Royal Clarence marina

[VicS]

We are think of going to a rally at the Royal Clarence Marina in the near future but we have no pilotage notes. We know where it is etc but is there anything we should know about the approaches to the marina? I was hoping to find something on their website but all there is is a partly built one with no useful info. Pathetic!!
I have looked at the brochure offered by the web site but that is not much help either.

Is the entrance channel well marked. We know about the Portsmouth harbour small boat channel etc so please don't tell me about that. Its just the marina we want some info on.

 

[capt_courageous]

Hi Vic
The entrance is well marked. After the North end of the dreaded small boat channel go past Gosport Marina (was Campers ). Turn left into Weevil creek, just keep the big fuel jetty to port and Burrow island to starboard. There are green stb. piles off the island. You can go pretty close to these piles but keep clear of the jetty. Once you are in the creek the marina is dead ahead, in front of the very big Clarence Yard store building. I think the visitors berths are on the two? long pontoons in the centre of the marina, they have no finger berths. Have the Sea Wyches abandoned Bembridge?

 

[[2574]]

Contrary to the other responder - be careful going too close to the starboard hand markers. At LWS they dry. Stay about 10yds off the markers - essentially mid channel. There's bags of water at Royal Clarence generally in the marina; no problem at all (I think I have about 4m at LWS in my berth!) . As you approach the marina the southernmost peir (A) is large 18m/16m berths and then the next two northerly peir (B & C) are alongside berthing and as a visitor you might be allocated a slot here. The most northerly of the pontoons (D) is smaller berths (12m/10M) and normally packed full.

It's actually a very straightforward marina to approach/enter. Wide fairways, no shallows, no problem.

 

[AIDY]

yup agree. at low water springs dont go too close to the green piles. there not too much water. I've bounced it on the soft mud a couple of times with a 2m draft. vistitors are on B and C the two long pontoons. there are no finger berths just along side berths here, i expect you will be rafted out. Loads of water inside marina the navy used to use it for the big ships long time ago. there's lots of history about the yard.

 

[VicS]

Thanks for the replies. It all sounds straightforward, as I expected but thought I'd check.

No the Seawyches have not abandoned Bembridge. The annual rally will be there as usual during the Spring bank holiday week. 33rd year this year I think. Clarence marina is the venue for the Institute of Civil Engineers next weekend if we make it. They are planning Folly for Sat lunch, Clarence for Sat night with dinner somewhere. Visit to Spin. tower and Sun picnic lunch in Priory bay or Osborne bay.

I crew for a member but unfortunately he is disabled and won't be allowed to do the Spin tower unless both lifts are working.

 

[l'escargot]

You can download their brochure here

 

[VicS]

Thanks but that is the one I refered to in my original post. Maps to get you there by road but not much help if arriving by boat. One of the pictures does show the shallows to stb'd though I suppose.

 

[capt_courageous]

Vic
Visited Weevil Creek today. As Rob and Delf say it is now very shallow to stb. I guess the channel has not been dredged since the yard closed. Clarence Marina is nice, small by local standards but that equals good to me.
Nice to see the Wyches are still going strong. We have spent many happy nights with you at BHYC and the barbies on the beach. I try not to think it has been more than 30 years.
The tower second lift is still kaput.

 

[Piers]

Call them on Ch 80 - always very helpful.