Portland Marina

[wizard]

Anybody in the marina can give a heads up on life there. A plus and minus list would be good as well as any downsides sailing from there.

Thanks in advance for any comments.

 

[SimonFa]

Horatio Nelson has his boat there even though he lives in Weymouth and the marinas are the same price, so he's probably your best bet. I use the marina regularly and may move there next year because of the inconvenience of the town bridge.

Here's a few things I'm thinking about:

At busy times it can add 30 minutes to my journey and I know a few rat runs, but there's only one causeway.

Generally there's lots of space so getting on and off the berth should be easier single handing. That will depend on berth offered.

The wind really whistles through there and I've had some uncomfortable nights in preparation for an early start.

I've heard stories of spray hoods being ripped apart, but don't know how true that is.

There appears to be a good community spirit, but that doesn't bother me as I live reasonably close.

There's not much around. There's the Cove Inn and a nice cafe called Quiddles next to it which are about a 20 min walk. The other way there's the famous Crab House Cafe and it's sister shack on the Harbour side called Billy Winters.

There's a regularish bus in to Weymouth and a taxi wad £8.50 last time I used one.

Sailing's good, straight out in to the Bay, although you sometimes have to dodge the Sailing Academy races. It's a good jump off point for going round the Bill. I also never tire of going up and down the coast.

Studland is a single tide away and Lymington isn't much of a problem.

As Dom pointed out on another thread, if you like going to Cherbourg it gives you a nice angle against the prevailing South Westerly.

Hope that helps for starters.

 

[horatio_nelson]

I'm a berth holder there. I absolutely love it - it's a real living, vibrant place, great community of liveaboards, good facilities, all boatyard stuff on site, numerous fishing / dive / working boats and crews coming and going, good throughput of visiting yachts from UK and abroad. Staff are friendly and helpful.

The bar / restaurant is good, gets busy with dog walkers / cyclists / alcoholics on weekends, good bands regularly play there.

Sailing-wise you have no worries about tides etc, can be sailing straight away outside the marina breakwater and the shelter of Portland Harbour allows sailing in pretty much any breeze. Well placed for crossing the Channel.

Can get breezy in winter but you're mostly in the lee of Portland, Chesil bank and the buildings - mooring with bows to the west generally makes the rare unpleasant spell manageable. I've never bothered, I don't think it's worse than anywhere else in that respect.

Lots of not too serious cruiser racing to be had with Castle Cove and Weymouth SCs.

I've used most Solent marinas and many more on the south coast and I honestly reckon Portland tops them all.

Feel free to ask further questions

 

[Lucky Duck]

As a D&R berth holder we have used the hardstanding facilities there and quite often stop off there when we don't want to mix it with the Town Bridge at Weymouth.

Decent pontoons with plenty of space to turn, no issues with depth
Compared with Weymouth Marina it seems to be more exposed
Live music on Saturday nights at the on site bar, a berth a little way from there might be an advantage
Marina facilities seem to get used as an overspill from the bar on Saturday nights
Fuel pontoon is convenient but pricey http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?482323-Fuel-at-Portland-Marina
Most boats appear to ignore the "approved route" dogleg and head straight for the Eastern Entrance

 

[SimonFa]

Most boats appear to ignore the "approved route" dogleg and head straight for the Eastern Entrance

Give Oortland Radio a call and ask permission, they rarely refuse and when they do you don't want to be using it as it means the big boys are using it.

Beware using it without permission, there is now a Harbour Police Authority and they are looking to raise money. There's been talk of them challenging kayakers at Castle Cove beach.

 

[dom]

I've used most Solent marinas and many more on the south coast and I honestly reckon Portland tops them all.

Feel free to ask further questions

As a matter of interest, is it still okay to anchor off Castle Cove, both in terms of Harbour restrictions and local mooring expansion?

Cheers

 

[Lucky Duck]

Give Oortland Radio a call and ask permission, they rarely refuse and when they do you don't want to be using it as it means the big boys are using it.

Beware using it without permission, there is now a Harbour Police Authority and they are looking to raise money. There's been talk of them challenging kayakers at Castle Cove beach.

Noted, I'd proceeded on the basis that if the IPTS lights by that entrance were unlit then boats could come and go as they pleased

 

[LadyInBed]

As a matter of interest, is it still okay to anchor off Castle Cove, both in terms of Harbour restrictions and local mooring expansion?

