South coast of England winter berth

[peteretep]

Hello, I'm new on the forum, hopefully I've put this in the right place!
I'm based in Scotland but recently bought a boat in the south east of England.
I'm planning to sail it up to Scotland in April, during my Easter holidays, but that feels like a very long time away.
I was wondering about starting the delivery over my Christmas holidays - potentially sailing it along the south coast towards Falmouth direction, and then leave it somewhere safe for a few months until April.
I was wondering if the forum could recommend a cheap winter marina along the south coast somewhere? Maybe this does not exist.
I'm currently paying £200 per month and can continue that until April. But I'd love to go sailing for a few days and start the delivery trip if it was possible.
Obviously weather will be limiting at that time of year but there are sometimes lovely conditions in the winter.
Thanks,
Peter

 

[B27]

Some of the Solent marinas used to offer some very nice deals for winter berths.
Likewise it's always worth asking various harbour masters about winter deals and sub-lets for moorings.
Unfortunately this seems to be more difficult the further west you get.
Many West Country moorings are not insurable Nov to March, so there is much demand for the limited winter spots.

 

[ashtead]

You might find speaking to the the Newport harbour master on Isle of Wight or island harbour on the medina is available .

 

[Bobc]

In the South West, try Plymouth and Falmouth marinas. You might be able to find something at Saltash SC, or Mylor.

 

[ANDY_W]

Try Truro Harbour, part of Cornwall Harbours. They have a number of pontoons in relatively sheltered parts of the River Fal.
If any available, a berth costs £58.42 per metre for 1/10/24 to 30/4/25. Minimum charge period 3 months.

The pontoons are not serviced and provide a mooring place only. You would have to make your own way to and from the pontoons but I am sure that Truro Harbour Office would be able to advise.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

You might find speaking to the the Newport harbour master on Isle of Wight or island harbour on the medina is available .

Yarmouth harbour is the best bet if we are talking of the south island. They do a winter deal, no insurance difficulties, and a walk from the ferry.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

In the South West, try Plymouth and Falmouth marinas. You might be able to find something at Saltash SC, or Mylor.

+1 for Salcombe. Moorings much cheaper than a Marina, plus theres the odd arrangements in The Bag.

Newlyn fairly cheap in the Harbour, when you finally get there, though you may not wish to leave to go round The Land and the long trek along the exposed N Cornish coast until weather fairly settled - perhaps not even till late March. Its hard to determine how far along the South Coast you will get in Christmas holiday so thus very hard to see which area needs longer term moorings. Both our delivery trips from Chichester westwards have been treated as fun runs taking about a week plus to Plymouth but we avoid 10 hour passages

You dont say the size or capability of the boat so its hard to advise on that. Of course some of thats the Coast of Cornwall not England but part of your journey

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Having your boat so distant requires forethought as to how you reach it. You need a reliable mooring ferry that works through the winter if it’s not walk ashore. And a station might be an advantage, so you’re not ferrying cars as well. That’s why I’d bin any idea of a Medina mooring, Folly Dave is hard to find in winter, and it’s expensive. As for Newtown, it might as well be the flipping Congo river. Some of those west country ones fall into that category too. Some not though, even if it’s a long way. But I still think Yarmouth, or Lymington if the price is right, is a better bet. It’s en route for the spring trip, and you stand more chance of a nice winter sail from there. And can live in the hope of a nice easterly in the Spring, to take you west.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Having your boat so distant requires forethought as to how you reach it. You need a reliable mooring ferry that works through the winter if it’s not walk ashore. And a station might be an advantage, so you’re not ferrying cars as well. That’s why I’d bin any idea of a Medina mooring, Folly Dave is hard to find in winter, and it’s expensive. As for Newtown, it might as well be the flipping Congo river. Some of those west country ones fall into that category too. Some not though, even if it’s a long way. But I still think Yarmouth, or Lymington if the price is right, is a better bet. It’s en route for the spring trip, and you stand more chance of a nice winter sail from there. And can live in the hope of a nice easterly in the Spring, to take you west.

Good point.

