Solent departure Point

[Sailfree]

Looking at very early tide next week to exit the needles so thought of anchoring overnight at Yarmouth.

Then thought of behind Hurst Castle as we often see boats anchored there as we go past but it looks on chartlet to be a drying mudbank with a shallow river in the middle. Am I missing something or is it only shallow draft yachts and motoboats that moor there.

Regret now never poking our nose in there and having a look at HW.

Is it suitable for a 2.1m draft yacht?

Thanks

 

[alant]

Looking at very early tide next week to exit the needles so thought of anchoring overnight at Yarmouth.

Then thought of behind Hurst Castle as we often see boats anchored there as we go past but it looks on chartlet to be a drying mudbank with a shallow river in the middle. Am I missing something or is it only shallow draft yachts and motoboats that moor there.

Regret now never poking our nose in there and having a look at HW.

Is it suitable for a 2.1m draft yacht?

Thanks

You should be OK, in the pool just inside the spit, plenty of water for that draft.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Someone will be able to give you depths in Keyhaven River, but you don't need to enter. You can anchor off Hurst Spit with good shelter from anything with west in it.

 

[Mark-1]

Looking at very early tide next week to exit the needles so thought of anchoring overnight at Yarmouth.

Then thought of behind Hurst Castle as we often see boats anchored there as we go past but it looks on chartlet to be a drying mudbank with a shallow river in the middle. Am I missing something or is it only shallow draft yachts and motoboats that moor there.

Regret now never poking our nose in there and having a look at HW.

Is it suitable for a 2.1m draft yacht?

Thanks

Keyhaven? I've been in there in a Yacht drawing 2.3. Maybe I'm misunderstanding the question because Keyhaven is clearly charted.

 

[Angele]

... but if you are talking about inside the river then, whilst you could stay afloat inside the pool, the entrance is quite restrictive for a deep draft yacht. So, only worth considering if your planned (arrival and) departure time is near high water.

As TK says, you don't need to enter the river itself to get shelter from anything with a W in it.

 

[Sailfree]

Thanks for replies.

I think I have been looking at chartlet for well inside showing drying heights. Really wish I had nosed inside before now so that I could relate where boats actually were to the chart.

 

[prv]

Google satellite view shows you the lines of moored yachts along the channels. The Channel Pilot advises anchoring (if I remember right) just before the first bend. However, in anything but an easterly, I would anchor outside the whole thing, sheltered from the west by the spit. You can see four boats there in the satellite pic, though I would go a little closer inshore, it's fairly steep-to. The Channel Pilot gives a bearing from the lighthouse for the "best anchorage", but it's not critical.

Pete

 

[Poignard]

My preferred method is to pick up a visitor's buoy off Yarmouth and leave shortly before dawn. Getting underway is very easy, set the mainsail, let go the mooring line and off you go (while madame enjoys a lie-in).

 

[Tranona]

Anchor just outside off the beach. Plenty of water, very sheltered and better starting point for the Needles or North Channel.

Inside is a pleasant place, but not much room to lie at anchor and very tight entrance.

 

[Mark-1]

not much room to lie at anchor and very tight entrance.

I think that might be a little on the negative side. It's a doddle to get in, and plenty of room to anchor inside for a fair few boats. Perhaps the best thing is for the OP to try it and if he doesn't like it nip out behind the spit or go into nearby Lymington or Yarmouth. We're not talking great distances.

 

[Angele]

I think that might be a little on the negative side. It's a doddle to get in, and plenty of room to anchor inside for a fair few boats.

The problem, so far as I see it, is that once you are in you are in - and, with a deep draft boat, you aren't leaving again until near the next HW. Fine if it fits in with your planned departure time, but not otherwise.

To some extent I am with Tranona. I was there 6 weeks ago, and it is quite difficult to see how (2.1m draft) I could stay afloat at LW without anchoring in the channel, and the channel near the entrance is not especially wide. I could probably keep myself on the edge of the channel by laying fore and aft anchors - but, given the hassle of it, would prefer to sit outside the entrance in the lee of Hurst spit.

 

[Mark-1]

The problem, so far as I see it, is that once you are in you are in - and, with a deep draft boat, you aren't leaving again until near the next HW.

