Bosham Quay

[chubby]

After years of sailing in the wider Solent area there are still things to discover and this week it was going alongside Bosham Quay: picked a quiet mid week day and afternoon high tide.

With 1.4 M draft and long keel I got alongside at HW-2 with 0.7 under the keel and left at HW with 1.2 under the keel.

I went alongside the first ladder: how much depth is there further up? which bit is best for drying out? Is scrubbing or at least prop cleaning allowed and what are the charges: the quay master's hut was firmly locked. How busy is it? a restful spot on a nice day or over run? what is the nearby pub like?


Also planning to try Emsworth, when visiting Chi I normally anchor at east head if beachgoers or off Pilsey if wanting peace and quiet.

Any insider info from the locals?

 

[oldharry]

I beleive Bosham is much the same depth all the way up the Quay, but its mud so not nice for bottom scrubbing. I'm not local so perhaps someone who actually knows can confirm? The Anchor Bleu in the village has a good reputation for it's food.

Emsworth there is no alongside facility except in the Marina which has a sill, and a single CHC pontoon which is not intended for overnighting, though I doubt anyone will object this early in the season. The pontoon dries at around HW+3 to the river bed. Good pubs in Emsworth and plenty of choiuce. My local is the Lord Raglan, which serves a decent pint, and excellent food. There are 2 berths alongside the quay on the hard, but you would need to contact the Sailing Club about using those, as their mast hoist is over one of them. Visitors normally go to to the Marina, but you need to contact them about timings to cross their sill usually HW +/- 2 hrs depending on height of the tide. Excellent restaurant there - The Deck, run by an ex RTW skipper.

For a really quiet backwater try Thornham Marina behind Thorney Island One of the most remote spots on the Solent. Again severely limited by tide to around HW +/- 2.5 but everything settles into soft mud so no chance of bottom maintenance! But an incredibly pretty backwater. Stay strictly in the channel in the upper reaches, or the mud will get you, and there is the remains of a sea wall that used to enclose the Prinstead Bay. You MUST go through it on the marked channel, or you will rip your bottom out on the old wooden timbers! But its an incredibly quiet peaceful place teeming with bird life. There is an excellent deep water anchorage, hardly ever used, and with some of the best Downland views in the harbour with The Trundle and Kingley Vale as a backdrop. Its above the Thorney island SC moorings at the point where the Prinstead and Nutbourne Channels meet. Good holding and perfect shelter from all except the SE. With all the shouting, swearing and crunching of expensive glassfibre as the tide turns at E Head at 2.00am on a busy weekend, the anchorage at the top of the Thornham Channel will guarantee a quiet night, no dragging anchors and a stupendous view!

 

[wombat88]

A vote for Thornham

..and..

You can get very close to the Raglan car park by going up the creek and going alongside up in the old yard. I wouldn't know who to pay for what and have never stayed long. It is narrow and shallow but the natives are reasonably friendly.

Don't forget Dell Quay, you should be able to get there roughly 3 hrs either side and the pub is nowadays far better run than in the past. View from pub garden the best.

Chichester Yacht Club near the marina welcomes visitors by water. Garden/food excellent. There is a jetty but very limited water so you wouldn't be able to stay for long. (Need to check h/w depth on jetty, may not be enough for you.) It is really mainly for dinghies.

As far as I can tell/ or have experienced all the clubs in Chichester welcome visitors by water though things at HISC especially can get a bit hectic if it is a 'big' week.

All mid week, not holidays.

 

[wombat88]

I meant the Raglan garden...

 

[chubby]

I beleive Bosham is much the same depth all the way up the Quay, but its mud so not nice for bottom scrubbing. I'm not local so perhaps someone who actually knows can confirm? The Anchor Bleu in the village has a good reputation for it's food.

