Farewell, Christchurch

Wiggo

Wiggo

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After 15 years of boating from Christchurch, it's time to move on. Local politics killed the dredging plans for another year, and looking at the tide tables, we'd spend more time tied to the pontoon than boating this year, so we're off to Hythe.

More expensive, by a good margin, but I suspect the cost per outing will be significantly lower...
 
Welcome to Hythe!

You will spend just as much time waiting to get out through the lock on a sunny day as looking at the tide tables in Christchurch :-).

Its not that bad really especially if you plan around free flow approx 1hr either side of high water.

Were the little one in 'B' basin.
 
Pity.

I went over Tuckton Bridge yesterday, on my way to Southbourne (Mother's Day Picnic on the beach for SWMBO), and the moorings looked pretty empty, even for this time of year. It amazes me that the Council are prepared to preside over the destruction of the local boating industry in Christchurch, for the sake, as you say, of a petty local squabble. But when was there ever any logic to Local Government?
 
They didn't want to 'encourage an influx of large boats', as presumably, the local economy really doesn't want an influx of cash either. Oh, and there was no way they would allow the mud from the dredging to be dumped on the mudflats it came from in the first place. To be honest, they should have started dredging 5 years ago. 30 odd foot and outdrives is the absolute limit now for Christchurch, IMO. Such a shame, as it's a beautiful location.
 
Welcome to Hythe.
We have been here 5 years. Enjoyed every minute including having Jimi on the same pontoon. See you, we also are in B.
 
In all the years I've been bumbling around Poole and across to the solent I've only ever been into christchurch a handful of times. Nice place and some lovely restaurant's in the place.
 
And there's the point - we can do it just about anytime we like, rather than one week in four, if the weather's OK...

Plan at present is to leave on the last weekend in March. Spose we should have some kind of party, really. Should we set fire to the pontoon and push it out into the harbour? A bit like the Brixham barbie, but without the water cooling?
 
You can join us for a few drinks in Ocean Village.
You get free short berthing being a member of MDL

Good luck in your new home berth

Terry
 
Apparently there used to be an admiralty bye law that all commercial boats had to drag chains on entering and leaving Christchurch which scoured the sea bed making the channels much better....might be an idea for local boats ( with caution ) to take up......I've been in occasionally in a 38 footer drawing 1.1m and its a bit touchy even at high water....
 
Well, in that case, we should be due for a bloody medal!

Fascinating about the chains though. We thought of dragging a metal 5 bar gate on chains behind us going out on the ebb, then leaving it for the next person to take back up river etc...
 
Ah Christchurch ... fond memories of getting back a little late on a falling tide and ending up high and dry … right in front of the quay!

Those were the days when I was a raggie so no damage done apart from my pride.
 
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