Itchen navigation tips

[Channel Ribs]

Weather permitting I am planning a run down the Itchen in the next few days, I know the area South of there fairly well but have never been alon that river.

The stretch by St Marys looks a bit tricky, no chanel markers and some drying mud?

Boat has a draft of 4ft. Any tips most welcome.

 

[ColinHuggins]

Please clarify:
"Down the Itchen" . . . where from? Are you launching a trailer-sailer or speedboat (or even a PWC?) Or sailing your Galleon 22?
"South of there" . . . South of where? Kemps? Shamrock Quay? Ocean Village?
Those are accessible marinas, any further upriver under Northam & Cobden Bridges is for mobos only, with the tide of course, until limit of navigation at Woodmill - that's just over 3 miles from Dock Head.
Do contact me for more info e.g bridge heights and launch sites.

 

[Channel Ribs]

Sorry about that, if I had remembered to put the Galion 22's draft is 4ft it would have made more sense!

The bit I am unsure about is the stretch from Northam Bridge to Hythe.

 

[cnh]

It's all quite well marked. There is one spot opposite the new football stadium which dires out, but it's really so obvious that, in seven years, I've never seen anyone trying to go over it.

Nicholas Hill

Channel Pilot

 

[ColinHuggins]

So are you starting from Kemp's Yard just below the bridge? Most of the berths there dry at half tide, downriver after that no probs. I have regularly visited and there's plenty of water - just look at the large boats berthed at Shamrock Quay and the superyachts at Saxon Wharf. If there is a 'catch' it's that the bendy bit really is more bendy than you expect, so look around for red & green markers and leave all the moored crud to port until you pass under the centre span of the high Northam Bridge.

It's tempting to turn into Southampton Water before reaching Dock Head: don't, or you'll come onto Weston Mud which is very unforgiving.

After that you'll be in familiar waters. Have a good trip!

CJH