Emsworth there is no alongside facility except in the Marina which has a sill, and a single CHC pontoon which is not intended for overnighting, though I doubt anyone will object this early in the season. The pontoon dries at around HW+3 to the river bed. Good pubs in Emsworth and plenty of choiuce. My local is the Lord Raglan, which serves a decent pint, and excellent food. There are 2 berths alongside the quay on the hard, but you would need to contact the Sailing Club about using those, as their mast hoist is over one of them. Visitors normally go to to the Marina, but you need to contact them about timings to cross their sill usually HW +/- 2 hrs depending on height of the tide. Excellent restaurant there - The Deck, run by an ex RTW skipper.

For a really quiet backwater try Thornham Marina behind Thorney Island One of the most remote spots on the Solent. Again severely limited by tide to around HW +/- 2.5 but everything settles into soft mud so no chance of bottom maintenance! But an incredibly pretty backwater. Stay strictly in the channel in the upper reaches, or the mud will get you, and there is the remains of a sea wall that used to enclose the Prinstead Bay. You MUST go through it on the marked channel, or you will rip your bottom out on the old wooden timbers! But its an incredibly quiet peaceful place teeming with bird life. There is an excellent deep water anchorage, hardly ever used, and with some of the best Downland views in the harbour with The Trundle and Kingley Vale as a backdrop. Its above the Thorney island SC moorings at the point where the Prinstead and Nutbourne Channels meet. Good holding and perfect shelter from all except the SE. With all the shouting, swearing and crunching of expensive glassfibre as the tide turns at E Head at 2.00am on a busy weekend, the anchorage at the top of the Thornham Channel will guarantee a quiet night, no dragging anchors and a stupendous view!

The Thorney channel is my favour for a quiet anchorage, not really a beach person so I haven't been to east head for ages. Most people anchor off Pilsey island but there seems to be plenty of pace between the next set of posts and the Thorney SC moorings but will certainly look at the anchorage above the moorings as described, before the Thornham and Nutbourne channels join, good advice, thanks.

 

[Channel Sailor]

Many years ago I dried out a long keel 1.1m draft yacht against Bosham Quay, I think it was about a third to half way along. The ground was flat concrete. I vaguely recall it was mud further along. I scrubbed off and antifouled, The quay I understand is operated by the Chichester Harbour Conservancy, they have a web site. The charges are on the web site and I understand there is a part time Quay Master for Bosham. A telephone call to CHC would tell you all about the Quay. I don’t remember much about the pub except it was OK, but there was a nice cafe a few doors away from the pub.

The Harbour Master will also be able to tell you about the tidal shore connected Pontoon, the non shore connected pontoon and the water taxi all at Emsworth. Emsworth being well worth a visit with a variety of pubs, a beach, interesting walks and shops. Emsworth yacht harbour/Marina would be OK for an overnight if they have space, bit tight and has a sill though.

Itchenor is often busy, has one big pub and a cafe. Though you may be able to use the nice Itchenor yacht club as a visiting yachts person. Visitors can use swinging moorings but you can get wash from passing traffic. If a busy summer day then better is the visitors pontoon on the side away from the main channel. The water taxi runs often.

For the slightly more adventurous would be Del Quay, which dries against a Quay. I walked along the quay there a week ago and it looked very tempting. The approach main channel has a significant loop to the east in it and few moorings to show the channel edge, so some research and careful pilotage needed. Never done it myself so someone else would need to supply info or call the Harbour Master. The boat yard there appears busy so a plenty of yachts must use that channel at HW. The pub there looks ok and there are fantastic walks to the north around fishbourne meadows. A taxi into Chichester town would be much cheaper from here compared to Itchenor.

 

[oldharry]

Dell Quay channel looks difficult but isn't
Coming in, be sure to leave Copperas to port as there is a ridge that extends West from it. After rounding Copperas head North to the next buoy (stbd hand) round that and make for the S end of the moorings. Follow them on up to the Quay. Its pretty deep all across the middle once you are clear of Copperas so unless you are pushing it on the first of the flood or last of the ebb you cant go far wrong. It's not advisable to cut the corner and head straight for the Quay from the stbd buoy above Copperas as there is a tendency to shoal there. Locals use a second unmarked channel sometimes, but unles you know, don't follow!

