The most Westerly anchorage in the Solent

[henryf]

In the Solent, Alum Bay is just outside for the purpose of this post

It was such a lovely weather window I couldn't bring myself to pay money for an overnight stay. We initially thought of Newtown Creek and popped in there. A couple of sailors said they were leaving their buoy in an hour so we dropped the hook and waited for them. One left, the other stayed and it looked like they were there for the count. Having not thought I was going to be there for any length of time I hadn't worried too much about our exact position. As it was we just got the tip of a rudder blown onto a mud shelf. Only by a couple of cm so it was easy enough to float off.

As we did so the sailor vacated their buoy but another one promptly pinched it from under our nose. By this time the creek was filling up so we anchored up just outside to have tea, and it pains me to say - so the girls could enjoy Eastenders

There was a gentle North Westerly blowing but enough to cause annoying wavelets to bang into the boat so once the closing titles had rolled I decided to head for Keyhaven. We can't actually get into Keyhaven, certainly not at night so we anchored just outside in the lee of Hurst Spit. What a lovely spot and somewhere rarely used by people.

Henry

 

[henryf]

Henry

 

[Tranona]

Don't tell everybody about it! Excellent spot for an overnight to catch the early west going tide to Poole (important for raggies). It is possible to go inside at high water but the anchorage gets rather crowded just inside. With my old sailing boat (26' with 1m draft) I have gone right up to the quay on a spring high tide for lunch at the Gun. Quite an experience.

 

[stranded]

Looks idyllic. Slightly less so on Sunday - Fastnet start - didn't get a photo unfortunately but from a way off it looked like you could almost use the boats as stepping stones.

 

[burgundyben]

Not the most Westerly though is it?

If you went into Keyhaven and anchored you'd be everso slightly further west.

There's plenty of water/space to anchor in Keyhaven, through the entrance, head south, as the channel turns west, anchor on the bend.

Its much better than outside as you don't get rocked by passing wakes.

Obvs needs a careful look at tides/depths, worth chatting to the HM (who rarely bothers to charge and will advise to pick up a resident bouy)

 

[benjenbav]

Not the most Westerly though is it?

If you went into Keyhaven and anchored you'd be everso slightly further west.

There's plenty of water/space to anchor in Keyhaven, through the entrance, head south, as the channel turns west, anchor on the bend.

Its much better than outside as you don't get rocked by passing wakes.

Obvs needs a careful look at tides/depths, worth chatting to the HM (who rarely bothers to charge and will advise to pick up a resident bouy)

As you say, the pool behind the point is really so much nicer...

 

[derekgillard]

I've never been there and really must go. I will check the almanac but drawing 1.85 fin keel any tips on where to anchor and tidal gate for entrance would be appreciated .

Many thanks

 

[prv]

Don't tell everybody about it! Excellent spot for an overnight to catch the early west going tide to Poole (important for raggies).

It's also my standard pitstop before a Channel crossing - get to the boat as soon as possible after work, head down to Hurst, dinner in the oven for the last stretch, anchor, eat, sleep, set off past the Needles first thing the next morning.

Pete

 

[paul salliss]

Don't tell everybody about it! Excellent spot for an overnight to catch the early west going tide to Poole (important for raggies). It is possible to go inside at high water but the anchorage gets rather crowded just inside. With my old sailing boat (26' with 1m draft) I have gone right up to the quay on a spring high tide for lunch at the Gun. Quite an experience.

That's always the trouble with these posts, I. E not wanting to tell anybody else, I can't excuse it, but like many others am coy about most of our adventures, a good spot and a nice boat , good pics and thanks for sharing

 

[Blue Sunray]

Looks idyllic. Slightly less so on Sunday - Fastnet start - didn't get a photo unfortunately but from a way off it looked like you could almost use the boats as stepping stones.

I was there as well on Sunday - about midday a confused looking bloke asked my wife if there was something special happening as there were rather more people about than normal.

 

[benjenbav]

I was there as well on Sunday - about midday a confused looking bloke asked my wife if there was something special happening as there were rather more people about than normal.

That'd be Henry. He always seems to draw a crowd. I think it's because of the tame seal he takes round to be photographed everywhere.

 

[Tranona]

I've never been there and really must go. I will check the almanac but drawing 1.85 fin keel any tips on where to anchor and tidal gate for entrance would be appreciated .

Many thanks

You should be able to get in an hour either side of high water on neaps and 2-3 hours on springs. Entrance is tricky to spot, but is buoyed. pilotage instructions in published pilots or VisitmyHarbour. There is a deep hole inside to starboard with some mooring buoys or anchor on port side of the channel. Exposed to easterlies, particularly at high water.

 

[benjenbav]

You should be able to get in an hour either side of high water on neaps and 2-3 hours on springs. Entrance is tricky to spot, but is buoyed. pilotage instructions in published pilots or VisitmyHarbour. There is a deep hole inside to starboard with some mooring buoys or anchor on port side of the channel. Exposed to easterlies, particularly at high water.

I liked this somewhat terse quote from VisitmyHarbour:

[h=2]Hazards[/h]Shallow Bar, Much Dries Within

 

[henryf]

That'd be Henry. He always seems to draw a crowd. I think it's because of the tame seal he takes round to be photographed everywhere.

Ha Ha.

Yep, you know me and seals. The trick is to get a boat in the background so you win a VHF radio, - which never arrived !

I did once venture into the harbour in the Phantom 42 but the depth gauge started to show very small numbers under the keel so we turned around. On this occasion it was dark so discretion being the better part of valour I decided anchoring in loads of space and a very sound nights sleep was the way to go.

When we went for a wander in the dinghy I could see exactly where you would anchor. As has been said the entrance, daylight hours on a rising tide, is pretty straight forward. There is a bit of stick marking the start of the smaller channel which trip boats use to get to the fort and buoys which serve as port hand markers. Not much scope for getting ashore though, everything is marked No Landing near the fort. Shame.

Henry

 

[Firefly625]

some pics from last year..

 

[henryf]

Speaking of seals:

Penguin driving along in his car when all of a sudden there is a terrible noise. Spots a garage & pulls in.

Hi there, my cars just started to make this awful noise. Is there any chance you could take a quick look?

No problem, grab yourself a coffee across the road and we'll take a look.

An hour later the penguin returns to the garage.

Any idea what the noise is?

Looks like you've blown a seal.

Oh no, that's just ice cream.......

I'll get my coat

Henry

 

[Blue Sunray]

Speaking of seals:

Penguin driving along in his car when all of a sudden there is a terrible noise. Spots a garage & pulls in.

Hi there, my cars just started to make this awful noise. Is there any chance you could take a quick look?

No problem, grab yourself a coffee across the road and we'll take a look.

An hour later the penguin returns to the garage.

Any idea what the noise is?

Looks like you've blown a seal.

Oh no, that's just ice cream.......

I'll get my coat

Henry

 

[Tranona]

That'd be Henry. He always seems to draw a crowd. I think it's because of the tame seal he takes round to be photographed everywhere.

Perhaps the angle iron is his as well!

 

[Tranona]

I liked this somewhat terse quote from VisitmyHarbour:

[h=2]Hazards[/h]Shallow Bar, Much Dries Within

That is to keep the grockles out! There are some quite big boats moored in the harbour. The channel right up to the quay is quite deep but narrow and winding, but stray off it and it gets very muddy very quickly.

 

[andy59]

Are you sure you didn`t go inside Henry ?