Gunwharf Quay

[jon_bailey]

As it looks like a nice day on Saturday, I was contemplating taking the family to Gunwharf Quay (by boat). Any advice?

I have been into Portsmouth harbour using the small boat channel and know about the local races, but is it really necessary or even expected to call up the QHM for permission to cross main channel once in the harbour?

I am feeling so generous, I might even give each of them a fiver to spend!

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[Aardee]

Call to QHM is neither needed or expected.

If you go into the harbour beyond Gunwharf, keep a respectable distance off the Naval Base to avoid incurring the wrath of the boys in blue!!

Enjoy your visit.

<hr width=100% size=1>"I am a bear of very little brain and long words bother me..."

 

[Wiggo]

Yes, you should call QHM from just by the Ballast Buoy. Mucho ferry traffic to watch out for, and QHM controls it all, and is watching YOU. Technically, you need 24hrs notice to moor at Gunwharf, too, FWIW. Plenty choise of eats and retail therapy, but bugger all else there, so fine for lunchstop. Give us a bell - we should be coming out of the Hamble mid-morning...

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[Wiggo]

According to Gunwharf Quays:

Entering & Leaving Portsmouth
All vessels inbound for Gunwharf Quays must use the Small Boat Channel in Portsmouth Harbour and cross the deep-water channel at Ballast Buoy. All vessels are required to contact the Queen’s Harbour Master (QHM) on VHF Ch11 for permission to cross the deep-water channel.

The 50m wide Small Boat Channel runs from the west of No4 Bar Buoy to the west of Ballast Buoy. There is a flashing leading light on the south end of Oil Fuel Jetty (OFJ) and the red sector of this light conforms to the boat channel. Vessels must proceed to Ballast Buoy and then cross the main navigation channel at right angles when it is clear. It is mandatory to run an engine, if fitted, whilst transiting the entrance.


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[Aardee]

I stand (OK, sit...) corrected.

G.

<hr width=100% size=1>"I am a bear of very little brain and long words bother me..."

 

[Wiggo]

What makes you say it isn't expected, Graham? I've always followed the Gunwharf instructions, but happy to follow wiser advice

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[Aardee]

Just the experience of monitoring QHM's channel. Very rare to hear private vessels...Maybe thay all foolishly follow the advice of folk like me /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

"Unannounced" channel crossing appears commonplace.

<hr width=100% size=1>"I am a bear of very little brain and long words bother me..."<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by mystique on 22/04/2004 15:31 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[mjf]

You need to call QHM on VHF11 to obtain 'clearance' to cross both ways between Ballast Buoy and Gunwharf.

The recent NtoM also shows that traffic ought to pass with the Ballast Buoy close to port when entering the harbour and similarly close to port on leaving.

Enjoy

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[jfm]

I would call them

Last time I did it I called QHM for permission to cross and they were perfectly charming and friendly, they didn't act as though I was being naive or pendantic. So I would recommend following the rules and calling them. You should cross kind of perpendicular to the channel, from the buoy just north of the haslar marina entrance

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[mjf]

Oh, forgot.

Make sure you have pleanty of fenders as the swell even when 'calm' is mighty due to the passing ferries and everone else.

Michael

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[Planty]

Did a Sea Trial out of Gunwharf on a Pearl 55 and the skipper didn,t contact QHM at all, by the time he had moored up the HM was around with a ticket, issued it to the skipper, it included all sorts of warnings and bye law stuff, and then took digital piccys of boat and everything plus a fair bit of finger wagging. "Complaints from commercial vessels etc!!" Needless to say we always inform QHM when visiting Gunwharf now.

Bit confused by one earlier post, I thought small channel was on Port going in and Starboard on way out, so always close to College? Paul

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[jon_bailey]

Perhaps I am being a little dense but I am slightly confused by this, as apparently is Planty. Could you explain?

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[jon_bailey]

Graham

Should be coming past the Hamble at mid-morning so provided you have not changed your phone as well as your boat, I'll try to give you a call.



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[jon_bailey]

Thanks for the advice!

I have contacted Gunwharf marina and they say that they are getting booked up for Saturday, so probably worth booking to avoid disappointment (wifey's, if not mine).



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[mjf]

The small boat channel is very narrow, the idea as I understand it, is to use ballast buoy as the inner marker with outbound traffic on the Gosport side close in (buoy to port) and the inbound traffic leaving the buoy as close as possible again to port thus keeping small vessels well outside and to north of the main channel that nearly always has something big manouvering in it. Thus the small boat channel (50m wide I recall) has a sort of traffic seperation scheme within it.

Michael

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[Solitaire]

Hi Jon,
You are right in that you must use the small boat channel on the westernside of the entrance. To enter Gunwharf you must not do so untill you have reached Ballast Buoy which is the red lateral marker just past Haslar Marina - it is a prerquiste that you call QHm on Ch 11 BEFORE crossing to Gunwarrf and you may only proceed when given clearance QHM harbour control to do so. On eaving Gunwarf you must also request clearance og QHM before leaving.

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[Planty]

In other words, always keep on the other side of the main channel from both "The Castle" and Gunwharf, using usual passing etiquette, in a channel approx 50 metres wide using Ballast as the Inner Harbour marker, and presumably first Port Buoy as Outer Harbour Marker?

You're quite right it is extremely narrow and I have been pushed rather close to the "rocks" on the edge of the College, when leaving, by a Sail Boat before now.

Amazingly I didn't Jump up and Down, waving my fists in the air and use foul language either, which I now believe to be the international sign for communicating displeasure with another boater, as detailed in an earlier post. Thanks again, Paul

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[Solitaire]

From 15th March - the new Portsmouth Harbour Patrol will be in operation. There will be two boats operating from 17.00 untill sunset on Friday and from 0.900 to sunset on Sat and Sun. The VHP will be assisting leisure boaters in terms of the correct use of the harbour and assist in the event of problems.From brakdowns to dingy capzies etc.The VHP will operate under the control of QHM Harbour Control.

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[jon_bailey]

David,

Thanks for the advice.

What is the official call sign for QHM on Ch 11?

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[Solitaire]

QHM or you can use Portsmouth Harbour Control - will answer to both. QHM shorter though /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

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