Solent marinas & anchorages

[C08]

I am planning a few days of gentle pottering locally for a few days at the end of August. I see from the Beaulieu River newsletter that they are booked up several weeks in advance. Is that typical for Yarmouth, Cowes Lymington etc? Also are the popular anchorages Hurst, Newtown etc similarly overcrowded. Knowing the current status may help me plan where best to go, although a few weeks off.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I'm based in the Solent and use Marinas exclusively, I've just had a week away. Availability a month ahead obviously is unpredictable but I do know that some places were full last week and unable to take visitors. We booked for E Cowes a week ahead. W Cowes was also an option. Yarmouth I never book, but try to get there early, you have to be prepared to raft which you might not want. Lymington was full. MDL marinas on the Hamble busy but some spaces. Swanwick ditto. Not used BH since the refit but buoys often available in the river. Newtown is rammed if the weather is good, we prefer Osborne Bay for a lunch stop.

Summary: Book if you want certainty.

 

[Pete7]

What is your draft and can you dry out as this opens up the options.

 

[XDC]

Tried to book East Cowes last night (Saturday) for next Friday and Saturday. Full ?

 

[Trident]

We were in Newtown for a few days earlier in July - from Friday mornings until Sunday night it was very crowded but if you get in mid week and early in the day you'll get a spot to stay as long as you like

 

[bdh198]

My experience the last few weeks is that many marinas don’t allow rafting and this severely restricts the number of berths available. For a Friday or Saturday night many marinas (including East Cowes, Shepard’s Wharf, Bembridge, Lymington Yacht Haven, Berthon etc) need to be booked at least a week in advance, and some are already fully booked for the next two weekends. However, many of these marinas also get their share of ‘no shows’ and cancellations so it is still possible to find a last minute berth if you happen to be outside at the right time.

If you don’t need walk ashore facilities then you have more options. There are plenty of mooring buoys who’s owners haven’t bothered to launch their boats this season. Folly Pontoons in Cowes always seem to have space if we just turn up (37 foot yacht with a 1.8 meter draft).

Not had a problem finding anchoring space. The popular locations are busy (Osbourne bay etc), but there’s always somewhere to drop your hook (e.g. King’s Quay or Binstead if Osbourne Bay is full).

 

[Homer J]

I don’t think Beaulieu is full now. It wasn’t this evening. Several buoys were empty, but it was very windy. Walk ashore marina may be full but berths available on the river.

 

[burgundyben]

Yarmouth is busy but not full.

 

[ashtead]

If you look further afield plenty of space in Cherbourg and even in St Vaast for the time of year currently . We have booked for a few days in Bembridge for later this week making reservation about 3 days ago . We also managed to book up for East Cowes. There is probably space at Ocean village which certainly has more to offer than Beaulieu. Yarmouth is always a problem booking and rafting seems to all that is offered or a night on buoy outside while Lym marinas tend to be far more welcoming ( lovely views from O pontoon at yacht haven) and even the town quay looks as if it’s moving into 21st century . Sadly booking seems to be the new normal for Solent.

 

[TernVI]

I don’t think Beaulieu is full now. It wasn’t this evening. Several buoys were empty, but it was very windy. Walk ashore marina may be full but berths available on the river.

This weather, I imagine a fair few people who booked and paid in advance will not bother to turn up?
OTOH, you'd expect people who'd planned to be anchored somewhere to seek shelter today?

 

[Iliade]

Cowes Yacht Basin was busy but not full on Saturday night.

 

[Lucky Duck]

I wonder how much that was due to the Saturday's dismal weather

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I wonder how much that was due to the Saturday's dismal weather

True in our case at keast, we abandoned our Saturday plans and went home on Friday.

 

[ashtead]

Breezy but sunny here in Cherbourg . Nice and warm sitting in cockpit conservatory and just considering if going to the beach is the way for this pm but sans paddle board even though the french dinghy school seem not to mind. Not probably a day to cross the channel though.