New to Solent sailing

[albionahoy]

And leaving Town Quay tomorrow, even if it rains. If you had a 1.5m shallow fin draught, round about 5kts top speed and the full four days with tides as follows: 09:23 3.9m , Second Tide 11:14 3.8m, Low Water 15:06 1.4m, with us probably shooting out of Southampton Water on the fast ebb, missing the Nuptials, after Second Tide: WHERE WOULD YOU GO? We've been to Beaulieu twice so Yarmouth, Bembridge, beckon as do Chichester Harbour and dare we try Studland and drop the anchor?!? Any thoughts welcome as these roaring tides are a far cry from the calm med and my home lake waters...

 

[fireball]

you're in neaps - the tides aren't roaring!!
You didn't mention Newtown creek - but likely will be busy...

Northerly winds will leave many of the traditional anchorages exposed.
It's supposed to go NE and even ENE - so Studland only really if you want a slog back against the wind?

Rather depends if you want to go visiting or sailing ... !!

 

[DJE]

Last of the ebb to Cowes perhaps then wait till the flood gets going to take you to Bembridge but you won't be able to get in there much before about 20:00 tomorrow and you don't want to be there early if its fresh from the NE. But once in the tides are perfect to leave about 08:30 on Saturday to be at Bembridge Ledge as the tide turns for a trip round the back of the Island and back into the Solent when it turns East again about 15:00. Then with your draft you could pop into Keyhaven for the night. Or possibly Lymington if you feel like a run ashore to celebrate. Lazy morning on Sunday then take the afternoon/evening tide to Portsmouth, Langstone or Chichester and you'll be well placed to get the Monday morning tide back to Southampton.

 

[jhr]

As Fireball says, with winds from the north, this is probably not the best weekend to visit Yarmouth or Newtown. Possibly go to Cowes and up the Medina to the Folly, where it's nice and sheltered? Otherwise stick to the mainland side - Chichester Harbour (Emsworth is nice) or even (garlic, crucifix...) Pompey? Entrance to Chi gets dodgy with strong onshore winds against the tides so this might be an opportune time to visit and ENE would give you a nice broad reach back .

Alternatively, visit the Hamble and enjoy the empty peace and tranquillity to be found late in the afternoon

 

[Tom Price]

Solent bashing

Your Profile sez nowt, so what boat?
Are you happy to dry out against a wall?
Anchor in solitude or need nightlife?
Self-sufficient for food & grub
or desperate to get ashore?
Deep pocket or Tightwad?
Do you mind sailing at dawn?
Do you have good charts and pilot books?

Many peeps avoid the Solent at weekends!

 

[Seajet]

This seems a good opportunity to try Chichester; don't be put off by tales of the bar, nothing to it in normal conditions; just avoid strong southerly winds, especially against the ebb.

It's ideal to arrive with the last of the flood, if possible a good hour before HW to avoid the start of the West going tide.

With your draught I'd suggest Northney Marina is best, carry straight on down Emsworth channel as you enter, and followround to port at the end, into Sweare Deep.

Beware the 'joggle' in the bottom of Emsworth Channel, it's marked by red can topped perches, sending you briefly out to starboard before swinging back to port.

Northney Marina - 02392 466321 - is easy to enter, channel marked by perches.

Good facilities but not all that interesting; you can however walk across the road bridge to Langstone Village, where there are 2 good old pubs serving food, and a wildlife sanctuary just along the shore path east from the Royal Oak; this path goes all the way to Emsworth, about 5 miles.

The old mill was used by author & aircraft designer Nevil Shute to stay during the war, before he bought a house in the village.

Emsworth is a delightful little place, the marina is a bit limited for you with a tidal sill, perfectly do-able but would limit you to about 1 hour either side of HW. Not that plentiful on visitors berths either but worth a try if the timing suits you; 01243 377727.

Beware the berths are narrow and the finger pontoons wobble if there isn't a boat tied the other side ! A lovely spot though.

Or you could maybe get a conservancy mooring outside, VHF 14 or 01243 512301.

If visiting Emsworth, try the Bluebell pub ( good food but pricey, book at busy times ) on the road down from town square car park to the harbour, the Lord Raglan ( V good pub food, excellent value ) at the other end of town by the Mill Pond next to the marina ( lovely public walks around there too ).

There's also the 'Sussex Brewery' pub at the end of the mill pond on the main road, O'Hagans posh sausages of all manner of wierd recipes a speciality.

At the other end of the harbour there are visitors buoys off Itchenor - usually requiring rafting - nice pub but not much else.

Chichester Marina has a lock and is a good taxi ride from Chichester town, something a lot of people don't realise. The Black Horse pub - good pub & good food - is a short / medium walk from the marina on the Chichester road.

Wherever you go, Have Fun !

 

[fireball]

<snip>Chichester Marina has a lock and is a good taxiride from Chichester town, something a lot of people don't realise.
</snip>

Or a short bike ride if you have fold ups!

Nice coast path too ...