Cheers

Used to be that you were supposed to get a PH 'day access'​ ticket, I don't know if you still do. Anchoring off CC shouldn't​ be a problem if clear of the moorings. The beach by CC club is good for putting a dingy ashore.

 

[KREW2]

As a matter of interest, is it still okay to anchor off Castle Cove, both in terms of Harbour restrictions and local mooring expansion?

Cheers

Yes, and the PHA rib will come over and collect his pound of flesh.

 

[dom]

Yes, and the PHA rib will come over and collect his pound of flesh.

Cheers for that guys: I never know why more people don't use Portland to break the trip either east or west along the coast. Will of course have money at the ready!

Oh and sorry to hear you may not make Cherbourg this year Nigel, but have a fantastic summer in the Atlantic sun ....Soooooo jealous

 

[maby]

We are thinking of moving there and I've just found this thread - would be grateful for more opinions on the impact of winter storms please! We spend a lot of time on the boat all the year round and need a berth where we are not going to be driven away in the middle of January. We are not afraid of the boat bouncing around a bit and a Force 8 howling through the rigging is fine, but I would not want our expensive and nearly new cockpit enclosure ripped to pieces!

 

[horatio_nelson]

We are thinking of moving there and I've just found this thread - would be grateful for more opinions on the impact of winter storms please! We spend a lot of time on the boat all the year round and need a berth where we are not going to be driven away in the middle of January. We are not afraid of the boat bouncing around a bit and a Force 8 howling through the rigging is fine, but I would not want our expensive and nearly new cockpit enclosure ripped to pieces!

The marina is in the lee of Portland and Chesil bank so the worst of the prevailing weather is blunted a bit. I don't think it's any worse than anywhere else, and it comes into its own in the summer, often clear skies when the mainland is cloudy.

Park your boat pointing west so winds don't blow straight down your companionway. You can ask for a berth that's more sheltered, staff are very helpful and accommodating.

I think Portland is a great marina, very happy there.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Low cliffs and banks give better shelter than high cliffs surprisingly and though the most common storms are SW the seas are kept in check from all quarters. I learned to sail a heavy ex navy 16' whaler there in F6 with barely a pocket handerchief of sail up with the clinker built boat on the plane in flatish seas, and just look at those sailboarder go in all weathers. Just mind you sail covers and sprayhoods and try and moor bows to wind

 

[Lucky Duck]

Unlikely to be an issue for permanent berth holders but if it forecast to blow a bit for the West or South West then avoid berthing on the Western side of M pontoon as the short fetch from the sailing academy can be surprisingly choppy

 

[maby]

We're going to visit and take a look around tomorrow Thanks for the information

 

[SimonFa]

We're going to visit and take a look around tomorrow Thanks for the information

One of the staff lives aboard, he's a nice guy and I think he'll be honest with you; ask for Verne.
I've got horatio_nelson with me 12 miles south of the Bill and heading back there, PM him he may have time to meet you given the weather forecast.

They are planning on adding more pontoons in the spring so you may get close too Portland.

 

[Saguday]

We had a two week stopover there late last summer en route from East Coast to West Country and adored the place. Sorely tempted to leave the boat there for a while although in the end we pressed on and are now in Plymouth. The marina is excellent, facilities first rate and the staff helpful and friendly. The atmosphere of the place is fantastic, the live music in the excellent bar/restaurant and large number of families helping a lot. We felt very at home there I have to say. We sat out a F7-8 SW there and yes the wind does blow through but the marina breakwater works a treat proveded you're on the right side of it acres of space there for boat manouvreing and the largest widest pontoons we've ever been on. Good spot.

 

[Bobc]

I'll be visiting for the first time this weekend (doing the K6 Nationals and using the party barge as a B&B)

 

[SimonFa]

We're going to visit and take a look around tomorrow Thanks for the information

How did it go?

They're offering current berth holders a deal of next year at this year's rates plus an extra 5% off 2019. If they didn't offer it you should ask for it.

I made the decision to move there this weekend because of the problems of being in Weymouth.

I'll be visiting for the first time this weekend (doing the K6 Nationals and using the party barge as a B&B)

It's Barts Bash this Saturday so going to be busy on the water.

I don't remember seeing a call for safety boat crew, are you running your own safety cover?

 

[maby]

We were very impressed and will almost certainly be moving in soon. The facilities are excellent and the staff seemed friendly and helpful. We did look at Weymouth, but the bridges seem like a significant disadvantage.

Thanks to all that have expressed an opinion - very helpful!