Sailing & Yacht Clubs around Portsmouth

[Judders]

I'm contemplating moving back to Southsea. I had a six month stint there years ago but apart from a brief visit to ECA when buying a boat from a member there, and maybe a cup of coffee in the Hornet YC, I've never been to, nor know no members of, any of the sailing clubs in the area.

At first I shall doubtless continue to keep Magic in Hamble as that is where my co-owner is from and it's where the fleet is, but in the long run it would seem logical to have a club and eventually a mooring more locally.

I'd therefore be grateful if folk could share their thoughts, observations and experiences of the club's around Portsmouth and Langstone Harbours?

 

[Allergy]

I'm contemplating moving back to Southsea. I had a six month stint there years ago but apart from a brief visit to ECA when buying a boat from a member there, and maybe a cup of coffee in the Hornet YC, I've never been to, nor know no members of, any of the sailing clubs in the area.

At first I shall doubtless continue to keep Magic in Hamble as that is where my co-owner is from and it's where the fleet is, but in the long run it would seem logical to have a club and eventually a mooring more locally.

I'd therefore be grateful if folk could share their thoughts, observations and experiences of the club's around Portsmouth and Langstone Harbours?

I used to be in Southsea Marina but the only downside was getting into(and out of) Langstone Harbour entrance in anything other than HW or LW.
I'm currently in Fareham Lake (top of Portsmouth Harbour) and belong to Fareham Sailing & Motor Boat Club(google for their website).
They have their own moorings (but, as usual there is a waiting list) and there is Fairweather Marine, who run Fareham Town Marina right next to the above clubhouse.
The only downside to the marina is it dries 2.50hours either side of HW and only takes bilge keels up to 35ft(I think from memory)
Also look at Wicor Yacht Haven (about a mile down river from Fareham) with plenty of deep water moorings.
Hope this helps

 

[derekgillard]

I'm at Wicor have been for 15 years and love it, however, although friendly it's not a club.

There are some good clubs in the harbour, Portchester & Hardway to name a few.

Depends what you are looking for is it mooring, racing or the social side ?

Delbuoy

 

[PhillM]

Royal Southampton is a nice club. Very easy to join and very welcoming. Lots of events and Gins clubhouse thrown in. Decent Resturant and club moorings available too.

 

[TallBuoy]

I m surprised DJE hasn't popped up to tell you all about Hillhead SC yet.

 

[pompeyblue]

If you are going to be living in Southsea pop in to Portsmouth Sailing Club for a look. Lovely clubhouse, friendly members, moorings, good social and sailing programme etc etc... And you can walk home after a pint or two....

 

[C08]

I am a member of Fareham Sail and Motor Boat Club which from what I have seen is one of many good clubs from Southampton to Chichester. However a "good club" depends to a degree what you are looking for. Some clubs are self -help where members have duties say 2x4hr sessions per year but others have paid staff to run the bar etc and are more expensive at subscription time, some have a lively social scene and a club bar open most nights (good for locals) but others only open one or two nights, some clubs having excellent dining, some clubs have extensive moorings for members and some have walk ashore pontoon moorings with water and electricity. I recently visited Marchwood SC and I was really impressed with their members storage yard, tractors and trailers for yard boat movement and a large travel hoist to lift out/in from their slipway. Some clubs have a strong racing fleet and others not so much or dinghy racing.
So a wide range of clubs with prices and facilities to suit just about everyone in this area.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

We used to be members at Hardway before we moved to France ... we stopped using the club about 2 years before we moved. They have a 'social only' membership as well as sailing and unfortunately the last two times we took guests there we were confronted with the rakings of hell in the bar and on the verandah ... once we'd have allowed but to have it happen twice was very embarrassing with elderly friends in tow. Bad enough if it had just been wife and self. No excuse for effing and blinding in loud voices ... we complained the first time and someone had a word but the second time we decided we just wouldn't bother again. Shame because the pontoon was handy ... restaurant in the pub down the road was good except 3 times the price of the club! Maybe they've tightened things up now ... I hope so because I wouldn't recommend it from our experiences.

 

[ripvan1]

We've visited Hardway SC on numerous occasions over past few years and stayed on pontoon over weekends and have had nothing but good friendly experiences. There's Tudor SC club at top of Langstone harbour which is quite a friendly hands on club and then there's ECA which must rank as the unfriendliest club in UK if not Europe.

 

[DJE]

I m surprised DJE hasn't popped up to tell you all about Hillhead SC yet.

So am I! Probably because he was working behind the bar there last night.

Primarily a dinghy sailing club but a few drying moorings for boats less than 25ft. And quite a waiting list for those. But a few of us who used to sail dinghies there keep bigger boats in Portsmouth Harbour or on the Hamble. Bar open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings and weekend lunchtimes. Relies entirely on volunteer members to run bar, racing, and committees. Drop in if you're interested.