Going on up towards Fishbourne from the quay the channel swings out a bit, and you should leave the first line of moorings between you and the hard. Many dont, and find the tail end of the hard the hard way unexpectedly further up. I had a mooring there for many years.

 

[Channel Sailor]

Further notes on Dell Quay. I looked at it again today while walking by. I would guess the area you could dry out on against the nice quay dries 1.6 but this could vary this far up the harbour depending on pressure and wind. My chart says it dries 1.2 on the approaches to the creek. Based on today’s tides my take on it would be with a 1m draft that would give access 2 hours either side of HW, maybe a little longer if familiar with the channel. There looked to room for two say 28 footers on the west facing part of the quay, if allowed. Possibly one more on a not quite level ground on the south side of the quay. There is a drying pontoon on the north side. Google maps satellite view shows it quite nicely. No idea about visitor craft arrangements. Long warps would be necessary as it looked as if the mooring rings and bollards were well set back from the edge of the quay and the quay height adds to the length of warp required. I did not think to look for a ladder. I think you might need fender boards, though there could perhaps be some available on the quay. I saw some foot prints in the mud directly below the quay so it must be soft mud over firmer ground. In theory the quay is exposed to west and SW winds but the fetch for any wavelets to build up is short from the west, but more exposed from the south and south west.

It was a lovely spot today for those that can dry out and if harbour authority allows it.

 

[oldharry]

Further notes on Dell Quay. I looked at it again today while walking by. I would guess the area you could dry out on against the nice quay dries 1.6 but this could vary this far up the harbour depending on pressure and wind. My chart says it dries 1.2 on the approaches to the creek. Based on today’s tides my take on it would be with a 1m draft that would give access 2 hours either side of HW, maybe a little longer if familiar with the channel. There looked to room for two say 28 footers on the west facing part of the quay, if allowed. Possibly one more on a not quite level ground on the south side of the quay. There is a drying pontoon on the north side. Google maps satellite view shows it quite nicely. No idea about visitor craft arrangements. Long warps would be necessary as it looked as if the mooring rings and bollards were well set back from the edge of the quay and the quay height adds to the length of warp required. I did not think to look for a ladder. I think you might need fender boards, though there could perhaps be some available on the quay. I saw some foot prints in the mud directly below the quay so it must be soft mud over firmer ground. In theory the quay is exposed to west and SW winds but the fetch for any wavelets to build up is short from the west, but more exposed from the south and south west.

It was a lovely spot today for those that can dry out and if harbour authority allows it.

Well I hope its allowed - Ive done it many many times over the years i was there! There are ladders at each end of the end of the quay. The ground slopes away at the base of the quay so a bilge keeler will tilt outwards a bit. Fender boards - definitely needed, but none available when i was there, so bring your own. The pontoon on the N side has deep soft mud, shoaling up the inland end. Dont try walking there, but anywhere else near the stream down the channel at LW is passable on foot with a little care and good wellies! It can be very exposed there if there is much South in the wind. A boat was badly damaged on the W side when an unexpected southerly came in overnight. I have seen a 0.5m sea running in wind over tide conditions off the end of the jetty, more in the violent storms of winter 2013! I used to bring my bk 26 footer alongside there quite regularly and often shared it with a similar or larger boat. Tide times for 1m draft (Mine was .9m) 3hrs before to abpout 3.5 hours after. Be aware though that there is a long stand just after HW of 2 -3 hours during which the tide drops less than 30cms, then around HW + 3.25 the level drops away very quickly. Visitors are often fooled into thinking they have plenty of time, only to find themselves with a 6+ hour wait half an hour or so later! This is particularly pronounced on springs.

 

[BelleSerene]

After years of sailing in the wider Solent area there are still things to discover and this week it was going alongside Bosham Quay: picked a quiet mid week day and afternoon high tide.

With 1.4 M draft and long keel I got alongside at HW-2 with 0.7 under the keel and left at HW with 1.2 under the keel.

I went alongside the first ladder: how much depth is there further up? which bit is best for drying out? Is scrubbing or at least prop cleaning allowed and what are the charges: the quay master's hut was firmly locked. How busy is it? a restful spot on a nice day or over run? what is the nearby pub like?