Distinctly lacking in access to shops/ents though - if you want that go to Port Solent or Gosport (ferry across to Gunwharf Quays)

 

[Angele]

And leaving Town Quay tomorrow, even if it rains. If you had a 1.5m shallow fin draught, round about 5kts top speed and the full four days with tides as follows: 09:23 3.9m , Second Tide 11:14 3.8m, Low Water 15:06 1.4m, with us probably shooting out of Southampton Water on the fast ebb, missing the Nuptials, after Second Tide: WHERE WOULD YOU GO? We've been to Beaulieu twice so Yarmouth, Bembridge, beckon as do Chichester Harbour and dare we try Studland and drop the anchor?!? Any thoughts welcome as these roaring tides are a far cry from the calm med and my home lake waters...

I am guessing you are referring to Town Quay in Southampton (and not, for example, Lymington). JHR recommends avoiding Yarmouth and Newtown. I certainly would not wish to anchor outside of either of these overnight with wind from the north. But, if safely inside, I would have thought fine. Both are nice, but very different experiences.

As others have said, Lymington and Hamble good too. Chichester lovely. I would give Studland a miss if the wind has any "E" in it. You could do Poole instead.

 

[wooslehunter]

If you fancy Emsworth & have a dinghy then use the visitors' pontoon on the left as you head up the channel. Sid the harbour master runs a ferry 2hrs either side of HW & during reasonable times. But outside of that you'll need the dinghy. Dinghy access at the village is around 4.5 hrs either side of HW.

On a bigger tide, it's worth a look at the quay. But tides need to be worked out. HW is very low at the moment. It dries & can be shallow at the top. There's space for one boat & is not generally used. The quay wall is L shaped & faces south & east. The east section is private. The south section is public. With the 3.8m tide today, I got up OK (just) at HW+1 & draw 1m.

 

[Tom Price]

[QUOTE=wooslehunter:
If you fancy Emsworth . . .

Isn't that already on the Out to Lunch info from Tightwad Sailor's O&S pages?

 

[albionahoy]

Thank you, all... Look for a Sadler 29 near - not stranded - on the bar at Chichester!

 

[alant]

And leaving Town Quay tomorrow, even if it rains. If you had a 1.5m shallow fin draught, round about 5kts top speed and the full four days with tides as follows: 09:23 3.9m , Second Tide 11:14 3.8m, Low Water 15:06 1.4m, with us probably shooting out of Southampton Water on the fast ebb, missing the Nuptials, after Second Tide: WHERE WOULD YOU GO? We've been to Beaulieu twice so Yarmouth, Bembridge, beckon as do Chichester Harbour and dare we try Studland and drop the anchor?!? Any thoughts welcome as these roaring tides are a far cry from the calm med and my home lake waters...

If the wind is from the north, go to Chichester.

Plenty of options there + possibility of popping into Portsmouth should you want an alternative.

 

[albionahoy]

Thanks again all. Beat to Chichester up to Northney, back on the tide and wind to Folly and back to scrub her down yesterday by 1300. Cracking sail.

 

[Tom Price]

Northney sail

If your profile told us what boat to look out for we would have been there to welcome you.

 

[Chrissie]

Thanks again all. Beat to Chichester up to Northney, back on the tide and wind to Folly and back to scrub her down yesterday by 1300. Cracking sail.

Welcome to the Solent, so many lovely places to visit.

 

[Topcat47]

In Portsmouth Harbour, I'd give Port Solent a miss, unless you particularly want to see something on at the cinema. You can get in at Gunwarf Quays, but it is expensive, uncomfortable and noisey. Better pop into Haslar Marina, or if you've an RNSA member aboard, Hornet Sailing Club and ferry across for an evening's debauch. At least you'll have a quiet night after. The old C&N marina is a bit bumpy, though not as bad as Gunwarf and there are more sheltered berths behind the MOD pier. Hardway Sailing club are a nice bunch and the Jolly Sailor has good beer and reasonable pub grub but it's not somewhere you'd go if you wanted a night on the town.

 

[Seajet]

I don't know, personally I like Port Solent, plenty of activity, loads of restaurants of every type, and an interesting pub ( 'target rich' too ) - I might not bother if on a tight schedule, as there can be an annoying delay for the lock, and it's a trek down to the end of the harbour.

Hardway S.C. has always had a great welcome, if one can find a visitors mooring.

Gosport is best drawn a veil over though, have a look at the Restaurant and Pub Forum just along from here !

 

[Tom Price]

[QUOTE=Topcat47:
"You can get in at Gunwarf Quays, but it is expensive, uncomfortable and noisy. Better pop into Haslar Marina"

Visitors berths near the Mary Mouse too uncomfortable to stop overnight.

",Hardway Sailing club are a nice bunch and the Jolly Sailor has good beer and reasonable pub grub"

Wot Jolly Sailor? Ashlett or Bursledon?
You mst mean The Jolly Roger nearby - which isn't as friendly as The Windsor Castle round the corner.

 

[MissIsle]

Portsmouth is easier than Chichester in a blow, but not nearly as pretty when you are in.
Try staying at Haslar, the welcome & facillities are excellent, the Gosport foot ferry is only a 10 minuite stroll & puts you down just outside Gunwharf where you can eat, drink & shop, but still get home for a quiet night. There is also a great cafe for a propper breakfast just over the road from the ticket booth.
Port Solent is noisy & a little bit overpopulated by those who like to "make themselves heard" if you know what I mean. But there are plenty of resteraunts & bars, it's just a shame the Char Bar closed down, the kids used to love it.