My dilema, Chichester or Southampton?

[Judders]

Now here is a bit of a quandary. Like so much in boat ownership, it will probably come down to money but it’s a quandary nonetheless.

My long term plan was to have a swinging mooring in Southampton Water through my club which I believed was going to come up at the beginning of April and so I did not renew my berthing agreement at the marina. Now however, I find that the mooring wont be available and I am suddenly without a berth.

The marina have been unusually quick to say that they will allow me to renew for six months only on the same terms as I have currently, and that is tempting.

This was quite unexpected and in the meantime I had been desperately searching other options and this included the boatyard in Chichester Harbour where I kept the old boat. They have offered me a three month deal on a drying trot in a stunningly pretty creek for a very reasonable rate.

Now I just can not decide between the convenience of Southampton with access to the M3 as well as the convenience of the usual Solent destinations or a return to Chi and the stunning beauty of the harbour, still within a day of the Solent. My plans had been based around the club racing and that is a big argument for staying put, but then it is also a reare opportunity to return to a cruising ground I love with the prospect of a long term return to Southampton next year.

And then there is the significant saving…

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Try Gosport Boatyard ... swinging mooring in the harbour and a water taxi service all year ... and a lot cheaper than a marina ... no connection other than very happy using them.

 

[catalina1]

Try Hamble Harbour master,
He sometimes has Sub lets

 

[flaming]

Classic forums!

OP - I have a choice of A or B.

First response - you should do C.
Second response you should do D.

What do you want to do more of this season, race or cruise?

Answer that question and I think you'll answer the overall question.

 

[Pasarell]

Have you looked at Cracknore Hard SC? They have trot moorings just down from Marchwood SC (Was that where you were expecting a swinging mooring?) Draft may be an issue for you but easy access from dinghy storage and very low cost.

 

[Saddletramp]

Does coming over to Chi preclude you from club racing or other activities? If you have a few long weekends you could race and still save money by mooring. Would it be Mill Rythe per chance?

 

[boatsRus]

No sub-lets available at the moment and there is a waiting list for any that do come up (ie it is done on a first come-first served basis). Worth getting an application in though - the form is on the Hamble website www3.hants.gov.uk/hambleharbour

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

So according to smart alec 'flaming' above you shouldn't try to be helpful on forums ... there's a word to describe him but in the current climate the post would probably be removed if I suggested it.
Not knowing anything about the berthing situation in Chichester or Southampton must be some sort of crime ... sorry I didn't realise. What's it like being 'holier than thou'? ... how do you spell prat? ... etc etc.

 

[michael_w]

Coo! Who rattled your cage!

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

The twat above! .. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[flaming]

Having a problem with a joke today?

The OP gave 2 options and asked which would be best. The first 2 replies ignored those two options and gave other opinions.

Forgive me if I found that humorous.

 

[Pete7]

So did I /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Pete

 

[arto]

For what it's worth, I'd go for whichever of the two you think will lead to more sailing. After all, a boat you don't visit is... er... not hugely useful. That's the argument I employ for keeping my boat in a marina on the Solent at ridiculous expense rather than somewhere more wonderful that is much further away.