Gunwharf Quays overnight?

[prv]

New work's Christmas pissup is in Portsmouth this weekend, and rather than battle with late-night public transport / taxis, I thought it would be a cunning wheeze to bring the boat round during the day and sleep on board afterwards. The venue is quite near Gunwharf.

Searching the forums for past threads finds lots of folk saying it's really rolly. I've only been there once, in a 600-ton square rigger, and funnily enough we didn't suffer that problem . However, Ariam is a relative lightweight and also suffers the classic 1990s bum-slap in a following chop.

So I decided instead to moor at Haslar and get the ferry (there's a late-night launch till silly-o-clock after the normal ferry stops). But chatting to my mum the other day, she said she'd stayed at Gunwharf before (possibly only for lunch, though) and it was fine. And while it's a little more expensive than Haslar, that is offset by the convenience of skipping the ferries.

So, does anyone have any first-hand experience of staying overnight at Gunwharf at a weekend? I'm hoping at this time of year I can get a berth tucked right in rather than against the outside of the wave-break as some reported.

(Also, while I'm asking, much activity at Gunwharf itself late at night? Bearing in mind I hope to be rolling home well after midnight myself, not tucking up with the slippers and cocoa at 9pm. Just don't want any of Seajet's "chums" chucking shopping trolleys down at me, that's all )

Cheers,

Pete

 

[Seven Spades]

Yes I was there at the weekend and I was on one of the E?W pontoons and unfortunately I did not have a snubber and suffered a lot of snatching. Next time I will ask for an along side berth N/S and I will be able to extend the lines and won't expect any problems.

 

[prv]

Yes I was there at the weekend and I was on one of the E?W pontoons and unfortunately I did not have a snubber and suffered a lot of snatching.

Thanks, that doesn't sound promising.

Pete

 

[Seven Spades]

We had a great time. But a pontoon along the harbour wall instead of perpendicular to it would have been better. Just request n and if they say no go to Gosport or Haslar.

 

[colhel]

you'll b pissed up,covered in puke probably a black eye and a bleeding nose,what's a bit of rolling going to matter?

 

[prv]

you'll b pissed up,covered in puke probably a black eye and a bleeding nose,what's a bit of rolling going to matter?

My mum made the same point

Pete

 

[dom]

I'd go Gunwhrf every time. The late night ferry can be a bit irregular and you don't want to get stuck with a taxi all of the way around at late night rates. Security in G/W is both good and visible, lots of places for the morning after breakfast and this w/e the wind is forecast to be SW/not very strong on Sat and NW/light for your return. If worried about stern slap on an EW pontoon, just reverse in and the only truly nasty pontoon there is the seaward side of the external linear, so just avoid that. Only potential problem is the nearby foghorn on a murky night -- best pack an extra Alka Seltzer just in case!

Oh, and don't forget to start a "Collregs while blotto" thread upon your return so we can all pour imperious scorn on the sheer irresponsibility of it all

 

[Concerto]

In the summer I stayed in Gunwharf for 6 nights for the Westerly Owners Association meet for the 50th anniversary. I was berthed in the NW corner and the pontoons have solid almost continuous bases to break most of the waves. The only craft to cause any wash was the harbour police vessel doing about 10 knots close to the pontoon.

Pete, I would certainly berth there. You will be quicker crawling into your nightime pit than at Haslar. You will also avoid the usual drunk party goers on the late night ferry.

 

[prv]

. You will also avoid the usual drunk party goers on the late night ferry.

I was intending to be one of said partygoers

Gunwharf sounds like a plan, though.

Pete

 

[burgundyben]

If you've had skinful Gunwharf will be fine.

 

[PhillM]

I'd go to Gunwharf. I did a induction week at uni of Portsmouth last year and stayed in Hasler. I had a good stay but it was pretty rolly. I used my winter lines complete with snubber and all was well. I liked being a ferry ride away but I wasn't going out at night (too much work to do).

As for Gunwharf at night, my sources (mostly students) tell me it's fine, except for the drunken yotties!

 

[Poecheng]

Yes I was there at the weekend and suffered a lot of snatching.

If Pete gets lucky, so will he :encouragement:

 

[ip485]

Spent a couple of nights there on the end pontoon - so potentially the worst - I dont recall any real issues or interuptions to a good nights sleep. The IP is a pretty heavy lady mind, but much better than take a hike over on the ferry I would have thought.

 

[dslittle]

Done Gunwharf numerous times on 'lads weekends'. NEVER noticed any rolling, noise or interference to sleep after leaving Tiger Tiger. Also spent time across the water and do remember getting soaked in the rain on the ferry. Gunwharf every time!!!

 

[LadyInBed]

My mum made the same point

Pete

Trust your mum to tell it like it is

 

[emsworthy]

It can be a bit rolly when the cross channel ferries scoot past but obviously the further into the marina you get the more there is to break the wash. If there's a superyacht on the outer pontoon you'll be laughing. Nothing like a £100,000,000 breakwater to give you a good night's sleep!

 

[dk]

It can be a bit rolly when the cross channel ferries scoot past but obviously the further into the marina you get the more there is to break the wash. If there's a superyacht on the outer pontoon you'll be laughing. Nothing like a £100,000,000 breakwater to give you a good night's sleep!

Unless they keep their gennie/s running all night!

 

[PhillM]

Unless they keep their gennie/s running all night!

Yeah but Pete's not going to notice, is he (see his mums comment for details).

 

[chrishscorp]

You should be ok on an inner berth and a lot easier than getting the gosport ferry

Shame your going this weekend, I am being dragged along to Tiger Tiger next weekend with some 30 nurses, will need to get in some drinking practice

 

[prv]

You should be ok on an inner berth and a lot easier than getting the gosport ferry

Depends what you mean by inner - I'm here now, on the shoreside pontoon with my shrouds level with the foot of the access gangway. Nevertheless, I can see in a straight line across unobstructed water all the way to the Isle of Wight.

The boat is currently moving a bit more than is normal in a marina, but nowhere near enough to be a problem, and the wind if anything is forecast to drop. So I should be OK for this visit, but this definitely wouldn't be a good berth in any sort of wind.

Pete