KevB
Well-Known Member
Bembridge is fully booked. I'm one of them.
Solent Gridlock
- Thread starter [2068]
- Start date
paul salliss
Well-Known Member
Another reason to get out of the Solent , there are better places for far less money
Poignard
Well-Known Member
I did, and it was a good decision. No problem finding berths in Southern Brittany just now.
bedouin
Well-Known Member
Where are you thinking of that would have as many marinas within a few hours' sail?
There are several great sailing areas out there but I don't know any that get anywhere near the Solent in terms of offering a range of destinations within an easy day's sail.
aquapower
Well-Known Member
I thought there would be loads of spaces with the amount of people moving to the med.
XPS
Member
Managed to get a berth on Harold Hayles pontoon this morning.
XPS
Member
Managed to get berth at Harold Hayles in Yarmouth this morning.
han34
Well-Known Member
Try the bay of Quiberon if you want more places than the Solent within an easy day sail. At least fifteen Marinas, several islands and hundreds of anchorages within half a day's sailing.
Ian h
Well-Known Member
We turned up at Yarmouth around 12 on Saturday not having pre booked , there were a few free berths then but an hour later we watched boats being turned away.
superheat6k
Well-Known Member
Island Harbour also full.
South basin at Cowes YH might have space - turn up and take your chances..
Beaulieu full apart from mid river.
etc etc.
There is an annoying irregularity of booking policy - some accept a booking without any form of turn up commitment, some require payment up front, but will credit if you can't get there and they can re-let the berth, some just keep the money and re-let the berth.
I agree with the latter save where foul weather stops sensible boating, when at least a credit for future use should be awarded.
The problem with the non charged for is that some folk might book several then only decide later which they will use, leaving several booked berths unavailable for anyone else to use..
Then there are the rallies that expect to take over whole harbours and the rest can go hang.
Some will let Raggies in but turn Mobos away - this has happened to me at Yarmouth.
I agree that the good old days of turn up and request were better, but now like the rest of us I have to think of having somewhere definite to head for - dogs, kids, SWMBO, requirements for modern living (electricity & shops), etc.
So we are booked into Chi Marina, away from the Solent rabble for an evening, and a decent restaurant in the yacht club. They will also accept a phone call if the weather is crap or other reasons prevent us going. The alternative was a short trip somewhere with a return to home berth if unsuccessful in finding somewhere - this of course has the advantage that the saved berthing fee pays for most of the evening meal, and at the top of the Hamble there is plenty of choice for this option.
See you on the water - please wave and watch your wake.
South basin at Cowes YH might have space - turn up and take your chances..
Beaulieu full apart from mid river.
etc etc.
There is an annoying irregularity of booking policy - some accept a booking without any form of turn up commitment, some require payment up front, but will credit if you can't get there and they can re-let the berth, some just keep the money and re-let the berth.
I agree with the latter save where foul weather stops sensible boating, when at least a credit for future use should be awarded.
The problem with the non charged for is that some folk might book several then only decide later which they will use, leaving several booked berths unavailable for anyone else to use..
Then there are the rallies that expect to take over whole harbours and the rest can go hang.
Some will let Raggies in but turn Mobos away - this has happened to me at Yarmouth.
I agree that the good old days of turn up and request were better, but now like the rest of us I have to think of having somewhere definite to head for - dogs, kids, SWMBO, requirements for modern living (electricity & shops), etc.
So we are booked into Chi Marina, away from the Solent rabble for an evening, and a decent restaurant in the yacht club. They will also accept a phone call if the weather is crap or other reasons prevent us going. The alternative was a short trip somewhere with a return to home berth if unsuccessful in finding somewhere - this of course has the advantage that the saved berthing fee pays for most of the evening meal, and at the top of the Hamble there is plenty of choice for this option.
See you on the water - please wave and watch your wake.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
Shhhh!
Firefly625
Well-Known Member
In Bembridge this weekend, family fun weekend, start of our summer holiday. Booked in a couple of nights. I can't wait.
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
So much for empty marinas bringing the price down...
When I used to berth in Cowes I always called up the office and tell them my berth was vacant and when I would be back, it was also useful as a radio check, but I do admit to being irritated turning up on a number of occasions at 2 pm to find people settling in for lunch when they had been told the berth needed to be vacated by midday.
On one occasion, having been away for several weeks and having telephoned the day before to confirm my arrival time, I found a boat still in my berth mid afternoon. The marina told me to tell them that I was coming back the day before next time to make sure my berth was free in future.
I've always been quite happy to let the marina use my berth when I'm not there, one, in the hope that increased visitor revenue keeps annual prices down and, two, a visitor frees up a berth somewhere else for me to use. But when it is poorly managed, it doesn't encourage you to let the marina know when you are going to be away
When I used to berth in Cowes I always called up the office and tell them my berth was vacant and when I would be back, it was also useful as a radio check, but I do admit to being irritated turning up on a number of occasions at 2 pm to find people settling in for lunch when they had been told the berth needed to be vacated by midday.
On one occasion, having been away for several weeks and having telephoned the day before to confirm my arrival time, I found a boat still in my berth mid afternoon. The marina told me to tell them that I was coming back the day before next time to make sure my berth was free in future.
I've always been quite happy to let the marina use my berth when I'm not there, one, in the hope that increased visitor revenue keeps annual prices down and, two, a visitor frees up a berth somewhere else for me to use. But when it is poorly managed, it doesn't encourage you to let the marina know when you are going to be away
oceanfroggie
Well-Known Member
Why not anchor or pickup a mooring buoy?
[2068]
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Current anchor is a bit small for an 8000kg boat.
I'd be quite happy with a buoy somewhere, not too sure about the rest of the crew, unless it was close to civilisation.
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Nick_H
Well-Known Member
How about arranging berth swaps on here? I'd have thought that so long as you tell the marinas and still pay the visitor fee they would be fine with that.
nicho
RIP
Most marinas full this weekend due to the Americas Cup.
paul salliss
Well-Known Member
How about East Anglia coast, coast around Devon, coast around Scotland
Newboy6458
Well-Known Member
Arrived in Yarmouth today at 16:30, 35' sailing yacht. Rafted up, walk ashore no problems. Boats arrived all evening, still seem to be places available. Hadn't booked just turned up.
No idea about tomorrow but both me and my outside neighbour are moving on, so that's two spaces freed up.:encouragement:
No idea about tomorrow but both me and my outside neighbour are moving on, so that's two spaces freed up.:encouragement:
[2068]
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Update: managed to squeeze into Lymington Yacht Haven after one of those odd conversations that started with "No, we definitely aren't operating a waiting list" but somehow moved on to "What did you say your boat name and length was?".
Turning up at 11:55am probably helped ?
Turning up at 11:55am probably helped ?