Lymington River

[mrbarclay]

Does anyone know of sheltered locations close to Lymington River where we can anchor comfortably for a few hours and not be in the way of the IoW ferry?
I have a small (20') SeaRay and a wife who does not like going out on the sea when it has white horses on it. You may say she is right. But I have to find a marina location where there is somewhere to go as as an alternative when there is a chop on the sea. Previous locations have been Poole and Langstone. Both excellent from that point of view.
I am now inclined to Lymington as a base but fear there is nowhere to go other than out to sea which is going to limit the number of occasions when we can use the boat.
In the vacinity of the Lymington River, is there sheltered mooring where we can comfortably anchor for a few hours, between dashes to and from the marina?
Many thanks

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[Wiggo]

I think Lymington depends on the tide, if you're not keen on getting run down by the ferry. Tried Christchurch? You may be pushing it to get a berth, but it's worth a go. Try Rossiters, Elkins or RIBS Marine...

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[tcm]

Hm, this is one of the more embarrassing stinkie posts. However, IMHO if there are white horses outside lymington harbour then some might say that belting out in a twenty foot powerboat will not be a whole heap of fun anyway - more so if your crew is frightened.

Anchoring is prohibited in lymington river, but you are allowed to anchor on the mudflat outside the river, on the mudflats as long as tide is up. If you're staying on board, no harm in hooking to an unoccupied buoy for an hour perhaps imho. But best to do something else instead of boating?



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[Wiggo]

But best to do something else instead of boating?

Uncalled for, Matt! Just because some of us started boating in the days when we knew no better, going out and getting soaked to the skin and getting compressed vertebrae from the slamming isn't everyone's cup of tea. It's a fine way to put management off the whole thing...

Start gently, with something pleasant to do when the sea's a bit lumpy, and then meet up with people with more experience/confidence, surely?

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[jfm]

I was in Lymington 3 years.

Answer to your Q is no. Once you leave the Lym river, you have a shortish run to Yarmouth and everywhere else is some distance, at least in a 20 foot boat/white horses/difficult management scenario.

You could of course go up river at high tide, under the rail bridge. But not much to do and you wd only do it once then get bored. Or if the wind is northerly could could stay close in and go to Beaulieu then go up river to Bucklers hard

BUT Lymington is still a great place. When weather is bad just leave boat in marina, the hinterland of Lymington town is beautiful and loads of shops and pubs and cobbled streets and the management will be very happy wivvit.

Suggest put boat in Berthon or right at the top of river, not Lym yacht haven, then less distance to walk to town

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[mrbarclay]

Well I thought that asking for constructive advice on a bulletin board might invoke patronising sneers from the yachtie fraternity, so no disappointment there. But thanks for the reply anyway. 'What's damn foolishness to one man is the essence of life to another' (anon) .


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[Wiggo]

Oh, ignore Matt. He's a stinkie mainly, though he's a bit bi as well. Comments re Lymington are true - it's a lovely town, but nowhere to go and hide on the boat. If you fancy a chat about the other local options, send me a PM (click on my name, then select 'Send Private Message', and I'll send you my phone number, or just PM me yours).

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[burgundyben]

Keyhaven just around the corner will be sheltered from SW winds, so could pop round there no? 5 mins bumpety bump and you've arrived.

Beaulieu?

Ashlett Creek (nice view of power station...)

Hamble river, go up stream above motorway, its lovely, can anchor, it tidal though.

 

[jon_bailey]

There is certainly not as much to do within the Lymington River as Poole and Langstone but remember that you are within the Solent so, depending on wind direction, waters outside Lymington are usually less choppy than outside Poole Harbour or Christchurch. This makes Yarmouth, Beaulieu, Alum Bay, Newton Creek all much less of a challenge.

Alternative may be the Hamble or Itchen where Southampton water again provides some shelter.

Of course, all of the above depends on what Wifey defines as chop. If you are in for a rough ride, have you tried telling her to close her eyes and think of England? /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

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[Talbot]

You could go up river to the town quay or to the buoys near town quay. Gives you something to do (practising attaching to a buoy fore and aft can be lots of fun even if only for the on-lookers /forums/images/icons/smile.gif )

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[Oldhand]

If the wind is SW to NW then close in to Hurst Spit is a commonly used luunching anchorage and Keyhaven seems a good idea if there is enough water.

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[nicho]

Mike,

Perhaps you should consider somewhere in the Southampton/Itchen/Hamble area. Southampton Water itself is well sheltered, and virtually never anything approaching rough, and almost regardless of the weather, you can have plenty of boating without venturing out into a "choppy" Solent.

Mike N

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[LadyInBed]

You could try further West, Weymouth has a marina and sheltered places close to shore to anchor. On nice days you can explore around Portland Harbour and down the Bill.

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