Solent marinas and heading west...just how busy is it?

[Iain C]

So I'm finally heading to the boat today and going sailing for the first time since December due to moving house and that whole global pandemic thing. I know that demand for UK campsites, holiday homes etc is off the scale, what are marinas like at the moment? No doubt the usual hot spots such as Yarmouth will be rammed as ever, however are people getting turned away from the likes of Hamble, Lymington, Poole, Weymouth etc?

I'd just like to know if it's likely to be a week at anchor, or if I need to book well in advance compared to normal.

Thanks!

 

[Lucky Duck]

Current status at the Beaulieu River!

11th August update: Please note the marina is fully booked every day up until the 31 August and our first available Saturday is the 19 September for walk ashore berths

Weymouth Harbour aren't allowing rafting and inviting boats to book ahead for a non refundable fee of £20,

The two club marinas in Poole Harbour don't appear to be taking visitors so reducing the options there

Yarmouth is in the minority in allowing people to rock up without requiring booking ahead, although almost every time I look at their webcam it looks rammed.

Personally I'm hoping for some decent weather in September or October, probably the later...

 

[bdh198]

I think if you arrive in the early afternoon there is always a chance of getting a berth, but to book a berth that seems to require some notice. I booked a berth at Weymouth for a week from last Monday to next Sunday. I had hoped to get a night on the first Sunday as well, but despite booking over a week in advance there was no room. We turned up on Sunday just in case, and would have got one if we had arrived a few hours earlier (3pm ish), but there was nothing by 6pm. Town quay also full and that needs to be booked in advance. We ended up having a slightly bumpie night anchored in the bay.

 

[SimonFa]

I think if you arrive in the early afternoon there is always a chance of getting a berth, but to book a berth that seems to require some notice. I booked a berth at Weymouth for a week from last Monday to next Sunday. I had hoped to get a night on the first Sunday as well, but despite booking over a week in advance there was no room. We turned up on Sunday just in case, and would have got one if we had arrived a few hours earlier (3pm ish), but there was nothing by 6pm. Town quay also full and that needs to be booked in advance. We ended up having a slightly bumpie night anchored in the bay.

You should have nipped round to Portland, there’s plenty of moorings not being used. I suppose Sod’s law says you’d have picked up one of the few that were in use and the owner returned in the middle of the night

 

[burgundyben]

Yarmouth chocka at the weekends. But mid week there is space. River Yar boatyard might have space. Trots outside usually plentiful.

 

[Sea-Fever]

Bembridge not too bad at all mid week. New finger berths as well, plenty of leccy points.

Food is surprisingly hard to come by mind you. Can you believe you can't get a pizza delivered in Bembridge.....what is a man meant do?

 

[mikegunn]

Yarmouth has been doing a superb job, as usual. Seldom turning boats away and then only as far as the trots outside. Best not to turn up too early as boats often don’t leave until midday, depending on the tide etc. It may also mean rafting up to four deep however. So if that’s a problem to you, best go elsewhere.
Mike

 

[ashtead]

Bembridge not too bad at all mid week. New finger berths as well, plenty of leccy points.

Food is surprisingly hard to come by mind you. Can you believe you can't get a pizza delivered in Bembridge.....what is a man meant do?

Very good lobster though a short dinghy ride away when water arrives.If you want a pizza then you might find one at the mermaid gin bar at pond well near Seaview but give them a ring first to check. It is on the bus route from St. Helens to Ryde. Good fish and chips at Tony’s in Ryde. Lack of pizza down to Bembridge harbour nimbies who oppose all development via harbour trust I guess.

 

[Sea-Fever]

Very good lobster though a short dinghy ride away when water arrives.If you want a pizza then you might find one at the mermaid gin bar at pond well near Seaview but give them a ring first to check. It is on the bus route from St. Helens to Ryde. Good fish and chips at Tony’s in Ryde. Lack of pizza down to Bembridge harbour nimbies who oppose all development via harbour trust I guess.

