Ashlett Creek

[Greenheart]

Well what happened did you run aground or make it to the quay so think better of it?

Hope you're not asking me, I only remember arriving at the slipway without effort or thought, hence my query here today...

...assuming you meant the OP, he may not recall either, it's a while ago!

Thanks DJE, that looks handy. :encouragement:

 

[BelleSerene]

Does anyone have advice on recent approaches to Ashlett Creek please? All the Ashlett SC pilotage links (not to mention Tom C’s old video link at the now defunct YachtingTV.co.uk) seem to have died. I draw 1.8m but this has to be attempted on the right tide...

 

[Greenheart]

I went back there in September, once again with the same mate whose club is quite local, but whose knowledge of the creek is poor. Even in dinghies there's a lot of mud to get stuck in, and we did.

Without foreknowledge, regardless of boat, I'd head in at least ninety minutes before HW, because you're sure to hit the bottom and want some remaining rise of tide. There's no clear entrance to the channel outside, so starting when the weedy flats are showing either side, may help to identify the channel. Then dead slow and look for the poorly-maintained red and green posts and buoys.

The channel within a quarter-mile of the tall redbrick mill building is tortuously twisty under sail, and however you might benefit having an engine, you'll lose with 6ft draft. A few biggish boats in there, but I doubt there's enough water to moor any deep fin.

Having said all that, it's a lovely place - wonderfully sheltered on a breezy day, and giving no sense of its proximity to Fawley.

 

[DJE]

Does anyone have advice on recent approaches to Ashlett Creek please? All the Ashlett SC pilotage links (not to mention Tom C’s old video link at the now defunct YachtingTV.co.uk) seem to have died. I draw 1.8m but this has to be attempted on the right tide...

I wouldn't attempt it with that draft. We did it a few times with 1.2m draft and bilge keels but that needed a 4.8m or better tide. Tried it once on a 4.5m and couldn't get to the quay. The sailing club pontoon was full so we bailed out. Even with that boat we could only reliably get alongside the quay if it was nearly covered with just the fender piles showing above water.

 

[Pete7]

I think this was on a 4.2m tide and I got stuck 10ft from the end of the sailing clubs jetty. Draft is 1.1m. You can see the channel appearing on the left of the photograph and heading East. Behind my yacht the change does a tight 90 and turns South.

I would be surprised if you can get in their with a draft of 1.8m. There were some bouys placed outside of the the shallows and SW of the oil tanker jetty which might be an option and then dinghy in.

 

[ianat182]

For those intending to visit Ashlett Sailing Club and its lovely facilities at the Mill,you will be rather disappointed.The club has no Mill facilities for excellent lunches etc since December 2016; and I don't recall having read any mentions of this on the forum. As we were told the lease was given up to the Esso people,and the Club itself bought by some of its members, thus retaining the smaller clubhouse and jetty etc. The Mill is apparently a listed building and any new lease would insist that all repairs be made accordingly by the lessees.
Ashlett has been a favourite dinghy trip across from Warsash for we three old blokes for the last few years, and the existing clubhouse did not have any bar/food orstaffing when we did our last trip in September. The pub is still there and its Restaurant but we never used it . If anyone has more up-to- date info I'd be glad to read it please,else its a longer trip to Hythe and the village for food and drinks.!!(Pleasant though the club there is!

Ian

 

[Greenheart]

I bought chips and drinks at The Jolly Sailor there, in September. Nice friendly staff, no complaints about drips off our wet gear, although we'd just stepped out into water a couple of feet deep and some rather oily mud.

SWMBO's parents once mentioned food at the mill, but I've heard from my mate that it was extremely basic fare...

...so I don't know how sorry to feel if it has shut to hungry visitors. The pub is certainly ample for drinks and the chips were A1 - so I wouldn't recommend missing going to Ashlett on the basis of the mill's closure. I think centreboarders, multihulls and bilge keels will be fine - well worth stopping there.

 

[Zagato]

Ideal place for Drascombers which is why the ASC has so many Drascombe owner members (my boat bottom left in pic!) although I am not a member. Coming into Ashlet for the first time this year in poorish visibility I was very glad another boat was coming out at the same time I was heading in. My Garmin GPS obviously needs updating as it had the entrance markers maybe 70' to the south of where I actually went in. I arrived at the slip bang on HT and was on the road 30 minutes later which shocked a few members . You can be very quick to get a Drascombe packed up and on it,s trailer ready for the journey home. I spent 3 days there for their regatta and found members to be particularly friendly, I may join next year as it is such a convenient location. I am not interested in pub meals, waste of hard earned, nicer to knock up a steak with a beer on the boat. Also saving for a Yamaha FJR


My usual launch site fee at Chichester Marina has also gone up to about £30... Still not so bad as I don,t need to pay for nights in the harbour, just the annual harbour dues and I keep the boat at home BUT the location of Ashlett is tempting for a change.

 

[prv]

My usual launch site fee at Chichester Marina has also gone up to about £30...

Wow - new appreciation for our Southampton Council slip that costs nothing (except normal Pay&Display car-park if you need to leave the car)

Pete

 

[Zagato]

Sounds interesting Pete!! £31.25 at Chi Marina, just checked, wonder where they got the £1.25 from, squeeze it to the max

 

[Lucky Duck]

I assume that is the ramp on the Northern half of the marina basin next to the travel hoist dock?

If so that is to price to be paid for the fun of using their lock

 

[Zagato]

Yes, most conveneint for me over other slips in the harbour. The lock is never a problem for me although I have heard people waiting over an hour to get out at busy times which I can avoid. The lock did break again this year however and we couldn,t get out, it was during our Drascombe Rally so we just started festivities at 11AM hick!!

 

[Lucky Duck]

I might have been tempted to see if CYC would let me use their slip!