Best Solent anchorage for a first overnight on the hook?

[PhillM]

Only been at this game a couple of years and its all been marina hopping. One of my boys has a day off school on Friday so I am thinking about a day sail from Hamble and overnight at anchor.

Weather forecast is light winds, but there seems a low confidence about direction. Could be SW or, SE or even E.

I’ve read up on how to anchor. I did it on the CC and DS and have had one go with my own boat and gear. I have a (new) 7.5 Bruce type with 10m of chain and 50m of warp or an older (came with the boat) 10 KG CQR (not genuine) with about 30m of chain.

Advice and recommendations please.

 

[Daedelus]

Site I looked at suggested a more northerly air flow.

 

[PhillM]

Site I looked at suggested a more northerly air flow.

OK so lets add N to the list. Said confidence was low.

Any ideas for good locations in each wind direction?

 

[jac]

Newton creek

Sheltered in pretty much all direction

 

[jhr]

I also reckon Newtown is your best bet. Make sure you're well dug in - the ebb can be quite strong.

If the wind's from the North, the bottom end of the Beaulieu River will also be quite sheltered. If it's from the South, maybe Tothill Bay?

 

[mainsail1]

Newtown Creek is good except you will need to be awake at the turn of the tide to check that the anchor does not break loose. The Pilot describes it as the Newtown Creek pajama party as boats drag into each other and their crews come up on deck to sort out the mess!

 

[mainsail1]

The bottom end of the Beaulieu river is not a good idea due to seabed power cables. In fact the chart shows that anchoring is prohibited until you go up as far as the two white visitor buoys.

 

[Dockhead]

You can anchor almost anywhere in the Solent (outside the shipping channels of course). Just go in towards whatever shore is to windward, and go for it. God knows, I have, and have passed many a pleasant night thus.

 

[Sgeir]

I don't know the area so could not comment on the choice of anchorage, but my instinct would be to use the heavier CQR-type with the 30m of chain, the more weight down there the better.

Despite many critics in here, the CQR is a fine anchor if it is set correctly. Although we've moved to using a Kobra2 anchor, I used a 35 lb CQR for years without any real problem except that in certain conditions it can be a bugger to lay correctly. Best to give it some good astern to check that it has dug in well.

Good luck with it - much better than marinas!

 

[VicS]

I was also going to suggest Newtown

Keyhaven

Beaulieu ( between the cable area and Needs Ore point)

Chichester ( East head, Pilsey Island, above or below the moorings in Thorney channel, south side of channel below Itchenor moorings, opposite the entrance to Chichester Marina almost anywhere in Emsworth channel)

Power Station creek/ Owers Lake, but its not much of a day sail from the Hamble

Perhaps some more ideas on The Tight Wad Sailors website http://www.troppo.co.uk/tightwad/tightwad.htm

No experience of Bruce anchors... always used CQR types and all chain.

 

[wooslehunter]

Osborne bay is well sheltered but can be a bit bumpy when the big ships come through.

How far to do want to go? If you get the tides right, Chichester harbour is a nice sail away. East Head can be nice once the crowds have gone. There can be a reasonable current running & there's a steep side to the channel. But it's a great place for a landing & BBQ. Alternatively try east of Pilsea Island. It's more sheltered but read up on landing restrictions. 2nd altnative is to the side of the main channel towards Emsworth. Less sheltered & no landing. But, easy access to the visitor pontoon at Emsworth if things turn bad. BTW, that's half a mile from the village & just a pontoon on the west side of the moorings. You will always find room in Chi.

I've tried Newtown creek but moved on because of lots of other boats. Worth a try though.

 

[lustyd]

You can anchor almost anywhere in the Solent (outside the shipping channels of course). Just go in towards whatever shore is to windward, and go for it. God knows, I have, and have passed many a pleasant night thus.