I was being a bit facetious. We recently had a good meal at Fox's in the centre of Bembridge, and also walked to the Garlic Farm for a slap up lunch using Eat Out to Help Out. What we were surprised at was the lack of service by Deliveroo / Uber Eats or even pizza companies at the Duver pontoon. Surely there's plenty of money to be made delivering to that pontoon given the lack of eateries in the immediate vicinity.

Sorry for the thread hijack.

 

[ashtead]

Yes Mr Boswells place has grown into a popular location but advisable to book a table if weather poor as it is popular . Sadly I doubt an island brewery would deliver pizza and local beer to the Duver in the same way as in the WI . Virgin Islands. Bay watch is best local but only for lunch. Sadly no chance of booking into Bembridge anytime soon caused by a surfeit of rallies. 26 boats in one booking rather limits others usage so it’s become the marine equivalent of a coach party hotel at weekends .

 

[Lucky Duck]

Given the circumstances I am a bit surprised that places are accepting bookings for rallies at the moment.

Edit - The last time we visited only one pub was serving food so ended up at the fish and chip shop

 

[laika]

Hmm. The RYA recently asked me to complete one of its questionnaires about what they should be doing more/less off. If we're having to book a month in advance perhaps they should be doing rather less of the "encouraging participation". Perhaps they could do an advertising campaign like "Sailing: It's cold, damp, expensive and stressful. Why not try caravanning instead?"

 

[Lucky Duck]

Perhaps they could have a word with the like of Weymouth who have banned rafting despite places like Yarmouth who seem to be able to manage it.

Maybe I'm not brave enough - but being required guarantee my arrival and departure dates many weeks in advance regardless of the weather doesn't appeal at the moment.

 

[DJE]

Perhaps they could have a word with the like of Weymouth who have banned rafting despite places like Yarmouth who seem to be able to manage it.

Maybe I'm not brave enough - but being required guarantee my arrival and departure dates many weeks in advance regardless of the weather doesn't appeal at the moment.

Weymouth Harbour will let you change your booking by up to two weeks without you losing your deposit.

 

[ashtead]

Bembridge were certainly taking rallies a couple of weekends ago - we were turfed out but found space at East Cowes . This weekend all seem fully booked but I sure a few more could be squeezed into Newtown creek I guess if buoy sharing is your thing.

 

[dom]

Wait a second, throughout the long winter and spring lockdown we fervently argued about the ability of just about every anchor/chain/swivel/chum/rope/catenary/riding-sail combination to hold in winds of 50kts+, hurricanes even!

So why is everyone so fixated on marinas?

What have I missed

 

[Blue Sunray]

This weekend all seem fully booked but I sure a few more could be squeezed into Newtown creek

One can always squeeze more into Newtown Creek

 

[Sailsalot]

We've visited Lymington Yacht Haven and also Mercury Yacht Harbour on the Hamble in the last couple of weeks. Booked a few days in advance for both. We took the dinghy further up the river at the Hamble and very scenic if busy with paddle boarders, kayaks. The bar/restaurants in both marinas very busy too, but we self cater.

 

[ryanroberts]

Portland has visitor space, I have been hiding there from the thunderstorms (and weird Wight gale warning) that haven't happened. Plenty of buoys in Poole, don't know about walk ashore. Quay mostly looks rammed when I pass it

 

[Pete7]

Newtown Creek looked rammed when we sailed past on Tuesday with lots choosing to anchor outside. Weymouth had spaces on Tue and Wed nights though you need to book. A few spaces in Brixham on first come first served basis. Webcam for Lyme Regis looked like the little harbour was very busy with day boats so decided to skip our normal stop and go straight across Lyme Bay. Lots of heavy gun fire whilst crossing the bay and HMS Scott mooching about in the haze. Didn't see her but she was transmitting on AIS so gave a wide berth. They sounded like big guns.