Sailing dinghys in portsmouth ?

[Jobs_a_ good_ un]

We want to launch our dinghy from the slip near haslar marina
Somebody said theres a bridge the mast wont go under does anyone know about it ?
Also what would the dinghy sailing be like within the portsmouth estuary /
How far can you go inwards ?
How far out can you go out ?
Thanks

 

[StephenSails]

How long is a peice of string?

The bridge at Haslar I am guessing is the road bridge, I would have thought you would get a dinghy under there but would be worth checking with your Almanac. You can go as far out as you like provided you clear the bridge first and you could get up as far as Fareham perhaps. The tidal currents and conditiond at the entrance to Portsmouth Habour should be treated very carefully, especially with the ship movements.

 

[BlueChip]

There is a hard next to Haslar and that is upstream of Haslar bridge with low headroom, I suspect you may be thinking of the slip next to Gosport Marina (ex Campers) near to Gosport Boat yard which offers free access to the harbour. Alternatively I think you might be better at Hardway which is further up the harbour and offers more shelter
The harbour is huge and offers endless dinghy sailing possibilities, the entrance is sheltered and often windless and at times has strong tidal flows. There is a large amount of leisure and commercial traffic so it would be easy to be in a very embarrasing and possibly dangerous situation there without an engine.
There may well be QHM rules covering dinghy sailing in the harbour and you would be well advised to visit his web site to check
Personally I would not consider sailing a dinghy through the entrance, if you want to sail in the solent, launch at somewhere like Stokes Bay

 

[Jobs_a_ good_ un]

Thanks for that I am hoping to sail inland with a 2.3 honda as back up I had a look at the QHM site but cant find anything to do with dinghy sailing.
we were hoping to sail around fareham direction there does seem a big area to sail in
regards

 

[l'escargot]

Here's Haslar Marina, the bridge is right of centre, where's the slip? I can't place it.

You can go out to the IW, Chichester, Soton Water and beyond. You can go in to Fareham, Porchester or Hilsea. Have a look on Google Earth to get some idea.

 

[Chrissie]

Try Stokes Bay Sailing Club, theres parking and a coffee shop as well as a friendly club who will give you lots of help and advice, also its only a mile or two away from Haslar but in a much better dinghy sailing environment

 

[AIDY]

yup agree stokes bay SC. there's even a dingy park. nice friendly club.

 

[Jobs_a_ good_ un]

Thanks for that thats actually a bettter picture than on the marina web site The slip they told me about must be on the other side of the bridge.
Dont know if we will venture outside for a while as just at the learning phase but ive gotta say its excellent fun we love it !!
regards

 

[AIDY]

[ QUOTE ]
Dont know if we will venture outside for a while as just at the learning phase but ive gotta say its excellent fun we love it !!


[/ QUOTE ]

You may already know that if you intent to venture outside or within pompey harbour there are a few restrictions

You have to have your engine running between Ballast which is the red post opposite the ferry terminal and No:- 3 buoy or is it No:-2 buoy which is out in the entrance. this does not mean you cannot sail. Also you need the okay from QHM to cross to pompey. other than that enjoy your sailing............

 

[Piddy]

There is (at least there was when I was in Haslar 2 years ago) a slipway upstream of the bridge. Not particluarly good at low tide though. Gosport Boat Yard has a concrete slip and may (for a charge, like I suspect Haslar does) allow you to launch and park the trailer and car. All of of the launching points in Portsmouth Harbour are a bit tidal so pick your spot well.
Why not try the sailing clubs such as Fareham (v. tidal), Portchester SC (accesible all tide but is a private members slipway), Hardway SC (tidal) or the public slipway next to Hardway (v. tidal).
There are few restrictions once in the harbour, so other than keeping a distance from the warships there is an enormous harbour to explore with sailing clubs dotted around.
Sasiling is possible ( at high tide) right up to Fareham past Wicormarine and right up to Portchester and Port Solent. Be careful if there are no boats moored aound you as there may be no water!

Cheers

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Sailed for years in Portsmouth Harbour. Work your tides and you can go pretty much anywhere, up to Fareham, into the various lakes and, if you can drop the mast, through Portcreek and into Langstone Harbour, from whihc, naturally, you go back to the Solent and Pompey, or carry on into Chichester Harbour (mast again) and so forth. In the summer you can get all Swallows and Amazonsy exploring by dinghy, there is more area to play in than Walton backwaters, with just as much need to pay attention to when there will be water.

Sailng too close to the big ships is plain stupid, and if said big ship has a grey paint scheme, they will get grouchy about it.

There is a lot of mud at LW, look at the drying heights.

 

[Dromomaniac]

Have you seen BoatLaunch ? I find it can be quite useful - though does have gaps.

And even has a picture of the Haslar ramp - could be interesting..... (not been there myself);

Cheers
D

 

[Solitaire]

[ QUOTE ]
Here's Haslar Marina, the bridge is right of centre, where's the slip? I can't place it.



[/ QUOTE ]

It's here -

The slip is just behind the car park at Haslar. There is also a small slip just off the main road past the entrance to Gosport Marina.

 

[Georgio]

There are public slipways next to Gosport Boat Yard and Hardway Sailing Club. the Hardway option is probably better if you want to sail within the harbour, both can be problematic at low water.

Stokes Bay is the best option if you want to be out on the Solent.

 

[Talbot]

The slipway at Gosport boat yard has been "modified" to a very narrow entrance suitable for very small boats, but I would expect it to be very difficult to launch from a road trailer there, plus there is nowhere to park. Hardway is much better, and avoids the problem of the fast current at the harbour entrance.

 

[VicS]

I'd go along with the suggestions about Hardway although it is a good few years since i launched a dinghy there. It does give you access to the harbour away from the bulk of the shipping and the fast tides at the harbour entrance. As also pointed out make sure you you know all the details of the small boat channel when you do venture towards the entrance. They are all on the QHM website.

Personally I prefer Chichester for dinghy sailing. There is no commercial shipping but there are very large dinghy fleets about at weekends. There are some pleasant and quiet areas though and some pleasant spots to visit tide permitting including an excellent sandy beach at East head and another nearby on the east side of Pilsey island. You will get stung for harbour dues though.

 

[wooslehunter]

Unless you're at slack water, I'd avoid the harbour entrance. Slack lasts for very little time as well. The tides here are fierce & there's lots of traffic from small boats to aircraft carriers & cross channel ferries. QHM requires small boats to use the small boat channel on the southern side and everyone should use motors. The entrance has buildings either side and the small boat channel can be very sheltered.

No-one's mentioned the other slip at Stokes Bay. It's east of the sailing club between the inshore rescue station & the angling club. You can get car access here to help pull out.

 

[Jobs_a_ good_ un]

Gonna try them this saturday do you know if they allow visitors to launch and store dinghys ?