht Harbour - Dartmouth 2 up, but both competent watch keepers.

However, it must be said, I like my comforts rather more than I did 50 years ago!

 

[Sealong]

Seaford (between Eastbourne and Newhaven) Bay.

 

[Kukri]

I think the use of Dungeness East Road is if you are beating down Channel and you want to sit out a foul tide.

 

[johnalison]

Much of the advice about anchoring around the Coast dates from the days of the Gentleman's yacht which would probably have displaced fifteen tons or more, and a little bit of rolling wouldn't have worried them. An exposed anchorage in a small AWB is not likely to be a comfortable option, though a few hours to wait for tide could be OK.

 

[rotrax]

Much of the advice about anchoring around the Coast dates from the days of the Gentleman's yacht which would probably have displaced fifteen tons or more, and a little bit of rolling wouldn't have worried them. An exposed anchorage in a small AWB is not likely to be a comfortable option, though a few hours to wait for tide could be OK.

Quite right.

A read of McMullens book " Down Channel " gives an insight of anchoring places in this area.

Many sailing vessels used to regularly anchor to wait out foul tides in these places. As a child I saw the odd Thames Barge anchored off the Selsey East Beach - early 1950's.

 

[pyrojames]

I use Ramsgate Roads a fair but as far sw as the tide allows. Also east of Dungeness. Not tried Rye but have eyed it up on occaision. If you dive into Eastbourne for some fuel, they have let me stay for six hours. That helps with a kip for the tide change.