The future of Solent sailing

[Homer J]

We love Yarmouth, they have first class and very patent berthing staff and a clean and well kept harbour and facilities. They do their best to fit in those who turn up on spec, indeed we've never been turned away. They are also absolutely open about their charging and cancellation policies so if you don't like them you can go elsewhere, more room for those who can (a) afford it, (b) read and understand their policies and (c) cope with a bit of wind in what is after all not exactly open sea.

There is always someone with this kind of comment designed to get a rise from people. Why do you do it?

 

[laika]

You must have a 20m boat.

For 10m it is £20.

+1. 12m is £24.

Had a buoy to myself in salcombe last night which was handy as I’ve never left the middle of a raft before my fellow raftees are awake

 

[James_Calvert]

There is always someone with this kind of comment designed to get a rise from people. Why do you do it?

Yarmouth, for whatever reason, introduced this inflexible booking system some years ago. Which understandably continues to attract adverse comment. You therefore need to have an eye on the weather forecast when booking and accept that your fees might be lost.

I don't see why pointing out that it's your own fault if you didn't see this coming justifies the quoted response.

 

[john_morris_uk]

"Most Solent sailors are averse to anchoring except in Osborne Bay for lunch, so if you‘re not looking to walk ashore to a pub and can read a chart, there are always options" - Well, except: Priory Bay, Seagrove Bay, Yes Osbourne Bay and a couple sometimes in deep water off Kings Creek, Thorness Bay, Hamsted Point, Colwell Bay (for the Hut of course), Totland Bay, Occassionally a couple in Alum Bay, Even Freshwater Bay if the weather is just right, a week ago I saw three in Whitecliff Bay, occasionally if the swell and weather is right then Sandown Bay by the pier, East of Hurst Point, Beaulieu river was popular until they restricted it to just one area, Off Hill head, Stokes Bay, a couple of spots in Chichester Harbour are extremely popular. Plus a couple more that I'll keep secret for myself.

"I have not sailed in the Solent for donkeys years but it sounds gastly." I would say not gastly at all, just different to what some cruising folk might require from south coast sailing. I like it it variety, often changing courses and apparent wind, good racing and short distances between ports. But at peak weekends, sure it is busy. Try sailing weekdays, definitely in the evenings and off season it is lovely.

Completely agree with your list of mooring options. (I’m writing this from the lovely peaceful anchorage just inside Hurst Point. It’s a full moon and flat calm. There’s a slack handful of boats anchored round us and it’s beautiful.)
I’ll not comment on the behaviour of some Solent mobo’s though…. The party on a Fairline 50 something near us in Ocean Village was LONG and LOUD and being buzzed at close quarters regularly is tedious.

 

[DoubleEnder]

Oh and one other very good thing in Yarmouth: the Royal Solent Yacht Club. We went and had a drink there and it was very good. Lovely busy friendly bar, great terrace, good drinks. We would and should have stayed for dinner but 1/ it was fully booked. And 2/ we had a table booked elsewhere.
its a good thing to call in at a yacht club if there is one, I think. And this was a cracker, I’ve never been before but would highly recommend it.

 

[ashtead]

We were in Yarmouth on Friday. Lovely helpful Harbour Master crew in little boats, excellent showers and loos, nice staff in the building, they sell toothpaste etc and have a water cooler to fill your bottles. And I like the town.
Lymington hmm for the first time we went on a finger at the town quay in front of literally hundreds of people, Saturday afternoon. No security, just a sign saying Restricted Access. All afternoon and evening the area was absolutely jammed, as was most of the town. A bit unpleasant really. The loos and showers are not a patch on Yarmouth, quite basic. We had a very good dinner at Fishermans Rest though. The weird thing was walking back to the quay from dinner- the town had gone completely utterly 100% silent. From crowded frenzy to a quite creepy absence of all people. So we had a quiet night in the town quay eventually. But next time in Lym I will try one of the marinas or go to Dan Bran. It felt a bit like being an animal in the zoo

Last night also had a good meal at Fisherman’s Rest being berthed at Yacht Haven . Our second visit this year and pre booked of course . Last time we could only get a table at 5 and tended to be rushed for next sitting but more advance planning 3 weeks ago meant a table booked at 7 . Service was good and speedy and a varied selection of fish on specials (2 had fine sea basss) and also roasts but the roast beef had run out but the steak and ale pie with a prawn cocktail was good. Reasonable range of beers plus wines available. Staff might smile slightly more but efficient. The showers at yacht haven are a delight and depending on berth location just up the entry ramp. If you are into walking plenty of walks and lovely view of moon plus planets etc. Very quiet and no ferry noise . Also the marina crew at LYH are great and big thanks to Harry for taking our lines.

 

[Biggles Wader]

Yarmouth, for whatever reason, introduced this inflexible booking system some years ago. Which understandably continues to attract adverse comment. You therefore need to have an eye on the weather forecast when booking and accept that your fees might be lost.

I don't see why pointing out that it's your own fault if you didn't see this coming justifies the quoted response.

I think it was the supercilious tone of the comment rather than its factual content which caused the responce.

