Cruise to the South Coast of England?

[MagicalArmchair]

We have done the East Coast many times, and there are still many treasures to find there, however, we fancy a bit of a change and to take the boat back to the South coast (where we delivered her back from). Mirage is a 40 foot J & J Bavaria with a draft of 2m. The crew are four children (10, 7, 4 and 1), myself and my wife.

The kids are not used to passage making yet (we are building them up), so I will deliver the boat to the South Coast (one of the MDL marinas there (probably Ocean Village as it has good transport links) as I keep Mirage in MDL Chatham) and we'll go for two weeks of sailing around the Solent.

• Is this a sound idea? Is it simply too busy now with all the boats returning from the EU?
• Where would you recommend we explore. Beaches within easy reach, walks and general adventure is the order of the day.
• Smaller passages. They do the eight hours across the Thames okay, however, they prefer 4 or 5 hour stints.

 

[wiggy]

Chichester harbour is pretty hard to beat. Superb beach at East Head, anchorages, buoys near pubs and marinas if that’s you thing.

 

[ashtead]

OV is a good starting point and also has a cinema and a range of restaurants in Oxford road. If you plan to berth in the Solent I would suggest you book for Bembridge and Yarmouth ,both which have beaches for children in dinghy ‘walking distance . Potter out with outboard to priory or sea grove bay At Yarmouth you might also be booking your evening restaurants if eating out is you desire but plenty of pub like places suitable for children. I guess the other place to mention is Chichester harbour -east head at anchor and then try to book into chi marina and enter and exit on free flow. The lock is rather tiresome there. Not a lot to do but catch taxi to chi maybe.
if going to Portsmouth clearly you have three marina at Gosport with a submarine you can go round etc Eateries more random but a green ferry takes you across to Portsmouth to gunwharf. Port Solent also locked but has a few slightly tired eateries and shops but decent chandlery . Not much for kids apart from cinema .
At Lymington plenty of crabbing at the town quay, walks to key haven from Lym yacht haven (do book again) or go swimming in the lido pool . Haven restaurant rather small and can attract a braying crowd . Mayflower pub better for kids with large garden with swings etc and quite child centric to eat in. Only thing to avoid sea state wise is wind against tide on way from cowes to Yarmouth /Lym. as in any blow can be uncomfortable .
if weather is bad hole up in cowes say-east cowes marina with lifeboat pub is child friendly but cut off due to extended absence of FB6 crossing medina but aim if you can for shepherds in cowes - hire a car and drive around many island sights eg black gang chine/robin hill /dinosaur museum/donkey sanctuary etc. hope you have a lovely trip and weather favours you. We are off to Bembridge at end of may but even now booked for some days there just to give flavour.

 

[Boathook]

Poole is fairly close with marinas and anchorages plus beaches. I normally would mention Studland (sandy beaches, etc) but I'm not to sure on that at the moment due to nature england or whatever trying to protect the expanding underwater grass and trying to restrict anchoring to protect it.
If you get to Poole, Weymouth is about 4 to 5 hours away. All easy sailing if the weather is OK.

 

[jaminb]

We are based in Shamrock Quay, just down the road from OV, and have 2 kids 7 and 3. We love the cruising area but the kids do get bored after 3 or 4 hours of passage.

Southampton, Bembridge, Portsmouth, Beaulieu and Cowes have all proved a hit. We are planning Yarmouth and Lymington this week. All I would add is that last year was increadibly busy and, although it never happended to us, I was all ways concerned we would be turned away and I would be sailing back to Shamrock in the middle of the night with tired kids and a very grumpy first mate.

 

[[2574]]

We are based in Shamrock Quay, just down the road from OV, and have 2 kids 7 and 3. We love the cruising area but the kids do get bored after 3 or 4 hours of passage.

Southampton, Bembridge, Portsmouth, Beaulieu and Cowes have all proved a hit. We are planning Yarmouth and Lymington this week. All I would add is that last year was increadibly busy and, although it never happended to us, I was all ways concerned we would be turned away and I would be sailing back to Shamrock in the middle of the night with tired kids and a very grumpy first mate.

If the honey pots are packed surely you’d not return to the home marina, you’d find a nice cosy anchorage and drop the hook?

 

[Jonny A]

South Deep inside Poole Harbour is an exceptionally beautiful and tranquil anchorage, and there will be plenty of depth in the Deep itself and even round the corner at Goathorn. Just be careful when you enter the channel heading down to South Deep from next to Brownsea Castle. There is a small bar there that you won't get across at low water, but if there's ~1.5m above chart datum you'll be fine.

 

[Stemar]

Surprised by Goathorn. Last time I was there I dried out, though I was close in, hiding from 30+ knots. My anchor dug in so deep, I couldn't see any of my 17m of chain!

 

[Jonny A]

At Goathorn you're best anchoring only just outside the buoyed channel, otherwise it can get shallow. The bottom is very soft mud, not very nice when you retrieve your anchor but at least the holding's good. You also tend to get a lot of weed on the chain. But it's well worth it, in my opinion.

 

[Pete7]

Anchor here over night and take the kids for a picnic on the beach and a walk around the outside of the castle. No toilets ashore and expensive for a family to enter the castle, so plan accordingly. Take a fishing rod and some metal lures or rubbery eels and feathers etc.

Pete

 

[jaminb]

If the honey pots are packed surely you’d not return to the home marina, you’d find a nice cosy anchorage and drop the hook?

I wish. First mate is traumatised from dragging anchor in Chichester. Not sure we will be using the anchor overnight any time soon!

 

[Fantasie 19]

We have done the East Coast many times, and there are still many treasures to find there, however, we fancy a bit of a change and to take the boat back to the South coast (where we delivered her back from). Mirage is a 40 foot J & J Bavaria with a draft of 2m. The crew are four children (10, 7, 4 and 1), myself and my wife.

The kids are not used to passage making yet (we are building them up), so I will deliver the boat to the South Coast (one of the MDL marinas there (probably Ocean Village as it has good transport links) as I keep Mirage in MDL Chatham) and we'll go for two weeks of sailing around the Solent.

• Is this a sound idea? Is it simply too busy now with all the boats returning from the EU?
• Where would you recommend we explore. Beaches within easy reach, walks and general adventure is the order of the day.
• Smaller passages. They do the eight hours across the Thames okay, however, they prefer 4 or 5 hour stints.

Loads of idea's in this recent thread about visiting Portsmouth?

Mary Rose Museum - visiting by yacht

 

[[2574]]

I wish. First mate is traumatised from dragging anchor in Chichester. Not sure we will be using the anchor overnight any time soon!

Ah, that’s a shame. Might be worth some lunch stops on the hook to build crew confidence. Anchoring is one of life’s pleasures not to be missed. Build up slowly to an overnight on the hook in settled weather. Get the right kit (let’s not go there!) and practice technique, you’ll get there…..

 

[jaminb]

Following Pete7 suggestion we had a lovely lunch on anchor at Hurst Point didn’t budge inch but got my tides slightly off and was getting twitchy with meter under the keel!

sailed off the hook and had a fab couple of reaches between Yarmouth and back into Lymington.