Overnight anchorage at Poole?

[SnaxMuppet]

I am visiting Poole next Sunday and would like to avoid using the marinas if at all possible. It looks like the wind will be easterly so that makes Studland (which is where I originally planned to stay) a bad choice and so I wondered if anyone out there could recommend some where else?

I should point out that this will be our first overnight at anchor although we have anchored many times during the day for 8 hours or more but it is a little scary to actually go to sleep!!!!

We have a 1.5m draught and is a yacht with 25m chain + 30m rope.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Georgio]

You could try Blood Alley on the West side of Brownsea Island.

 

[AIDY]

round the back of brownsea island is good either south deep / blood alley, (hang a left as you enter poole harbour). Or pottery peir on the west side of brownsea island shoud be sheltered from the east. otherwise just pick up an empty mooring buoy up you might be lucky or you might get thrown off.

 

[steve_cronin]

Or in ...

...the Upper Wych off the west end or Brownsea off Pottery Pier. There'll be a good few in there I shouldn't wonder.

Steve Cronin

 

[Robin]

You are right that Studland is unsuitable. Pottery Pier on the west end of Brownsea, or along the South Deep channel on the western side of the harbour around Goathorn Point, just try to pick a spot where the South Deep channel kinks and allows expected wind to blow across the tide. You won't need huge amounts of chain anywhere in Poole, the range is around 2m on Sunday and that's a big one for Poole and nowhere in the harbour is very deep. My choice would be Pottery Pier.

 

[andy_wilson]

It's years since I visited Poole, but you're right, you won't need much chain anywhere in Poole, but for a good nights kip I recommend the following:

1. If anchoring at keel tickling depths with chain, 5:1 scope is more likely to hold sure if the wind gets up. 3:1 doesn't work when it's shallow (thats 5 X maximum depth).

2. To sleep through the turn of tide (which may be a good idea or bad dependent upon your tackle and confidence in it), after you have set the anchor put a rolling hitch on the chain and let it out almost to the waterline, then pull the rope back 6 inches or so and make that fast, with the chain hanging slack (but still made off on your stemhead fitting). This will isolate you from the chain grumbling along the bottom for what seems like an age when it wakes you in the middle of the night, your berth has the magnets on you, and your bum is twitching in case you are dragging.

If you are nervous about it re-setting, book an alarm call for 1/2 hour or so after the turn of tide (isn't there a double high or a stand at Poole? - if so, after the second one). If the rope trick has let you sleep through, you can be up as the tide turns the anchor, to oversee it.

 

[SimonD]

I spent a couple of nights near Goathorn point over the bank holiday. Excellent holding in thick clay. No sign of the anchor letting go on the turn of the tide, but while it was doing so we veered about a lot before the tide and wind finished arguing the toss. So, make sure you've got plenty of room to swing about. The Bav next to me wishes he had when he hit my bow roller!

 

[LadyInBed]

If it is blowing from the east go up past the ferry terminal and Lake Pier to Hamworthy.[50° 42.8'N 02° 01.8'W]

 

[duncan]

disadvantage will be boat wakes in that area Nigel - but agree the principle!

a lot dpeends on when you are timing your arrival and departure - personally for a good night sleep and settled wake free environment I would slot into the pool behind Long Island if the tides to enter and leave suited my timings. Sunday is looking very light winds, possibly cyclonic.

The other alternative depending on where you are going / coming from is Chapmans Pool or Worbarra Bay. However for a good nights sleep in the former I tend to deliberately snag the anchor into the rocks close inshore and swim down to remove it in the morning - cheating? Works for me!