Top 5 Solent Anchorages

[2013PrincessV39]

Hi all,

I spent some time on a recent weekend marking up my 40m anchor, and began to think about where I might anchor this year out in the Solent. So far, it's been a question of choose where on the chart, turn up and see if anyone else has had the same idea.

Obviously this has its disadvantages, and therefore I wanted to ask if anyone could list their top 5 anchorages?

So far I've done the obvious osbourne bay, priory bay and a rather exciting solo anchor off Ventor beach on the south side of IoW.

Thanks for your replies!!

 

[lisilou]

Not tellin'.

 

[EugeneR]

Top 2 for us are here and here.

 

[benjenbav]

Top 2 for us are here and here.

I like both of those and would offer another personal favourite: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...2!3m1!1s0x487378a8c910b6b9:0xfe271a3d21524542

 

[alancollins]

Whitecliff Bay, round the corner from Bembridge.

 

[Chamaerops]

Alum Bay
Newtown Creek
Sandown Bay
Thorness Bay
Whitecliff Bay

East of Bramble Bank in the Solent tends to get lots of wake from passing traffic, so we tend to stay in the western Solent or around the corner if conditions are right. e.g. we were off the beach at Sandown yesterday.

 

[gjgm]

Could add around Keyhaven, and up the Beaulieu river- especially up past Bucklers Hard.

 

[burgundyben]

Could add around Keyhaven

Esp on a spring tide weekend.

 

[thecommander]

Depends on the wind direction really.

Osbourne Bay is our favourite in westerlies. The gin palace crowd complain about wash there, but in all honestly it's fine. Be careful if swimming in Osbourne Bay as there are tidal steams of up to 2.5 knots on springs and mobos occasionally rip through the anchorage.

Newtown River is another favourite, but madness in the summer with raggies and mobos vying for position. If your boat draws very little then head down the river towards Shalfleet quay for a far more pleasant experience.

Others are Stanswood Bay, Stokes Bay, Colwell Bay, Alum Bay, but all very much wind and tide dependant.