Sorry I dont see the attraction

[Guest]

Fellow posters, Last Saturday I went to a wedding in the Southampton area, the reception was held at the Royal Southern YC, I will state here and now that it is some club, excellent, but whilst sitting on their veranda I got to thinking "what is the attraction with the Hamble and Solent area"there are boats all over the place everybody seems to me to be getting in everybody elses way, theres only you and 1000 other boats heading for Cowes (or similar places) when you go out into the Solent its like the M25 on a Friday night. Most of the boats seem to me to be owned by charter companies and God knows whos driving them? Power boats seem only to be used at full throttle. I sat there and thought I have moorings at a fraction of the cost, I dont have to sit in what appears to me to be a sewerage works of a smell. I have the same access to the East coast, French and Belgian ports, I have good free and un-congested in-river sailing if I want it or I can go for more coastal stuff if I want. Although I live locally to the R.Medway, if I lived in London I would only need to take a 50 min train journey to get to my boat. So come on guys "whats the attraction?

 

[NigeCh]

Don\'t ask

Just think that they are all there, and the more that can be there will mean less elsewhere .... [Veni, vidi, ... Exit]

 

[Guest]

It sounds to me that, deep down, you are really rather envious. I think you need to get some counselling and face up to your deep, inner frustrations of being stranded in a muddy back-water.

 

[jamesjermain]

I do

Your criticisms of the Solent are all justified, by and large (though I have never had the problems with charter boats and motor boats that other report), and you haven't even mentioned the cost.

However, if you strip all that away (and you can by sailing mid-week or out of season) what do you have left?

*Enough sheltered water to sail in all day yet with easy access to the coasts east and west plus the Continent to the south.
*At least seven major deep-water, all-tide harbours with full facilities, and each very different in style, all within an easy day's sailing from each other.
*Two other major harbours within a long day sail of anywhere in the Solent.
*At least six sheltered anchorages within half a day's sail.
*Attractive and varied coastline.
*Some excellent pubs and restaurants.
* Better(?), and certainly more, back-up services than you will find anywhere else in the country.
*Good road and rail links to all the major population centres from Birmingham south.

The Solent gets heavy and consistent critisism (with good reason) for being over-crowded, over-priced, over-sexed and over-indulged. But we who have to put up with all this do well to remember why this should be. And the answer is that, at heart, it is just about as close to perfect for short distance, undemanding, yet rewarding and safe cruising; and intellectually demanding and ever fascinating racing, as you can get.

From my new mooring seven miles north of Plymouth, I am begining to appreciate some of the advantages of hot and cold running facilities etc.

JJ

 

[tcm]

Re: all agreed except...

over-sexed? Of course, underneath all their oilskins and fleeces everyone is completely naked, but otherwise?...

 

[bedouin]

In a word - the Solent has it all (almost) in sailing terms.

(i) It is a sheltered location where it is possible to sail comfortably in most wind conditions.

(ii) There are lots of good destinations within half a days sail, making it ideal for day-sailing or lazy weekends

(iii) Looking further afield it has good access to France (Normandy or Brittany), the Channel Islands and the West Country.

(iv) It is easy/quick to get to from London.

(v) Lots of racing opportunities (if that's your thing).

Agreed its not perfect - but the number of boats arround is rarely a serious issue (just avoid Yarmouth on a Saturday evening).

We keep Bedouin there because I believe we get more use and enjoyment out of her there than we could anywhere else - but I'd love someone to give me a realistic alternative.

 

[Guest]

Ditto to the other replies, particularly JJ (except the over-sexed bit - I must look out for his boat to see where he sails!!). Yes it has its problems, but for me it's the ability to get up on a fine morning and think "Let's sail" and be underway in just over an hour!! If I lived in Medway I'd probably say the same about Medway/Thames/E.Coast, but I don't, I live in Sussex! So it's about use not choice, for me! And as James says - re-arrange your schedules so you can sail midweek, or go out of season, and you have one of the most fabulous sailing playgrounds anywhere in the UK!! Easter for example, I think I only saw 6 other boats out there the whole of one afternoon!

"If a job's worth doing...it's worth paying someone to do it for you!"

 

[bigmart]

Please note that the mooring cost in the Solent is only high when you insist on using the Flash marinas owned by the Big Multiples.

The truth is that the Solent has it all and within a very short sail you can see some of the best coastal scenery south of the Scottish Border. There's not a Mud Bank in the Thames to compare.

 

[jamesjermain]

Re: all agreed except...

Ok. A bit flip, but I was thinking of the advertising led clothing, designer oilies, racer chasers etc

JJ

 

[steve_cronin]

Quite agree. Ended my \"sentence\" after 27 yrs...nm

..

 

[Guest]

Plymouth? I thought you were moored in the Helford

Where did I get that idea from?

Humperdinck

Email: HJ@Seacracker.org
Website: www.seacracker.org

 

[webcraft]

Now you said it - South of the Scottish border.

We're spoiled up here, but forget it you Solent sailors, it's too far, too scary and there's not enough showers to go round!

- Nick



BlueMoment.Com
http://www.bluemoment.com

 

[bedouin]

I agree - the scary bit are the locals, and there aren't ANY showers, because the locals don't use them!

Joking apart, the West coast of Scotland must be one of the best cruising grounds in the country, but not really practical for those of us who live in the South

 

[bigmart]

Beware. There is no place on this planet that is safe from the inevitable march of the ""Southerners""

 

[jamesjermain]

Tamar River, off Cargreen - nm

.

JJ

 

[janie]

Plus

I think you left out the main attraction, or didn't specify it. For children, there are lots of short hops, beaches for barbecues, Pilsey Sands at low tides, endless birdlife, etc. When we moved away, although we do more sailing, because of not travelling each way plus dinghy ride out to the boat, the children lost interest.