QHM Portsmouth

l'escargot

l'escargot

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The QHM at Portsmouth has got a website up and running:

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.qhmportsmouth.com>http://www.qhmportsmouth.com</A>

Currently has Notice To Mariners, it is still under construction and will have an incident reporting page in the near future
 
Well I never knew that !

Perusing the "Notice to Mariners" I came across one that states that <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.qhmportsmouth.com/LNTM/ntm60-02.htm>Portsmouth Harbour small boat channel can only be entered or left at the northern or Southern most end </A> - i.e. you can't come out of the harbour and hang a right over Hasler Bank.
I've been doing that for years when the tide is OK.




Dave L.
 
Re: Well I never knew that !

Does it really mean that? Isn't that "the southern end"? Doesn't it mean that you can't bimble over to the other (east) side of the harbour entrance from halfway down the SBC?
 
Re: Well I never knew that !

I guess so. The NM says
"The Small Boat Channel is shown on Admiralty charts. Vessels under 20m in length (including Personal Water Craft) must enter and leave the harbour through the Small Boat Channel. Its northern and southern extremities are at the Ballast and No4 Bar Buoys respectively "

it then goes on to say

"The Small Boat Channel may only be entered or left (by vessels approaching from the east) at its northern or southern extremities." ........... "Small vessels are reminded that they are extremely difficult to see and the harbour entrance is a blind bend to larger vessels."

Coming into the harbour via Hasler Bank does mean approaching a pretty tight, blind bend and then cutting across it (in order to proceed up the stbd side of the channel) so I guess it does make sense. I doubt that many folks will heed it though!

<font color=blue> BTW, No 4 Bar Bouy is about half a mile SSE of the harbour entrance.</font color=blue>

Dave L.
 
Re: Hamilton Bank

The purpose of the boat channel is to stop yachts sailing through the middle of the entrance and obstructing ships. The boat channel both inbound and outbound is on the western side of the entrance. As far as I am aware there is no problem with approaching or leaving the channel from/to the west immediately outside the entrance to take advantage of the high-water narrow channel north of Hamilton Bank. If there is, then I have been guilty as charged for many years. If you are not taking this lead, then you need to pass well south of No4 buoy anyway.

JJ
 
Well that\'s got that cleared up then.

Just sent an e-mail query to QHM (via their web site) and got a reply back 5 mins later as follows:

Dave - thanks for your query. May I reassure you that you can enter or
leave the small boat channel from the West (including Haslar Creek) at
any point on its length. Let me know if you require further
clarification.

Good service from QHM
Crap reading by DaveL !

Dave L.
 
Never mind

Oh well we all make mistakes. I made one once quite recently, funnily enough in Portsmouth when I tried to get married, however things worked out OK in the end. Have you come across the Haslar scrubber?
 
You have met the Haslar scrubber?

James, its good to know she's still at the same old game! I must admit when I was a man she did me and I did have an exceptionally clean bottom for several months afterwards. I was planning to get the treatment several times a year to keep me in shape but then along came the op ... however I've had my doubts recently about the wisdom of the op and am thinking about either returning to manhood or becoming a lesbian, what do you think the best option would be?
 
Re: Well I never knew that !

The key words are surely "approaching from the East" In other words you mustn't slide up the Southsea side and cross the main channel at the last minute. No4 Buoy is not very far out at 1/2 mile.

I think they used to allow you to stay on the East side in bound provided you stayed there until you had passed Ballast buoy but that no longer appears to be so.

Out bound you must keep to the small boat channel if heading east until south of No 4 before crossing.

The point about visibilty to the west is a valid one but it's not half as scary as the days before the small boat channel when the IOW ferries came in close inshore when the tide allowed.
 
Re: not that bad daveL

My own interpretation of your post was a guess! ..otherwise nobody can enter haslar or go along the haslar north shore channel whatever its called, they wd all have to go along the Swashway.
 
Re: Well I never knew that !

Sorry about that - did try to make it clear and discussed wording with a representative cross section of all harbour users in the Dockyard Port Forum. You are right that you may enter and leave the Small Boat Channel to the West anywhere along its length. I hope that helps - if not do e-mail me for clarification.
 
Re: Well I never knew that !

QHM

I sent you an email to which you replied, but I cannot read your reply for some reason. My question was:

In reading this notice, it appears that small craft can no longer enter the harbour by keeping close to the eastern side when approaching from the east (as has always been my habit).

Am I correct in interpreting this as having to cross the channel south of no 4 buoy, and then having to cross again to the north of ballast if approaching from the east?

Be grateful if you could post a reply
Thanks
 
The LNTM says ...

that "commercial vessels <20m ..... which are specifically registered .. may enter and leave the harbour close inshore on the eastern side". So I suspect the answer is/will be NO - unless you are registerered.

I also note that vessels have to obtain approval from QHM if bound for Gunwharf Quays or Town Camber. I haven't been round there but I have sometime wondered if it's possible to pick up or drop off passengers? Anybody know? Apparently there are no visitors berths or moorings at Gunwharf Quays.
 
Re: The LNTM says ...

I was surprised to see the reference to "no berths at gun wharf quay". I visited there about 2 months ago and got a short term berth (a few hours) with no problem at all.

Their <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.gunwharf-quays.com/berthing/4.htm>web site</A> is still stating that berths are available.

Dave L.
 
Re: The LNTM says ...

Been into Gunwharf a few times and stayed overnight on some occasions - best to arrange in advance during busy periods, officially need 24hrs. You need the gate access code to pick up but not to drop off. You also need to get permission from QHM ch11 to cross north of ballast to either Gunwharf or Camber. Same applies when you leave.

Camber is easier for access but a bit further to walk to railway station.
 
Gunwharf Quays

To be precise, the LNTM says "berthing by prior arrangement with the berths manager". As you say, the web-site seems more welcoming.

I understand from the marina office that we have to keep 100m off the quay on the east side. This means, if approaching from the inner harbour, keeping to the west side and then crossing, with QHM approval, before Ballast.

I assume this has all tightened up post 9/11. In the past, it seemed acceptable to creep along the west side close to the warships.
 
Re: Well I never knew that !

Sorry you couldn't read my e-mail, we all have digital ID's which make it so secure nobody can read the message! Your interpretation of the LNTM is right please only enter exit on the western side via the Small Boat Channel. Only cross inside the harbour north of Ballast or outside the harobur south of No 4 Buoy. Do get back to me for further clarificaion if you wish.
 
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