Portland anchorage or mooring.

[Crowblack]

Anybody anchored inside Portland harbour recently - where's best or where do they let leisure boats anchor.

Or anybody picked up a mooring at Castle Cove.

Facilities at the sailing club ?

Any advice welcomed - Etap 32s 1.3mtrs draft.

 

[Babylon]

I've anchored inside, but didn't go ashore as it was just an overnight passage stop.

Go in via the North Ship Channel, head SW down the Fairway, at the RW buoy it turns south towards the marina but you need to carry on straight ahead to the anchorage off Small Mouth Spit, which is just south of the seasonal moorings between the 2m and 5m contours. (All this in the chartlet in my 2012 CA Almanac, unlikely to have changed since but check for yourself.)

 

[LadyInBed]

When I had a RDYC mooring (pre 2000) (now administered by Castle Cove SC) boats used to anchor near the moorings, holding inside the moorings is good - sand. Landing on the small beach which is public access.
When the harbour was privatised they introduced harbour dues and had a patrol boat, I don't know if this is still enforced.

 

[RobF]

I was there a week ago. According to the almanac, the harbour dues are diligently enforced. I quite liked Portland marina and the staff were very helpful. Probably not as cheap as anchoring if cost is a key consideration.

 

[Crowblack]

Thanks for the advice from all.

Will follow the channel to anchorage off Small Mouth Spit - hopefully it hasn't been filled with moorings.

Rob agree with your assessment of Dean & Reddyhoff staff have found them excellent in Haslar and Weymouth - good management strategy.

Like Babylon it's a stopover whilst going down to West Country and prefer to anchor if I can.

Thanks again.

 

[Babylon]

I was there a week ago. According to the almanac, the harbour dues are diligently enforced.

Not if you arrive late and slide off early...

 

[Lucky Duck]

There appeared to be a few vacant moorings in the RNSA lot just by Portland Marina when I stopped by in early June.

I get free nights in Portland/Weymouth marinas so didn't investigate any further,

 

[TrailerSailer]

There are lots of spare moorings this year on the RNSA trots and also the commercial Quest moorings (which I used to use). The harbour master is always out and about, but I'm not sure how rigorous they are at checking boats for the fees.

I've never tried anchoring in the harbour so can't advise although I suspect it gets shallow very quickly in the area indicated.

As an alternative if you are not looking to do Portland Bill inshore and the ranges are closed how about Worbarrow or (at a pinch) Lulworth. Much better angle for going outside the Race.

 

[GrahamD]

Be aware that the holding within the harbour is not uniformly as good as described by Ladyinbed. I have used my boat as a committee boat for ISAF World Championship events etc, and holding in some parts is a nightmare. In a breeze up to 23kts and in 10m of water I have had as much as 50m of chain and 30m or warp out, which has still dragged. (At the risk of starting yet another anchor thread, I use a Delta). Whilst you probably wouldn't be anchoring where we were setting the course, I suggest that you check holding very well before turning in.

I was told that the bottom of much of the harbour is a flat rock surface, such as chalk, covered in very soft mud.

 

[SimonFa]

Agree with TrailorSailor, Seems a long way to come if you aren staying so try Lulworth or even Weymouth Bay. You have to stay outside the white buoys but is free and good holding and won't make any difference to distance travelled.