Free anchoring anywhere?

Re: Portland Harbour

We haven't been there this year, but did visit several times the year before and weren't accosted! We have friends at Castle Cove so I'll try and find out what is happening in practice, I would have thought that not enough people anchored there to merit hiring Dick Turpin in a RIB, cost more in wages than monies collected.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
 
I doubt that there are many places protected in every direction that arent actual harbours - after all, thats where you would chose to put a harbour isnt it.

But of course there's lots of reasonably protected places where you can anchor foc, and in the Bristol channel that includes many of the actual harbours themselves.

But why oh why do people limit themselves to the south coast then moan about the cost as if its the only place in the UK where a boat will float? There is life outside the Solent!

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.
 
Take the point BUT...

<For example Alum Bay/Needles works fine in E -S, Studland works fine in S-NW, Swanage the same, Chapman's Pool in NW--NE, Hurst/Keyhaven corner W-N, Newtown outside SE-SW>

Surely a bit of trek from Lulworth though?!

Mark

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Anchoring

As I understand it:-

Strictly speaking anchoring anywhere is, under International law, free and anyone who endeavours to prevent you exercising your right of "free passage" is in breach of the law.

This is quite well observed on continental Europe, but less so in the UK.

There are a number of exceptions

Harbourmasters in the UK exploit the right to make a charge on all vessels using their ports for navigation dues ie a levy to help pay for buoyage and dredging.

A number of enclosed waters are under private ownership, ie Crown Commissioners, Beaulieu estate etc. These entities have the right to make a charge.

Generally speaking vessels in transit are not charged - hence the fact that the majority of ports don't charge for the first few days.

When you get to moorings, pontoons or jetties, the use of these can be charged by the owner - any harbour that allows you to tie up free does so as discretionary matter and it's usually only for a couple of hours.

As to the question of where these perfectly sheltered free anchorages might be - why there are none.
Furthermore I'd reckon there are very few perfectly safe harbours (eg les Minimes in 1998).
However in trying to list all the reasonably sheltered free places in which I've anchored in British Isles and French waters I called it a day at 89 (and that doesn't include the ones I've used round Spain, Portugal and in the Med).

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Ah yes, the art of thinking ahead and the fine balance between anchoring where you WANT to be and actually doing it where it is comfortable and safe to be! Just because you wanted or planned to go to (say) Lulworth doesn't mean it is going to be OK on the day, nor does it get better in the dark after going ashore to the pub. It really would have been better to have gone somewhere else OR to have moved earlier! Distance to move if the need arises should never be used as an excuse though, that way leads sooner or later to disaster. Actually Lulworth is a bad example as it does need settled offshore conditions, but Weymouth or Portland are only what 8mls away if need be.

The key surely is to monitor forecasts and chose an anchorage to suit, but be prepared if necessary to move to plan B if it goes pear shaped later. It pays to have an exit strategy ready too, just in case.

Robin

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
 
Yup, this summer I spent 2 seperate and very calm nights in the Wych Channel, despite a force 7 on one of them!

The nicest bit is if you go up past the point with the moorings (pretty shallow there anyway). Its all protected land round there, with nice trees and beaches and marsh, very undisturbed. And free.

Just turn left as you come in the harbour entrance :)

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Dale flats, Miford haven. Been there a few times, nobody charged me for anchoring. fairly sheltered aswell.

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Re: In the Solent

Power Station Creek meets your requirement just about. It's not as grim as it sounds either.

Up at the top of Southampton Water. I think its Marchwood S. C. maintain some moorings that they're very lax about charging for. Ideal for those with a steady nerve to admire the tugs chucking bloody great container vessels about, right next to you. Quite rustic to the west though.

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