 

[ashtead]

Yarmouth needs to up its facilities both in terms of shower blocks and eateries to command the premium price they demand but clearly many like it so they don’t have to bother . That said nothing wrong with it but Lymington offers more on shore . nothing like an open top bus ride to needles or a cycle down the old railway track to freshwater or even Compton bay if feeling fit though even if you cannot get into hot rocks or the new inn at shalfleet ,- worth trying Harold hales I have found BTW for berthing even if the bridge can be worrying on berthing sometimes.

 

[johnalison]

Oh and one other very good thing in Yarmouth: the Royal Solent Yacht Club. We went and had a drink there and it was very good. Lovely busy friendly bar, great terrace, good drinks. We would and should have stayed for dinner but 1/ it was fully booked. And 2/ we had a table booked elsewhere.
its a good thing to call in at a yacht club if there is one, I think. And this was a cracker, I’ve never been before but would highly recommend it.

It is a long time since I went there as a guest but at the time there was a notice to the effect that they would only accept visitors from either outside the Solent area or from a circle of Solent clubs. I don’t know if this is still the case with this and other Solent clubs.

 

[Mudisox]

See my post above.

It's been very busy in Salcombe during the peak season. People raft off the town for convenience and for the beaches. There's a sheltered visitor's pontoon upstream and some quieter anchorages.

+1. 12m is £24.

Had a buoy to myself in salcombe last night which was handy as I’ve never left the middle of a raft before my fellow raftees are awake

I normally anchor in Salcombe [I won't say where though] , £10 and you can stop alongside the town pontoon for 30 mins for water and stores. Showers too.

 

[laika]

I normally anchor in Salcombe

So do I: normally only a couple of other boats but a week ago the anchorages were heaving and with a dodgy depth sounder (see Pbo thread…) I didn’t fancy it. Saturday we got in wet and cold, I just assumed the anchorages would be worse, and we didn’t go further up than the town. Based on how busy it wasn’t off the town, it was probably fine, but then we weren’t rafted where we were

 

[capnsensible]

Solent View

 

[ZBM2]

There is always someone with this kind of comment designed to get a rise from people. Why do you do it?

I take it that your resort to ah hominem is an indication that you have no reasoned response to the substantive points I made?

 

[dom]

I personally don't get why a forum so obsessed with anchors is equally obsessed with tying up beside a nice wooden pontoon, or worse, to a buoy somebody else has anchored!

 

[capnsensible]

It's been more than twenty years since I sailed and worked on the Solent. But the summer complaints were much the same.

The main difference was before Internet and mobile phones, you actually had to turn up at a marina to be told it's full before going to anchor. ?

 

[ZBM2]

Yarmouth needs to up its facilities both in terms of shower blocks and eateries to command the premium price they demand but clearly many like it so they don’t have to bother . That said nothing wrong with it but Lymington offers more on shore . nothing like an open top bus ride to needles or a cycle down the old railway track to freshwater or even Compton bay if feeling fit though even if you cannot get into hot rocks or the new inn at shalfleet ,- worth trying Harold hales I have found BTW for berthing even if the bridge can be worrying on berthing sometimes.

Have you been to Yarmouth in the last year? if so I can't understand your comment on the shower blocks which are brand new and rather good. Eateries is a matter of taste, and obviously not in control of the harbour board, but IMO there is a pretty good range of choice.

 

[ZBM2]

Yarmouth needs to up its facilities both in terms of shower blocks and eateries to command the premium price they demand but clearly many like it so they don’t have to bother . That said nothing wrong with it but Lymington offers more on shore . nothing like an open top bus ride to needles or a cycle down the old railway track to freshwater or even Compton bay if feeling fit though even if you cannot get into hot rocks or the new inn at shalfleet ,- worth trying Harold hales I have found BTW for berthing even if the bridge can be worrying on berthing sometimes.

Have you been to Yarmouth in the last year? if so I can't understand your comment on the shower blocks which are brand new and rather good. Eateries is a matter of taste, and obviously not in control of the harbour board, but IMO there is a pretty good range of choice.

 

[Lightwave395]

Just walked around Newtown this morning, several empty mooring bouys

 

[Homer J]

Yarmouth, for whatever reason, introduced this inflexible booking system some years ago. Which understandably continues to attract adverse comment. You therefore need to have an eye on the weather forecast when booking and accept that your fees might be lost.

I don't see why pointing out that it's your own fault if you didn't see this coming justifies the quoted response.

I was not happy with the response for two reasons, the first is that Yarmouth do not make this cancellation charge very clear - yes it is in their terms and conditions but doesn't stand out. I also think that it is completely unnecessary as they can sell all of the spaces so there is no reason that they could not refund given notice - hotels will do this as a matter of routine. They also don't refund the £4 for electricity that wasn't used (as an aside I like Yarmouth and the harbour staff - they are always terrific)

The second reason was the comment about leaving space for 'those who can cope with a bit of wind'. Why make this comment? It is provocative and unnecessary, whether I can or cannot cope with wind is irrelevant and if I have elderly, nervous or less able people on my boat then I may make the decision not to go then it is the right decision. This is a forum designed for people to discuss and seek assistance not be derided or insulted

 

[Homer J]

I take it that your resort to ah hominem is an indication that you have no reasoned response to the substantive points I made?

This comment is also designed to antagonise. It is the response of a lawyer and not someone within a forum trying to help others. I have made my points in comment 59