louisderry
Well-Known Member
With the acception of Bristol centre can anyone point me in the right direction - I'm looking for a mooring for a Hurley 22 nearish to Bristol or somewhere close.
Mooring near Bristol
- Thread starter louisderry
- Start date
duncan99210
Well-Known Member
Portishead marina. Near to Bristol, open directly on to the Bristol Channel. Website here http://www.quaymarinas.com/our-marinas/portishead-quays/.
sarabande
Well-Known Member
what is your sailing area going to be ?
There are mud berths at e.g. Pill; a club at Uphill; marina at Portishead, berths and club at Combwich; marina at Watchet. All very dependent on where you are going to sail, given the large tidal range and flows in the area.
There are mud berths at e.g. Pill; a club at Uphill; marina at Portishead, berths and club at Combwich; marina at Watchet. All very dependent on where you are going to sail, given the large tidal range and flows in the area.
Halo
Well-Known Member
I was in the River Axe at Uphill for several years. Very cheap, nice salty atmoshpere.
Gwylan
Well-Known Member
+1 for Portishead, great place and the marina was the benchmark for all others. But that was 10 years ago.
Be aware, as with most places in the Channel you are always going to be going where the tide is going.
Oh and you lose about 2m of water per hour and there are green bits on the chart - need to do the sums or have a lot of expereince.
Birdseye
Well-Known Member
Avoid Portishead. It has one inadequate lock which means queues and even booking in advance at times that are popular.
By a log way, the best facility in the area is Cardiff Bay with 4 marinas of which two are club and really well priced. But I dont know whether you would consider Cardiff as being "near".
By a log way, the best facility in the area is Cardiff Bay with 4 marinas of which two are club and really well priced. But I dont know whether you would consider Cardiff as being "near".
nemodreams
Well-Known Member
Plenty of spaces on the River Axe ( WBYC club moorings ) - also at Uphill yard. Weston is an easy 40 mins from Bristol.
I currently live in Bristol and have a mooring on the Axe + I keep the boat on the pontoons at Uphill mostly ( as I stay aboard a lot ) Its a quiet, and rather unique place.
Uphill Pill - on about 10m tide.
I currently live in Bristol and have a mooring on the Axe + I keep the boat on the pontoons at Uphill mostly ( as I stay aboard a lot ) Its a quiet, and rather unique place.
Uphill Pill - on about 10m tide.
louisderry
Well-Known Member
Thankyou all for your responses- Unfortunately I had to sell the Hurley 22 before moving as the could find nobody mad enough/ experienced enough to do the journey with me and the cost of trailing the boat to bristol would of been way too high. I will take all of these moorings into consideration for my next boat. 
louisderry
Well-Known Member
Thankyou - I went to look at Portishead - amazing place but jesus It's big - I could see how this would be true.
Seajet
...
When I lived in Somerset I found it hard to locate decent dinghy sailing let alone a cruiser base , and I have to say I've been to Uphill a lot over the years by road ( the chandlery is interesting, hewn into the rock ), I don't fancy it for sailing.
I'd decided I would have a mooring in the South West, or travel to the Solent in preference, and I ended up doing the latter; the drive may be longish but it's pleasant on the A272 etc, and the sailing waters are so very much better.
I've sailed a bit on the Bristol Channel, but I found the lack of places to go very disheartening, as was sailing in a high speed flow of thin mud - my personal suggestion is, ' have an economical car and a mooring / berth in a nice place ' !
I'd decided I would have a mooring in the South West, or travel to the Solent in preference, and I ended up doing the latter; the drive may be longish but it's pleasant on the A272 etc, and the sailing waters are so very much better.
I've sailed a bit on the Bristol Channel, but I found the lack of places to go very disheartening, as was sailing in a high speed flow of thin mud - my personal suggestion is, ' have an economical car and a mooring / berth in a nice place ' !
classic jenny
Active Member
That photo must be about 3years old as my old boat is on my old pontoon. 
+ 1 for uphill. You just have to get use to the tide restraints but plenty of us there about it around
+ 1 for uphill. You just have to get use to the tide restraints but plenty of us there about it around
Seajet
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I hope I made it clear that my comments re Uphill and the Bristol Channel were just my personal preferences.
There used to be an Anderson 22 ' Jumpin' Jack ' ashore at Uphill, a chap working there lived aboard; he had what seemed like a chicken coop on the stern and household plumbing straight through the side, I went to look at her for someone; she has now been restored and as far as I know lives somewhere abroad.
There used to be an Anderson 22 ' Jumpin' Jack ' ashore at Uphill, a chap working there lived aboard; he had what seemed like a chicken coop on the stern and household plumbing straight through the side, I went to look at her for someone; she has now been restored and as far as I know lives somewhere abroad.
bitbaltic
Well-Known Member
A lot of people end up feeling like that, it's not at all unusual. On top of what you mention the Bristol Channel can be very frustrating because it is so weather and tide constrained.
When you're starting out though, one Nm on it has got to be worth a hundred on the Solent
RobF
Well-Known Member
Have to say that this wasn't my experience in 3 years of berthing there. You just book a lock out over the phone before you leave home and no issues. The only time I had to wait for some time was after one of the Holm's race where it took a couple of hours to lock in. Only happens once a year.
Seajet
...
RobF,
out of pure interest, as I don't operate in the Bristol Channel let alone Portishead, how does one book that far ahead without knowing how the weather will be ?
It's not irrelevant here in the magic Solent, if one visits the otherwise interesting ' Port Solent ' marina at the northern end of Portsmouth, it's a lock to get in - usually fine - but can be hours on the waiting list to get out and back home, wondering about the tide !
out of pure interest, as I don't operate in the Bristol Channel let alone Portishead, how does one book that far ahead without knowing how the weather will be ?
It's not irrelevant here in the magic Solent, if one visits the otherwise interesting ' Port Solent ' marina at the northern end of Portsmouth, it's a lock to get in - usually fine - but can be hours on the waiting list to get out and back home, wondering about the tide !
bitbaltic
Well-Known Member
Other than the weekend of the Holms Race I have never had any problems going in or out of Portishead. usually call from Cardiff and say 'we're coming up' and take whatever lock you get on arrival. I think they used to want an idea of when you might leave but I usually just ask for the next lock when I want to go and never had any issues.
The only reason I call in advance is to make sure they know we are from another Quay Marina and so won't be paying for our stay.
The only reason I call in advance is to make sure they know we are from another Quay Marina and so won't be paying for our stay.
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nemodreams
Well-Known Member
There is still an Anderson 22 on the saltings - being restored by a Romanian friend of mine - Jumping Jack rings a bell - it may be the same one ( was it a green hull ? )
Once past Foreland/Nash the water in the channel is not a muddy swirl ! - first time I moored up in Ilfracombe I was amazed when I got in the dingy - I could see the keels !
Too many other boats around down in those lovely clear blue waters - I don't meet much in a day up here - or even in a week for that matter !
louisderry
Well-Known Member
Seajet
...
nemodreams,
with a Romanian ( Romulan - shields up Captain ! )
owner I'd think it must be the same boat- will have to check records as to the topsides colour.
Louisderry,
re Solent / Chichester moorings you may be in luck, I can suggest a very good place IF your boat can take the ground on a half tide, soft mud mooring.
with a Romanian ( Romulan - shields up Captain ! )
owner I'd think it must be the same boat- will have to check records as to the topsides colour.
Louisderry,
re Solent / Chichester moorings you may be in luck, I can suggest a very good place IF your boat can take the ground on a half tide, soft mud mooring.
