Staying overnight on Dorset coast

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herdman

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I am planning a trip over Lyme Bay but depending on wind etc may want to stay overnight in either Studland Bay or maybe Swanage. But I have a feeling that the holding is not very good at Swanage - is this right? Also I think there are some swinging moorings there - are any of these open to the public? Would they be suitable for a 36 foot yacht? And what are the chance of one being free for example in the middle of next week?
Alternatively I could stop over at Portland harbour / Weymouth. What would be the easiest here considering I am just looking for a quick overnight stop?
many thanks for any ideas!
 
Holding in Swanage is some of the best there is, soft sand, spent many nights there,never any trouble. Studland also very good, but some weed, but also never had any bother.

There are buoys in Studland put their by the Bankes Arms, largish red ones. They are meant for customers of the pub, but that never seems to bother anyone. Lots of private buoys in Swanage, people do use them, but pick the wrong one and you are likely to be kicked off. Stay there on Saturday night in August and youll be treated to an excellent fireworks display.

Weymouth a good stop off, but likely to rafted many deep. If you want a quick get away, may be a problem. Not much in Portland at the moment, new marina on the way.

Enjoy your trip.
 
We spent 3 nights anchored off Swanage in June, just north of the moorings. Some boats overnighted on borrowed moorings.

Trouble with Weymouth is that it is quite a long way in and back out off the line from headland to headland if you are passage making. There is also quite a bit of time-consuming rafting up.

Anchoring just in the entrance of Brixham harbor is quite feasible.
 
I've anchored overnight many times in Studland, and off Swanage, without problem. Both very useful stops on a trip down Channel.

Portland saves the hassle of rafting up, reporting in (and paying) at Weymouth, but, of course, you don't have the instant access to the town centre. Anchor, or pick up a vacant mooring (if you're staying aboard).
 
Lulworth can be a good stop over, a) if you can find room, and b) if the breeze remains below F4 onshore. Holding can be variable.

But be prepared to clear out during the night if the wind gets up, as over F4 onshore it becomes very rolly and uncomfortable. I have stopped there many times, and have never yet had any problem.

Anchorage to the East side of the cove as the west side is taken up with private moorings.

Agree entirely about Swanage - excellent holding. Studland you have to be careful not to get in the Eel Grass beds, which can foul the anchor totally.
 
I visit Weymouth regularly throughout the year. Out of season I moor alongside in the harbour, but during the summer, especially at weekends, I avoid the six-deep rafting by anchoring just outside and to the right of the harbour mouth (anchorage known locally as Dicky Bird). This is excellent in the prevailing SW winds, gives you a spectacular view of the esplanade when it is lit up at night, and lets you depart to catch any tide without having to rouse up to five other farting, snoring crews! (It's quite enough to have to rouse my own farting, snoring crew.)
 
Yes Mupe Bay was a lovely lunch stop for us on a Saturday, allmost Caribbean. It is right in the Lulworth firing range though. So you need to check whether they are firing when you want to visit.
 
We stopped on the east side of Worrbarrow bay (east of Lullworth) overnight on our return to Poole as we needed to catch an 0500 fair tide round St Albans head. The bay is large and "Mupes Bay" is the west side of Worrbarrow, so one destination offers considerable shelter whilst the Lulworth ranges are resting.

Cut in 50m from the head to avoid overfalls and you'll be rewarded with a lovely stop over. NO roads, streetlights or people, just a fantastic view.

Lulworth is often busy, not as big as it looks and Tom Cunliffs pilot recomends steering clear in any onshore winds.

I'd be concerned about trying to break out an onshore >F4 head to wind through the narrow entrance as there are submerged rock shelves to consider.

Fair Winds /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

We avoided Swanage based on SHell channel pilot advice too. HOlding apparentyl not great,
 
I dont understand why Tom Cunliffe dislikes Swanage: I have been using it as a stop over for nearly 30 years on and off, and never had the slightest problem with it. Like any open anchorage if the wind goes onshore you have to pull out, but that's true of anywhere on this coast other than Poole and Weymouth. Studland is far more difficult holding because an anchor can get fouled double quick, then be impossible to raise because of the half ton of weed fouling it.
 
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