On that basis getting boat to Plymouth is optimum as fast train from Edinburg and there is always great local sailing in the Sound. Also onward connection to Newlyn if thats the final pause point. Weymouth also fairly train accessible with some fiddling - not as fast as Plymouth, but not as far from E English ports for sailing

Mind you Plymouth is expensive, so if cheap storage at Salcombe is the better deal, Salcombe is only £25 taxi from Plymouth and we haveused such

 

[Stemar]

Do you have to have a marina, or would a swinging mooring work for you? Lots of them in Portsmouth Harbour, and Gosport Boatyard might have something for the winter. Wicor Marine would be another possibility. If you're happy to sit in soft mud, and plenty of fin keelers do in Portsmouth, a tidal mooring would be cheaper still.

 

[Wansworth]

Always a niggling worrythattheboat is safe if your a long way from it.I would go for hauling out,having time to thougherly check it out and fresh antifoul for the Easter trip up north

 

[dunedin]

Depending on size of boat, is it worth simply getting it brought north on a lorry?

 

[Boathook]

Having your boat so distant requires forethought as to how you reach it. You need a reliable mooring ferry that works through the winter if it’s not walk ashore. And a station might be an advantage, so you’re not ferrying cars as well. That’s why I’d bin any idea of a Medina mooring, Folly Dave is hard to find in winter, and it’s expensive. As for Newtown, it might as well be the flipping Congo river. Some of those west country ones fall into that category too. Some not though, even if it’s a long way. But I still think Yarmouth, or Lymington if the price is right, is a better bet. It’s en route for the spring trip, and you stand more chance of a nice winter sail from there. And can live in the hope of a nice easterly in the Spring, to take you west.

I belive that even the liveaboard in Newtown up towards Shalfleet, has departed to a better location.

 

[B27]

Having your boat so distant requires forethought as to how you reach it. You need a reliable mooring ferry that works through the winter if it’s not walk ashore. And a station might be an advantage, so you’re not ferrying cars as well. That’s why I’d bin any idea of a Medina mooring, Folly Dave is hard to find in winter, and it’s expensive. As for Newtown, it might as well be the flipping Congo river. Some of those west country ones fall into that category too. Some not though, even if it’s a long way. But I still think Yarmouth, or Lymington if the price is right, is a better bet. It’s en route for the spring trip, and you stand more chance of a nice winter sail from there. And can live in the hope of a nice easterly in the Spring, to take you west.

Also, IMHO boats need frequent checking on a mooring in the winter.
Some places may offer a service either via harbour staff or a yard.
But we always see boats suffering damage because covers, warps, stuff, has not been checked and re-secured from one storm to the next.
It's also good to open the boat, deal with any water inside, do a spot of cleaning....

On a mainland pontoon, it's not hard to visit and check every few weeks.
Moorings then range from the mildly awkward down to 'not accessible above a certain wind strength'
It's one thing checking a boat on a slightly lively mooring when you've got access to a mate with a Searider, not so much fun when it's getting dark and you're rowing a little inflatable. I've seen people turn up to check their boats near the top of Chi Harbour, only to give up and go home.

 

[ashtead]

I seen boats in the Thorney channel end up at Prinstead beach so not somewhere I would overwinter. Likewise Portchester suffers same issue. I don’t really see cheap and Lymington in same sentence though ?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I seen boats in the Thorney channel end up at Prinstead beach so not somewhere I would overwinter. Likewise Portchester suffers same issue. I don’t really see cheap and Lymington in same sentence though ?

No, though there are some ‘better value’ moorings there, depending on what type of boat. A winter mooring in Yarmouth does have special rates, enough cheaper than ?ymington to pay for a few ferry crossings. And the marina staff definitely check your boat.

 

[Jules W]

You could try Jersey. The advantage being cheap flights from Scotland, cheaper winter rates than Boatfolk marinas and their winter period extends until end of April rather than end of March. We know a guy whose boat is in Jersey who lives in Glasgow and flies down most weekend.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Peter was considering making part of his journey to Scotland as a journey yo his winter mooring. Trundling from say Chichester to Portmouth or IOW acheives little

He can get much further on jos christmas break. Hence my suggestion of Plymouth