MDL South Coast

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twilliams_34

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Right off on our first holiday on the boat next week:D

The plan is to sail from Brixham to Cowes with the first stop planned for Portland Marina.
As for the other nights, I would like to take advantage of our free moorings we get at other MDL marina's, so was wondering if anyone could recommend any particular marinas around this area.
Anything to save a bit of money on the fuel bill.

Thanks
Tony
 
twilliams_34 said:
Right off on our first holiday on the boat next week:D

The plan is to sail from Brixham to Cowes with the first stop planned for Portland Marina.
As for the other nights, I would like to take advantage of our free moorings we get at other MDL marina's, so was wondering if anyone could recommend any particular marinas around this area.
Anything to save a bit of money on the fuel bill.

Thanks
Tony
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the hamble marinas are the obvious. Port Hamble (the one on the left bank with the fuel berth, just past the village) allows you to easily walk into the village and has a nice casual restaurant on site. Watch the tidal flow, especially the ebb as the double high means all the water has to get out in a shorter time than in has to get in, and it can flow quickly. Like darthaven but with stronger flows and smaller gaps!

Brixham direct to Hamble is a comfortable day sail in a planing boat - what do you cruise at? From hamble only minutes to the island.

Also sparkes allows you to sample the delights of chichester harbour.

Whilst I'd recommend these 2 as a tourist, of the others, and I've stayed in every one of them at some point - they all have fantastically helpful staff which makes the whole thing more pleasurable:

hythe, has fuel but you have to lock in. Only overnighted there once before we were shamrock residents. Ferry to southampton.
Ocean village, some chain restaurants on site and not far to walk to big shopping facilities in southampton. If you want to visit Southampton this is recommendation number 3. Out of the river flow so easy mooring.
further up the itchen is a great place to keep a boat but not a tourist attraction.
In the hamble, hamble point is the 1st MDL, it has loads of marine businesses if you have problems but is quite a long walk to the village. Murcury is the 3rd, you can dinghy to the jolly sailor of howards way fame if your remember that from there.
Then there are 2 slightly further east in chichester, sparkes near the sea but a bit tight for big boats and northney about 1/2 hr from the sea. If the weather gets blowy you could spend a whole holiday in chichester harbour and not get bored.
 
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Pretty much agree with elessar but would add that Ocean Village can get noisy as the pub's denizens can get rowdy at the weekends. Hyth is quieter and has quite a nice pub although Hyth itself is not so nice.

For visiting I agree, Port Hamble would get my vote.
 
Heading for the Solent? You must be mad !
I quite like Cobbs, as its quiet and remote, but its a taxi £6 into town, so maybe you just want to pay for a marina in town.
Its not MDL, but I'd def take a day or two in Lymington Yacht Harbour, and maybe Yarmouth and Cowes.
We re in Hythe; a walk into small, and not especially wonderful town;its via a lock, so its very quiet if the wind is up.
Hamble Village marina is good, and Mercurey- but the latter is more remote from anything.
Never liked Sparkes; I prefer Northney, but again ,while there is a mini-mart at the petrol station, its a taxi into the not very inspiring town, but the marina is a lovely setting on a balmy evening.
Oh, and a bouy in Beaulieu river.
So, use the MDLs, but not exclusively, is my tip.
Lazy spots to stop at are Keyhaven, Allum Bay,just outside Newtown Creek (save yourself the mayhem inside)Osbourne Bay, Prioy Bay and Whitecliff Bay, and of course inside Chichester harbour- but watch those channels as much of it is above sea level when the water runs out !
 
Excellent thanks for the replies.

Looks like I will be heading for Port Hamble for a couple of nights then over to East Cowes (not MDL :(). The plan is to spend a couple of nights at Cobbs on the return.
Just need to pick one other in between may be Hythe.

Thanks again, I will let you know how I get on.

Tony
 
gjgm said:
Oh, and a bouy in Beaulieu river.
So, use the MDLs, but not exclusively, is my tip.
Lazy spots to stop at are Keyhaven, Allum Bay,just outside Newtown Creek (save yourself the mayhem inside)Osbourne Bay, Prioy Bay and Whitecliff Bay, and of course inside Chichester harbour- but watch those channels as much of it is above sea level when the water runs out !
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I agree.

for your non MDL nights you can't beat a night at anchor in newtown creek. Even if you don't normally spend a night at anchor it's so sheltered there it's a good introduction to it. Swinging room your only problem as it gets busy but I've avoided meyhem perhaps I've been lucky.

twilliams_34 said:
Looks like I will be heading for Port Hamble for a couple of nights then over to East Cowes (not MDL :().
Tony
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and get the tides right and go all the way up to newport and sit on the mud alongside, or stop at the folly. East Cowes a bit soul less.
 
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Hythe's very scenic, but there is nothing, but nothing there. Ocean Village is fine - we've been there for three years on the South side and never had a problem with rowdies. If SWMBO wants to do the retail therapy thing, or the weather closes in, it's a great base for a couple of non-boaty days.
 
Wiggo you're right about the south side. I've been put on the long pontoon just under the bar area and that's somewhat different! It's OK for a short stay but not for an overnighter. Round by F and G is nice and peaceful though.
 
To be fair I've only been in twice. Once for the Sports boat show, and once to meet some mates. The second time was when I was put in the cheap seats. The overnighter to be fair was on F (I think) somewhere down near the big yachts.

I'm usually us at Saxon so rarely visit Ocean Village as it's a bit of a short cruise :rolleyes:
 
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