Pick up crew in Portsmouth

[bromleybysea]

Boat is currently in Portsmouth Harbour and I will be picking up crew from the train on Friday. I'd like to combine the pickup with getting fuel and water and will then probably find a vacant mooring for the night. What's the best bet for a short stop near a railway station? In the past I have stopped at Campers in Gosport and crew have come over on the ferry from Portsmouth Harbour, but I did notice a new marina on the Portsmouth side. Any advice welcome.

 

[Tom Price]

"Boat is currently in Portsmouth Harbour and I will be picking up crew from the train on Friday. I'd like to combine the pickup with getting fuel and water and will then probably find a vacant mooring for the night. What's the best bet for a short stop near a railway station? In the past I have stopped at Campers in Gosport and crew have come over on the ferry from Portsmouth Harbour, but I did notice a new marina on the Portsmouth side. Any advice welcome."

You obviously don't have Reeds' Marina Supplement to hand, but Google will update your ancient database: Campers = Premier's Gosport Marina, while the new Haslar Marina is owned by Dean & Reddyhoff.
Having done crew jump myself both are equidistant from the Gosport ferry; inner berths at 'Campers' need dredging, visitors berths at Haslar can rock 'n roll impossibly. You pays yer money . . .

 

[Seajet]

To be honest, I still call it 'Campers' too, along with 'Groves & Gutteridge' at West Cowes !

 

[Giblets]

The marina you are referring to on the Portsmouth side must be Gunwharf Quays which would be OK for crew arriving at Portsmouth Harbour Station. However, bearing in mind the following day's activities, I would have thought the chance of an overnight berth there would be nil.

The only place for fuel in the Harbour is Gosport Marina or Port Solent at the top of the harbour. I would be inclined to allow a fair bit of time for re-fueling as everyone else will have the same idea.

 

[Giblets]

To be honest, I still call it 'Campers' too, along with 'Groves & Gutteridge' at West Cowes !

Ditto. Old habits die hard.

 

[farmerdan79]

If you want to get some kip on Friday night, - it's probably best to avoid Gunwharf...
Take a look at Royal Clarance, - next to Premier, - bit more sheltered, normally some space,- that's where I'll be!

 

[bromleybysea]

Oh bu**er! Just realised what Giblets means, some sort of popular race on Saturday I believe. Was planning to leave at first light and head for the Needles- is this mad in view of the race?

 

[Seajet]

I don't fancy your chances re.fuel, but you may be lucky; 'off the top of the head' have you got / can you take by jerrycan enough to get comfortably to Cowes ?

I'd think once the racers have cleared it should be OK and not too terrible a diversion to the barge, almost certainly better than waiting at Portsmouth.

If worried about 'meeting the fleet' well they can't take over the Solent, several times I've had to get through the oncoming race, wall to wall mainland to Island; a case of headsail down / reefed in, engine on...

 

[AIDY]

if your early enough you should be okay ! ie... first light. otherwise don't bother just stay and see the yachts....

you say pick up a mooring do you mean a buoy in the harbour or marina berth ??? from memory if you have a berth for the night at campers you get discount on the fuel, worth checking.

don't bother getting a berth at gunwharf for the night, you have to contact QHM for permission to cross and i've never managed to get a berth their... use campers and get your train travelers to use gosport ferry from the train station. campers is a 2 min walk from the ferry terminal the opp side.

Oh yes i still call it campers as well and i keep my boat their

 

[laika]

I'll defer to others on the viability of Gun Wharf for crew pickup on friday, but Camper's(/Premier) would be more reliable: Gun Wharf might be rammed, but you can always hang about the fuel pontoon at Camper's. You do want fuel after all

OP's intention of picking up a vacant mooring noted, but Clarence has space on friday and they tell me this is normal for the night before the round the island as anyone who has wangled a berth is heading closer to cowes. Probably bodes well for space in the rest of the harbour, but I wasn't here last year so don't know 1st hand.

Leaving at first light you could probably miss the chaos if you went Nab side of the Island

 

[Giblets]

Leaving at first light you could probably miss the chaos if you went Nab side of the Island

Problem with that route is that the OP might meet the bulk of the fleet coming the other way if he's heading for the Needles!

 

[bromleybysea]

Thanks for all the advice chaps. I have decided that in this instance discretion is the better part of valour and I will re-arrange things so that I get out of the Solent on Thursday, weather permitting, and head over to Poole to collect my crew there on Friday.