Isn't that a common feature of many places? The OP can nip in, if he likes it stays, and head of somewhere else nearby if he doesn't. He wouldn't be committed to staying for any length of time unless he wanted to.

If he felt he couldn't anchor out of the way enough there's always the option to: Pick up any spare buoy and contact the River Warden on VHF 37/M1 or P1 or phone 01590 645695.

I was there 6 weeks ago, and it is quite difficult to see how (2.1m draft) I could stay afloat at LW without anchoring in the channel, and the channel near the entrance is not especially wide.

Yes, but it's not an especially busy channel and by definition nothing too big will be coming in or out away from HW. I'm fairly sure you wouldn't need to be bang in the middle, I've seen three boats of a reasonable draft anchored well on the edge of the channel.

edit- I guess if we can't agree then the OP has no option but to drop in to see if he likes it or not!

 

[prv]

Isn't that a common feature of many places? The OP can nip in, if he likes it stays, and head of somewhere else nearby if he doesn't.

The problem is that he wants to use it as a jumping-off point for a passage elsewhere, and will have a definite idea of when he wants to leave. If he's planning to catch the last of the ebb out past the Needles, then it sounds like he won't be able to get out of Keyhaven at the appropriate time.

Anchor outside.

Pete

 

[Topcat47]

+1 for the shelter of Hurst spit. I've used it on a variety of craft over the years from my own Nic26 to an Ocean 75. Probably not a good place if it's a NEly, but then you can pick up a buoy outside Yarmouth for a few bob.

 

[Mark-1]

The problem is that he wants to use it as a jumping-off point for a passage elsewhere, and will have a definite idea of when he wants to leave.

Only the OP knows that, all he's asking us is whether Keyhaven is an option, and in my view it is. Class Associations run rallies there, it can certainly handle one boat.

 

[Sailfree]

Angele said :-
The problem, so far as I see it, is that once you are in you are in - and, with a deep draft boat, you aren't leaving again until near the next HW. Fine if it fits in with your planned departure time, but not otherwise.

To some extent I am with Tranona. I was there 6 weeks ago, and it is quite difficult to see how (2.1m draft) I could stay afloat at LW without anchoring in the channel, and the channel near the entrance is not especially wide. I could probably keep myself on the edge of the channel by laying fore and aft anchors - but, given the hassle of it, would prefer to sit outside the entrance in the lee of Hurst spit.



Thanks that was the quick view I saw. As we will be loading up boat on Monday and changing 4 batteries! I suspect I will be happy to take the safe option of outside Yarmouth unless sea state a bit rocky. Starting at 04.00 on Tuesday I expect to be motoring to France unless wind picks up and you get that magic moment of engine off and sailing.

I will have a nose inside Keyhaven one day when I have plenty of spare time. I do like looking at passages/anchorages at low tide to see what is really there but I am the cautious sort.

 

[prv]

I suspect I will be happy to take the safe option of outside Yarmouth

Why not anchor outside Keyhaven?

Pete

 

[Tranona]

Why not anchor outside Keyhaven?

Pete

Exactly. No need to go inside. Definitely better than off Yarmouth. If anchoring overnight for an early start with the ebb you will be leaving in the dark and really easy from there. You can anchor inside and agree with Mark-1 that it is very pleasant. I have often gone right up to the quay, but the anchorage just inside can get very crowded and there have been times when I could not find space for my shoal draft 26 footer, let alone a 2m draft 45 footer.

Been using that spot for over 30 years as a jumping off point for catching the ebb back to Poole. 10 minutes from up anchor to rounding Hurst and picking up the tidal flow.

 

[Sailfree]

Thanks will consider anchor outside dependant on wind/sea state. Final decision dependant on time and state of the tide. If too late don't want a long slog against tide for a couple hrs kip to get up with tide to exit needles.

 

[alant]

Thanks will consider anchor outside dependant on wind/sea state. Final decision dependant on time and state of the tide. If too late don't want a long slog against tide for a couple hrs kip to get up with tide to exit needles.

If outside, suggest anchoring near the river entrance, rather than the castle end of the spit, otherwise you will be awake all night checking your anchor. The tide when ebbing, can be quite strong running past the spit.