Well there's a dangerous and incorrect post if ever I saw one. Buy some charts and check again and you'll find massive no anchor. Zones in the Solent. For instance, nowhere near Portsmouth are you allowed to anchor even away from the shipping.

 

[lustyd]

Osborne bay is well sheltered but can be a bit bumpy when the big ships come through.

How far to do want to go? If you get the tides right, Chichester harbour is a nice sail away. East Head can be nice once the crowds have gone. There can be a reasonable current running & there's a steep side to the channel. But it's a great place for a landing & BBQ. Alternatively try east of Pilsea Island. It's more sheltered but read up on landing restrictions. 2nd altnative is to the side of the main channel towards Emsworth. Less sheltered & no landing. But, easy access to the visitor pontoon at Emsworth if things turn bad. BTW, that's half a mile from the village & just a pontoon on the west side of the moorings. You will always find room in Chi.

I've tried Newtown creek but moved on because of lots of other boats. Worth a try though.

+1 for East Head. If you arrive on Friday there shouldn't even be a crowd. With the wind swinging in the night you may be better off at Pilsey but the strength is so low I wouldn't worry.

 

[lustyd]

Despite many critics in here, the CQR is a fine anchor if it is set correctly. Although we've moved to using a Kobra2 anchor, I used a 35 lb CQR for years without any real problem except that in certain conditions it can be a bugger to lay correctly. Best to give it some good astern to check that it has dug in well.

Good luck with it - much better than marinas!

Aside from the well known tendency to unset in sand in strong conditions...

This was in last months PBO and this months letters section

 

[Sans Bateau]

Yes, without a doubt, the CQR. It may not be the best anchor in the world, but in most situations it will be better than a bruce. I would shudder at the thought of trying to anchor in the ploughed seabed of Newtown with a bruce!

It is far too early to make a weather based decision, but some what if's will not hurt. It also depends how far you want to go from the Hamble on your overnighter. If the wind is anything from S to E then in settled conditions Totland bay is safe and will give you a feeling of adventure as it is almost out of the Solent. Also a little nearer is Osbourne bay, but this can be a little rolly with merchant shipping and ferries moving around, they dont stop at night! Already said Beaulieu river is safe, up river of the visitors bouys though. Next weekend will be neep tides, so wherever you drop the hook tidal currents will be minimal.

Good luck and have a great weekend!

 

[l'escargot]

No one has mentioned the Medina south of the Folly.

 

[Sgeir]

Aside from the well known tendency to unset in sand in strong conditions...

The OP was seeking advice or recommendations, so my comment was not about having another online anchor scrap, but solely in response the OP's choice beween a 7.5kg Bruce type with 10m of chain and 50m of warp, or a 10kg CQR type with about 30m of chain.

If these were my choices I would prefer the latter. What would yours be?

 

[VicMallows]

No one has mentioned the Medina south of the Folly.

.....assuming you are happy to dry out (it's Springs). Not perhaps what the OP wants on this occasion. Also the harbour master is likely to turn up these days and demand £5 for absolutely nothing.

 

[PhillM]

Thanks for all the suggestions and advice. Do keep it coming.

Paean is a mab long keel so will try to avoid drying out!

Comments re cqr noted. Previous owner used it ok. I tried and failed to set the Bruce once so will go all chain with cqr on Friday.

Didn't want to get an anchor thread going .... Sorry for that.

 

[VicMallows]

East Head can be nice once the crowds have gone. There can be a reasonable current running & there's a steep side to the channe
I've tried Newtown creek but moved on because of lots of other boats. Worth a try though.

I have to disagree about East Head for a first attempt at anchor. The holding can be quite unreliable in soft sand, and the abrupt turn of tide can upset even a well set anchor. Pilsey has always been reliable.

Newtown had a few visitors over the w/e but will be deserted by tomorrow. Holding is great and range even on springs is only around 2m. (Didn't stop a huge power boat dragging yesterday though ..... why do they have such tiny anchors when they have all that windage )