Lulworth Cove. Is the holding any good?

[sailingcatlady]

Somebody who knows (one of these people who always know everything!) has told me that the holding ground for anchoring in Lulworth is no good.
Anyone out there able to give me some advice, please?
I've got good heavy anchors and plenty of chain, etc.

 

[JackFrobisher]

I've had problems with a CQR not digging in (two different boats) and resorted to using my kedge, which was a danforth, which worked. The bottom varies and there's a lot of kelp and sometimes, when it's crowded, there's not much room to lay out and dig in properly. Keep a good anchor watch if you're staying overnight because the wind can be quite variable as it cools down after a warm day.

Nice spot though.

 

[oldharry]

Loads of Kelp, coarse shingle, rocks etc - no the holding is not all that good. I usually have to take 2 or 3 goes at setting the anchor before I am satisfied. If the wind goes offshore overnight as it often will, it will come down in big concentrated puffs into the pool and soon find anyone whose anchor isnt holding too well.

If the wind builds onshore overnight its a rolly berth and anything over F4 becomes pretty horrendous, and again will soon find out any visitor on poor holding.

So it really is only a fair weather stopover. But what a fabulous place if conditions are right!

 

[LadyInBed]

There is a good area. At entrance, turn about 10 degrees to starboard and go as close in as draft allows. You can see the bottom on a good day, so you can choose which patch of sand to place your hook on.

 

[Brierley]

As others have said, it's not brilliant holding, depending on your type of anchor. Our Spade anchor has set first time and never dragged there but we've watched plenty of people struggling to set an anchor. We've also moved when it became obvious another boat's anchor was dragging but the skipper wasn't going to do anything about it!

Because it's usually crowded at weekends, we have never stayed overnight - we would trust our anchor to hold regardless of changing conditions but would still need an 'anchor watch' to watch for other boats' anchors dragging. Plus it does have a tendency to get roll-y if the wind picks up

 

[tcm]

i wouldn't stay overnight unles incredibly settled conditions - not least because although you might find somewhere good, others might not and could easily drft on to you...

 

[runswick2000]

I'd agree with all that's been said so far, I've only anchored in the cove a handful of times but always found it tricky to get the anchor to hold. The only exception was on a large pilot cutter with a huge killick anchor. However, there is still the problem of others dragging and hitting you even if you don't drag.

Kelp is also a problem, after a blow I have been in the cove when it has literally been full of weed......not nice. That said, it's a lovely spot for lunch!

John

 

[LadyInBed]

I agree with all the rest:
Holding terrible and not safe at night, you won't get a wink of sleep.

More room for me!
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[temptress]

Not very good.
Try Warbarrow Bay (sp?) just up to coast - very good holding and excelent shelter at the western end behind the rocks.