Boat test on Southampton Water

cashwowud

cashwowud

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Hi everybody,
I am due to collect my powerboat (Regal 2550) after it having been repaired at Desty Marine at Hamble Point next week. Being based in the north we are only used to Loch Lomond, Windermere and Conwy and as I intend to take the boat for a short test I was wondering if anyone has any useful safety tips or information about the area that might be useful to my wife and I.

Thanks in advance,
cashwowud
 
Hi,

Lots of info here - http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/admin/content/files/PDF_Downloads/Yachtsmans-guide-LowRes.pdf

Don't exceed 40kts ... http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/admin/content/files/NTMs/2015 No 57.pdf
6kt speed limit upstream of Weston Shelf buoy, which is just South of the River Itchen junction.
Don't hit a cruise ship - if you are in the "precautionary area", don't go closer than 1000m in front of, or 100m to the side of the large ships.
Many people prefer to skim along the edge of the buoyed channels: that way you stay out of the path of the ships, and you don't run aground.
And don't cut the corner going around Calshot or run aground on the Bramble Bank. Looks green and obvious, but every season...
If you have a VHF, listen in to CH12.

But it should be pretty quiet at this time of year - have fun!

.
 
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Southampton Water also has large container ships and cruise ships..so, as you can see from the other replies, this is a busy stretch of water. Most of the time the sea itself is pretty calm unless there is a strong wind coming right up the Water, BUT the Wight ferries do kick up quite a wake, so you may wish to slow down somewhat rather than smash over it.
I would suggest that you swing out to the east in the marked channel off Calshot, keep off Bramble Bank and head for Osborne Bay, then towards Cowes and back.
S/Water is a popular one for eager boat show salesmen to show off their goods, mainly I reckon because even an old school Lilo isn't going to be challenged there, so go out into the Solent where you should get a more realistic experience...mind you, the Solent is rarely challenging either but is likely to be more so than S-Water !
 
If you are lucky you might also see some dredgers doing what they do plus students from Soton Uni sailing club match racing in the channel who are very focussed but not on other vessels
 
may be you could get a forumite to come along then you could concentrate on yer boat test ,just a thought
 
If you come out of Hamble do not cross the bar on the right side to turn up towards Southampton before the East Cardinal post, and further towards the South Cardinal Hamble Spit buoy if near low water. The river limit is 6 knots right out to the buoy.

If you stay close to the Hamble and Netley shores there is plenty of room outside the main channel, which is well marked with large navigation starboard hand buoys, and without that much traffic, except on a seasonal Saturday / Sunday. Give the large fuelling piers both sides a decent berth, especially if there are ships there. The Netley and Hamble shores gently shelve, so if you are out at least level with the Hamble side BP pier you will be just fine, and have plenty of space for a test of say an hour.

Osborne Bay will involve a longer trip, but is a nice anchorage if you want to have lunch whilst you are out. You are allowed to anchor inside the marker buoys off the beach despite what the gobshite on the loud hailer thinks.
 
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