Also planning to try Emsworth, when visiting Chi I normally anchor at east head if beachgoers or off Pilsey if wanting peace and quiet.

Any insider info from the locals?

You could always try something daring like Googling ‘Bosham Quay scrubbing’. You’re currently the third entry; the second one not surprisingly answers your questions.

But as for insider info, it’s excellent, and the harbour master is very keen to take your money. The ground (if you go along the channel inside the posts to alongside the harbour office) is not mud but concrete, and they offer a pressure hose. You tie up to vast oak piles which extend above the road level; just check your line lengths and tidal heights to ensure you don’t either suspend your boat when the tide falls or pop your fenders over the top when it rises. They even have a decent fender board and balloon fenders to lend you if you’re not well equipped.

 

[oldharry]

A vote for Thornham

..and..

You can get very close to the Raglan car park by going up the creek and going alongside up in the old yard. I wouldn't know who to pay for what and have never stayed long. It is narrow and shallow but the natives are reasonably friendly.

The old Kings Boatyard (nothing to do with royalty, but originally founded by one Billy King circa 1900) is actually private property, and there are no visitor facilites there, though I daresay locals would turn a blind eye, they do lock the gates, probably before closing time! Since the Yard packed up some years ago it has been administered by a local Estate Agent. I assume they are still trying to sell or let the premises as a boatyard but as it is a commercial site, there may be planning problems about developing it for housing, the usual fate of former boat yards! Planning controls in this area are very tight as its SSSI and AONB with CHC holding considerable power over any development, particularly on a historic site such as this.

CHC even managed to see off Natural England who wanted to put an MCZ in the harbour!

 

[chubby]

I beleive Bosham is much the same depth all the way up the Quay, but its mud so not nice for bottom scrubbing. I'm not local so perhaps someone who actually knows can confirm? The Anchor Bleu in the village has a good reputation for it's food.

Emsworth there is no alongside facility except in the Marina which has a sill, and a single CHC pontoon which is not intended for overnighting, though I doubt anyone will object this early in the season. The pontoon dries at around HW+3 to the river bed. Good pubs in Emsworth and plenty of choiuce. My local is the Lord Raglan, which serves a decent pint, and excellent food. There are 2 berths alongside the quay on the hard, but you would need to contact the Sailing Club about using those, as their mast hoist is over one of them. Visitors normally go to to the Marina, but you need to contact them about timings to cross their sill usually HW +/- 2 hrs depending on height of the tide. Excellent restaurant there - The Deck, run by an ex RTW skipper.

For a really quiet backwater try Thornham Marina behind Thorney Island One of the most remote spots on the Solent. Again severely limited by tide to around HW +/- 2.5 but everything settles into soft mud so no chance of bottom maintenance! But an incredibly pretty backwater. Stay strictly in the channel in the upper reaches, or the mud will get you, and there is the remains of a sea wall that used to enclose the Prinstead Bay. You MUST go through it on the marked channel, or you will rip your bottom out on the old wooden timbers! But its an incredibly quiet peaceful place teeming with bird life. There is an excellent deep water anchorage, hardly ever used, and with some of the best Downland views in the harbour with The Trundle and Kingley Vale as a backdrop. Its above the Thorney island SC moorings at the point where the Prinstead and Nutbourne Channels meet. Good holding and perfect shelter from all except the SE. With all the shouting, swearing and crunching of expensive glassfibre as the tide turns at E Head at 2.00am on a busy weekend, the anchorage at the top of the Thornham Channel will guarantee a quiet night, no dragging anchors and a stupendous view!

To give feedback and thanks for good advice, I have just come back from a peaceful if chilly night at anchor in the upper Thorney channel as advised above: It was a brisk easterly and I wanted more shelter from that direct than the usual anchorage off Pilsey.

The Thorney channel must be the least crowded in Chi. Above the TISC moorings and their race mark but below the channels to Thornham and Nutborne is a big expanse of deep water and soft mud with good views across the downs, if you are self contained, lovely and peaceful and uncrowded.