Day trips from Southampton

[RG69]

Hi All

I’m new to this forum and new to owning a boat. Recently purchased a 21ft Cuddy cabin and looking to do some trips from Southampton with the family. Can anyone recommend some destinations to start off with? This will be next year when the weather starts improving.

Use to do a lot of boating and water sports around Poole and Sandbanks in a small fletcher many, many years ago on my Dad’s fletcher, but now looking to head East. We also have a place in Cowes, so some local knowledge for the Isle of Wight would be great too.

 

[colhel]

Will you be on a mooring or using a slipway? My main consideration if exploring the Solent for the first time would be the effect of the tide changing the sea state. There are shallow bits but these are well marked and clearly marked on the charts. A day with an instructor or pb2 course will give you a good idea of the cruising area. Difficult to suggest destinations without knowing a bit more about you and your boat and which part of Southampton you'll start from.

 

[RG69]

Hi
Thanks for replying. The boat is a 21 foot Cuddy cabin and it’s basically to find some nice anchor spots along the mainland coast.

Tue boat is moored in Southampton Town Quay Marine

 

[burgundyben]

You have loads of options.

Up the Itchen, ice cream van at Woodmill on high tide.

Up to Eling for the pub.

Up the Hamble.

Ashlet Creek.

Beaulieu

Lymington, take a trip round Pylewell Lake.

Keyhaven.

Colwell, Yarmouth, Newtown, Scratchells Bay in a northerly, Alum Bay, Totland Bay, Mudeford

There's endless exploring to do in a 21ft boat in the Solent.

 

[Elessar]

There are so many!

However what Colin said about the sea state is critical. If you go out when the wind is with the tide, when the tide changes it can catch you out. Take heed.

Anchoring usually better on the island side. Thorness bay, Newtown creek or further afield Colwell bay, Alum bay ti the west, Osborne bay to the east. You can always anchor off Netley in Southampton water if you don’t want to go too far.

Add in day trips to a pub and the destination list is huge.

Edit good list from BB too. Above the bridges on the Hamble a real treat in your boat.

 

[RG69]

Thanks all, great info and much appreciated

 

[ashtead]

You don’t say age and interests of family but if you reach Portsmouth harbour Porchester castle might be worth visiting tying up to a buoy etc or of course numerous other places in harbour of course and you can venture up to port Solent or down to Fareham . Maybe buy an old pilot book of Solent though before venturing out and if you do some form of powerboat course from say ocean village this year you might learn a lot of conditions and tides etc. as said even crossing Solent from say Yarmouth to Lym in a tide/wind in opposition can be unpleasant for a family I suspect in a small 21ft . A secondary small outboard maybe to potter along on. If you head east as far as Chi harbour lots of pottering about to Emsworth ,east head etc, you could cross over to Seaview ,pick up a buoy and have lunch ashore at old fort or tides permitting go to Bembridge harbour and have lunch at crab shack houseboat.

 

[ST840]

You said you want to go east? Then pick a lovely day and head to Bembridge!!