Popping up Southampton water

[FairweatherDave]

Although I am pretty familiar with the Solent I have always dodged Southampton water, other than as the departure and return from the Hamble for my day skip, and the odd ferry to IOW, all some time back. With the forecast easterlies and need to return to Chichester at the end of the weekend I was thinking this could be the weekend to head up there , if only for a lunch stop. From Visit My Harbour and Follow the Tightwad it says you can anchor just north of Netley Sailing Club and also off Marchwood SC (appreciate there are pontoons there too). Anyone out there done this and want to share their experience? I will bouy my anchor after my last experience of fouling an old mooring chain. I've always wanted to pop in to Ashlett creek but don't want to with the easterly and the tide times would mean a long stay.

 

[Greenheart]

Ashlett is certainly shallow, and somewhat twisty to enter and exit; I might not take a 29ft bilge-keeler in unless I was content to stay 12 hours till the next flood; on the other hand, with an auxiliary, I wouldn't be deterred by an east wind. I haven't visited for a year or four, but the channel wasn't unmistakeably marked, so it needs care.

Quite often there are substantial yachts anchored off Netley Cliff, further out than the small number of moorings. I haven't been there after sunset to know whether they stay, but there's a tolerably good fish and chip shop on Victoria Road, and an Indian which I haven't tried.

Marchwood is busy with moorings. I don't know if the industrial park ashore, makes it worth stopping for; Hythe has a Waitrose and various eateries.

Eling at the very top, is an improbably pretty spot, considering the vast commercial docks and container terminal you pass to get there.

Most of my very limited range is expended trying to get out of Southampton Water, but it's not a bad spot - not dull.

 

[ashtead]

You never know you might be able to visit a city of culture???

 

[FairweatherDave]

Thanks Dan, that's encouraging. Who knows what we will actually do? I have now spent a while studying Eling, Marchwood and Netley and realise anchoring shouldn't be a problem, even if the charts don't show things too convincingly. Pretty sure it won't be any marinas/Southampton as we are rather well stocked and want to test out our new fridge (spare starter battery and jump leads are at the front door ). Variety is the spice of life but I expect the lure of green scenery might keep us totally West Solent, plus we don't need variety yet, its only our second weekend of the year......we'll deal with the uphill return on Sunday ...it might yet go northerly ....(oops, shouldn't say that). As for a city of culture, hah, we live in Brighton, well Hove ......., and when the campaign was on in the last millenium to get Brighton and Hove City status I was against, I didn't want to live in a "City by the sea" - turns out I do now but for long weekend escapes get me outta here. Unless it is p***ing with rain.

 

[Martin_J]

For many years I kept the boat on a fore and aft mooring at Cracknore Hard, just south of the Marchwood moorings.

We found it quite a pleasant trip past the Hamble ( look out for that Moire light if its still there), then past Netley. Interesting that the Royal Victoria Chapel there is so much smaller than it was during the war (or it's lost all the hospital buildings around it since the war). We always stayed on the Netley side for that part of the trip)

Then up past the dock head, choice of sides then...

I'd keep going though, gently past Marchwood until you get to the turning area just before the Eling creek if you wanted to anchor. The Cracknore and Marchwood areas just look like they have too many underwater obstructions and possibly unused mooring chains.

Stopping near Netley and you'd have the constant wash of ferries.

There's probably time to enjoy lunch whilst sailing past Netley, then you'll not need to stop at the top of the river.

 

[Martin_J]

Moire light in Southampton Water

Inogon or moire light

 

[Derek ide]

I live at Netley looking out over the water by Netley Cliff SC. I would not like to spend a night at anchor here unless the wind was in the E or NE. Even with a light SW breeze it is very lumpy off Netley.
It is an interesting sail up to Marchwood YC and I believe they will welcome visitors for a short stay on their pontoon. You might be lucky and be allowed to use a vacant mooring up towards Eling but beware the container berth will often be working all night.

