Nutbourne Channel moorings @ Chichester

[bobgosling]

Does anyone know anything about this mooring area ? I am considering renting a mooring there this year but I am worried about theft & vandalism. Do owners on such moorings tend to take all their electronics home with them ?

Also I am confused about the description of the area. Does the ACCESS ROUTE FROM THE SHORE to the mooring area dry out and become un-navigable by tender outside HW+/-3hrs or does the ACCESS ROUTE FROM THE SEA to the moorings dry out ?

Thanks for all the help on previous questions by the way !

 

[oldharry]

I have had a mooring in the Prinstead Channel (off Nutbourne), for a couple of years now. I have had no problems there, and have not heard of anyone else having Problems. It is a remote spot, not easily accessible, and there are richer and easier pickings to be had in the more crowded parts of the harbour.

The big problem is access. By water there is no problem - the Thorney channel is deep and well marked, but getting ashore is a bit of a pain, as the nearest landing is Thornham Point, which dries to soft deep mud from about +/- 3 hrs. There is no car parking (except by arrangment with ThornhamMarina), there are minimal facilities for dinghies, and there is an 8- 10 minute walk to the nearest road! Prinstead hard only has +/- 1.5 hours water before the mud appears so is even worse. Thorney Island is out as it is an Army Camp, unless you have connections with the forces, and is patrolled by armed guards who in these post 9/11 days are not amused by odd Yotties wandering around.

Many people contract with either the Marina or Paynes to store dinghies and for car parking, but its a goodish haul out to the Nutbourne channel, and you will almost certainly need an outboard.

Quite a few minuses, but the biggest plus is that it is one of the remotest spots in the Solent, with magnificent views of the Downs. I reckon its one of the most pleasant mooring spots in the area, but badly let down by the lack of shoreside access.

 

[VicS]

I have moored in Prinsted channel for many years and I think I can agree with just about all of that. Prinsted channel dries of course but the limiting factor is the time of dinghy access from the shore. About -2½ to +3 hours from the boat yards.

Dinghies can be left on chains at Thornham point (or is it called Prinsted point) There is zero security and the HM charges for the privilege, but is is possble to drag a dinghy to the water over a somewhat longer period but it will be a muddy exercise and not really practical if you have much gear. Its a bit of a walk from the boat yards if you park there, again not really practical with much gear. There is a car park a bit nearer that is used by walkers and bird watchers but I'm not sure about its use long term, also zero security for the car while you are away.

I'm not sure about the arrangement with Thornham Marine, it may still exist. The HM website should say. I doubt if you will be welcome at Paynes as there is very limited space for parking although there are some long established users with private moorings and in the past there have been Nutbourne mooring holders.

I also agree that the big plus for the area is its remoteness. It's lovely to leave the masses charging up the main channel on a Sunday evening and drift up Thorney channel with no more than one or two others.

Being that bit remote crime is not so much of a problem as in some areas. I don't take take any gear home with me. In 27 years I've had the boat broken into just once, I have lost two OB fuel tanks (but I can now lock the cockpit lockers) and a set of oars (but I dont leave then in the dinghy now)

If you can accept the limited access to and from the shore its a great area.

You don't say what sort of boat you have or where you plan to lay up. If its the sort of boat Paynes can handle then you will find the charges competitive. Facilities are very basic but it could provide the route to car parking and dinghy launching but only if the owner likes the look of you! Thornham Marine can handle much larger boats, as they have some decent kit, offer decent facilities and proper hard standing, and are not likely to turn you away because they don't like you but they are more expensive.

If you have or have had any connection with the armed services the RAF or army clubs at Thorney Island may be of interest. There is a slipway accessible at all states of the tide but it's a bit of a trip from there to the Nutbourne moorings and I would guess a long wait for one of their moorings.

 

[VicMallows]

Agree with everything OldHarry and VicS have said. If it doesn't suit you, consider Emsworth Channel. I'd be very surprised if there were no Conservancy moorings available. Dinghy access is pretty good. Car parking a pain.

(p.s if you fill in boat details in profile, it helps us to offer useful information).

Vic

 

[penultimate]

I agree with the other replies. My daughter has her 22 footer on a mooring there and I have spent the odd night rafted on her. Very peaceful but we both had our windexs (should that be windices?) broken by roosting cormorants. Her mooring is near the entrance. Those further up the channel are even more remote, and I believe shallower.

 

[VicS]

They are all A3 I think you'll find

 

[rogerroger]

We were moored there a couple of months before being given a spot in Itchenor Reach.

I HATED IT!

The tidal restriction was a real pain - we found 2.5 hr +- HW the absolute limit for launching the tender or coming ashore. Weekends were often ruined by having to motor back instead of sail as we had to be back by a certain time and when we could only get off late, being in that desolate part of the harbour rowing ashore on a dark April night was no fun at all.

The walk from the car to the dinghy was long, muddy and very tiring so each sailing weekend would start and finish with getting totally knackered and dirty.

Moving to Itchenor made a world of difference.