Any South Coast experiences

wingdiver

wingdiver

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 May 2005
Messages
2,068
Location
Eastern UK
www.myspace.com
Hi
We are planning to toddle off to the South Coast next month for a couple of weeks.
The only potential ports of call on the list so far are:
Dover - as an overnight stop.
Portsmouth area - to visit the sub museum at Haslar and the historic dockyard site etc on the Pompey side.
We have 50% off deals at Dover and Royal Clarence Marinas so that's a good start too.
Other than that, what would you recommend?
Possible ideas - Isle of Wight, Poole
Marinas will be pricey at around 15m overall length so anchorages, moorings too.
 
Not too sure when your i nthe Solent area but I'll be away fro mmy Hamble River mooring mid July for couple of weeks so Hamble Harbourmaster will have somewhere to put you if we let him know.
 
In the Solent, Newtown Creek is a scenic spot. There are visitors' moorings, which aren't that expensive, or anchoring, which is free although you will probably be asked to make a donation to the NT - there is absolutely no obligation to do this. In peak season it gets very crowded, so try to get there before the school term ends, which is quite late this year. Another scenic anchorage is across the Solent on the mainland, in the Beaulieu River. The anchorage is near the bottom of the river and quite exposed, also you will be charged for the privilege - £10 a night, I think, though it's not size dependent. In this case, Lord Montague owns the river bed, so he's within his rights to make you pay. You can also moor at Buckler's Hard on the visitor's pontoons, which aren't too bad, but avoid the marina which is arm and a leg territory.

Other places to visit in the Solent: Bembridge (tide restricted and a good test of your pilotage skills) Yarmouth, the Folly (upriver from Cowes and much quieter except when they are dancing on the tables; gets quite shallow at springs) Lymington Town Pier (cheaper than the two Marinas but also gets very busy and shallow at LW).

Depends how far West you're going but Poole Harbour has many nice spots. There are a couple of peaceful anchorages off Brownsea Island, particularly at Pottery Pier, and it's worth a trip up to Cobb's Quay (MDL) if only to sample the joys of the lifting bridge on your way there. The harbour looks enormous but lots of it is very shallow so it's best to have your depth sounder on. Studland is a wonderful spot - anchor there while you can :) Further west there's Swanage (nice little anchorage but only in certain winds) Weymouth, traditional seaside town but bring lots of warps because you'll need to raft and then Lyme Bay......

As already suggested, the Tightwad Sailor site is brilliant for the Solent.
 
Or if its settled, then the anchorage under Osborne house just east of Cowes is nice.... but untenable in anything above a F3 especially with any North in it (unless you are masochistic!)

Fabulous seafood restaurant at Portland/Weymouth (ask forumite Fergus for details - he recommended it to us, and it was very very good)...

One other thing..... we were horrified at the cost of the historic dockyard at Portsmouth.... you can wander around the site free of charge, but it was somewhat steep for our meagre pockets to visit many of the attractions.... much more expensive than Chatham docks (which our kids loved).

Last time we zig zagged across the channel, doing a UK port, then a French port... mixed it up very nicely, and some of the French channel ports are nicer than you'd expect (especially St Valery en Caux IMHO)
 
Thanks for the feedback thus far.
The main issue with some of the places is lack of water at low tide. We draw around 1.8m and have a long keel so taking the ground is a worry.
Picking up a bouy has the added concern about the tackle down below as we weigh around 27 tons!
Happy to anchor though.
We will certainly look at all the suggestions.
Also, found a contact in Cowes we may be able to discuss a berth with too.
 
Morgana said:
One other thing..... we were horrified at the cost of the historic dockyard at Portsmouth.... you can wander around the site free of charge, but it was somewhat steep for our meagre pockets to visit many of the attractions.... much more expensive than Chatham docks (which our kids loved).
Click to expand...

When we were there last we bought a multi venue ticket for little more than the cost of one attraction. At the time this could be used on more than one day and you do need two days to do it justice!
 
wingdiver said:
That's good to know, thanks. Are you a 53 footer?
Click to expand...

Yep, that LoD, with LoA being another another few feet due bits poking out of both ends. We're also 27 tons. BTW: the mooring has a pontoon and is on the main channel so very easy to park.

But , you'd need to contact the harbourmaster to find out the cost. There is a sublet process but I'm not sure what happens if the sublet is only a short period. I assume I just let the HM know and he'll just put you on there and collect a few £ from you.
 
I am heading down to the West Country from 2nd to 25th July, so will look out for you!

I normally like to stop at Dover Brighton Gosport(Haslar)Weymouth Dartmouth then Plymouth if singlehanding.

Having a bit of a problem getting a crew this year so may end up putting an APB out on the ECF for a bod or two, otherwise just singlehand it again. I was hoping to to do Ipswich-Gosport-Plymouth.

A cheap spot in Portsmouth Harbour is Hardway sailing club (where I had my first ever sail at the age of 3!! in 1965) but you might have a problem finding a beefy enough mooring? Anchoring is doable in the upper parts of Portsmouth Harbour but lots of old tut on the bottom to be aware of.

I can second Newtown Creek as a stopover midweek but space is scarce at weekends.

Some cheap mooring and marina berths up the River Itchen but not very scenic. Try Ocean Quay (small but cheapish) between Shamrock Quay and Ocean Village.

Use Brighton going West and Eastbourne coming Home. I have done Eastbourne to Shotley in 16 hours.

Personally you can keep Cowes due to the high knobber count but thats me!

Lets hope the weather perks up :)

Pete
 
From memory

Hi Can recomend Hasler Marina in Gosport, from memeory close to Sub museum, bit of a walk to shops banks etc, Poole is OK for a town centre marina. Staff here and Portland were very helpfull The new marina in Portland harbour where the olympics are to be based was excellent but unfinished when we were there last but are finished now and the whole area was being given a massive make over.
 
A chum who moors in Dover gets 50% off at East Cowes marina so expect you will too. E Cowes is the less glam side but the floating bridge gets you over OK
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top