 

[FairweatherDave]

Thanks Martin and Derek. Really useful stuff. I was thinking Netley would only be a lunch stop and I know there is plenty of wake potential. The forecast has a fair bit of easterly. I do find the industrial stuff interesting too but probably only for daylight hours . I know you can go on the pontoon at the sailing club at the entrance to Wotton Creek but I have always been put off by the ferries immediately next to you. Need to man up (in a gender neutral way )

 

[Greenheart]

For a taste of the five nautical miles between Calshot and Dock Head, I recommend (as I have done previously, here) the Netley Cliff webcam.

At its best on a busy weekend (the camera's motion detector follows shipping), but there is usually plenty going on, at least in daylight hours.

 

[Martin_J]

I'd still forgo the anchoring for lunch bit and take some time motoring up the other split in the river, i.e. the Itchen in addition to the Test.

It can be interesting going under the Itchen bridge and turning somewhere near Shamrock Quay..

 

[Greenheart]

In April a mate and I set ourselves the challenge of kayaking from Woodmill Bridge at the top of the tidal Itchen, out of the river and down to Weston Shore. Only about five miles, but I've barely kayaked before and I was done-in by the time we landed. Nice to see all the bridges from below.

 

[Stemar]

We went to Marchwood several years ago - got a great welcome and meal, but the SE wind was building, so we were recommended to go up to the moorings in the Swinging Ground short of the entrance channel to Eling, where we spent a peaceful night, though we could hear the container port hard at work. Actually, if you've never seen that, it's worth going just for a look - it was fascinating.

 

[Seven Spades]

A few years ago there was a website called "yachingTV" it was a really good site for a while and a valiant effort but it seems they were unable to monetize [sp?] it. They made several really good videos including instructional videos by BOSS and Tom Cunliffe made a trip to Ashlett Creek for lunch in a spring tide with a fin keeled boat. He ran aground several times trying to make his way to the dock with instructions like "turn not behind Lade Jane and leave Red Ensign to starbord... He made it the video was produced with much humour and they got away before being stranded. personally I think I would not have enjoyed lunch, I would have been anxious to leave in case I was left high and dry.

 

[blush2]

A few years ago there was a website called "yachingTV" it was a really good site for a while and a valiant effort but it seems they were unable to monetize [sp?] it. They made several really good videos including instructional videos by BOSS and Tom Cunliffe made a trip to Ashlett Creek for lunch in a spring tide with a fin keeled boat. He ran aground several times trying to make his way to the dock with instructions like "turn not behind Lade Jane and leave Red Ensign to starbord... He made it the video was produced with much humour and they got away before being stranded. personally I think I would not have enjoyed lunch, I would have been anxious to leave in case I was left high and dry.

We used to go to Ashlett with our 30 footer. At high water springs the quay was under water and wellies were essential. The Esso sailing club was a pleasant place.

 

[ashtead]

Sadly Bradford has more culture than Soton but maybe that’s levelling up.

 

[Greenheart]

You never know you might be able to visit a city of culture...Sadly Bradford has more culture than Soton but maybe that’s levelling up.

I feel like you're reading a different thread from the rest of us. Have I missed something?

 

[Stemar]

Bradford beat Southampton and others to be the next city of culture. They must need it more.

 

[Greenheart]

I see. I hadn't even heard there was a contest, or such a title.

I doubt Bradford has better marinas or chandleries.

 

[ianat182]

I think it would be worth enquiring of Hythe Sailing Club when it is open to visitors, then mooring alongside their Pontoon about 1 hour before HW and the Second HW time would allow time to lunch and shop in Hythe Village. I used to visit regularly but beware of being late back because the last pontoon mooring position dries out.
We've never been fortunate to arrive with the catering in residence but catering in the village is OK ,and you need the password/code to get back into the Club gates, from a member.
A very friendly membership and worth a visit , as also Marchwood S.C.
Our Draft was 4'3"( 1.3 M) Fin Keeled . They may have a vacant temporary mooring if you ask.

 

[Sandy]

You never know you might be able to visit a city of culture???

If you are heading for Bradford and end up in Southampton I'd be seriously worried.