Top of Poole harbour with a Wayfarer

[FairweatherDave]

Just planning a weekend away with the Wayfarer and I have not sailed in Poole harbour. From various bits of reading I am getting ideas of where to launch and like the idea of Ridge wharf up the River Frome towards Wareham, trying to avoid the traffic etc of Poole itself. For a day out first high water is at 11am, second at 3pm and low water at 6pm. That could be a very full day out for my crew as I am guessing retrieving the boat might be difficult, as might getting back up the river at low water, as it might require waiting until nearer 9pm? I do know other launch sites can be used at all states of tide but I would be interested in hearing comments about my plan. Would it be better to go to Poole when it is low water mid afternoon in order to use the tide to and from Ridge wharf, or does that restrict the quality of dinghy sailing around the islands on the south side of the harbour? I do have an outboard for the river section if it is too narrow to sail at LW. Thanks for any comments from those in the know.

 

[Tranona]

It is the flow that is perhaps more important going back into the river around low water as there is enough water in the channel for a boat like that - but not sure how much water you need at Ridge to use the slipway. A call to Ridge will probably get you better information. Be aware it is a long haul to get down to the harbour if you want to go round the islands, and you may be better looking at launching in Poole. Parkstone Bay marina might be good. Traffic through Wareham is likely to be bad on a sunny weekend and may take longer than getting into Poole, depending on where you are starting from, of course.

 

[rhino_mac]

There's a guide to the slipways in Poole here: http://www.mby.com/general/poole-harbour-slipway-guide-26910

Cobbs and Davies are likely to be an issue with the bridges but they aren't tidal. When I was berthed at Parkstone Bay in my MB the slipway was out of use for health and safety reasons - they were launching small powerboats using either the forklifts or the larger lift. This was a couple of years ago so worth checking the situation now. PB is also tidal - it can get very shallow indeed on low springs.

Poole is lovely and there is perfect to explore with a dinghy. I never did get up the Frome but I understand it is very pretty and there are plenty of pubs in Wareham for liquid refreshment.

Round the back of Brownsea is also well worth a visit.

 

[Kermit]

I've used Baiter Point in the past. Good access from what I recall, although we didn't plan to return to it as we sailed to Calshot and retreived the boat there.

 

[Bluebird]

I would suggest the best slipway for sailing out and around the islands in the harbour would be the one at Rockley.

 

[FairweatherDave]

Thanks for the replies so far. I may yet change to another launch site but I am keen to hear from anyone who has used the River Frome as that suits our accomodation for the weekend. I do take Tranona's point that it is about a 14nm round trip round Brownsea from the river exit. We do have the whole day to explore so we can rest up at points. It is the return bit of the day I'm interested in.

 

[colhel]

Many moons ago I kept a small day sailing boat at Redcliffe Farm but this was more down to cost rather than convenience. It's a about a mile or so up river from Ridge Wharf. Personally unless you specifically explore the River I would launch more in the Harbour. Rockley has been mentioned but one I used regularly was Baiter Carpark, here you can rig up and launch in most tides and there's quite a large area to pootle about until you're ready to cross the main channel. By using the tides, the back of Brownsea is only a short sail. The River Frome although lovely does winde it's way up so expect a lot of tacking. When are you coming?

 

[FairweatherDave]

Redcliffe farm is actually where we are thinking of camping (and launching) . We would use the outboard to chug up river 'coz there is nothing my wife and son like more than lots of tacking..... It is the accomodation that is driving the location.......... Coming Thursday 2nd July for the weekend if it all looks good......

 

[GrahamD]

Ridge / Redcliffe is an excellent campsite, but it is best to work with the tides to do the trip you are proposing, and on your weekend these are not ideal. The ebb from Wareham doesn't start until at least midday, with a mid to late evening flood.
You could still sail in the top end of the harbour, and get down to the Arne peninsula and Round and Long Island, but all the way round the other islands may be more difficult. If the conditions are right and/ or your engine is up to the job you will be able to get home.
On other days you could tow the boat to another slip way in the harbour as suggested by others and then explore other parts of the harbour.

 

[FairweatherDave]

Thanks Graham. We are never early starters so starting midday is quite normal, as is finishing in the evening. That is a full day for us. I guess my question remains how early you can return up the river if it is low water at 6pm at the RoRo terminal. To elaborate my thoughts, we like the idea of camping and like the idea of having the boat rigged on the trolley and ready to launch next to the slipway. (I'm quite happy when I'm on my own messing about with derigging and trailers etc and towing home late at night but with my crew, they just like to walk away and probably find some grub - don't we all?). So alternative options where we could leave the boat rigged and ready to go over the weekend would be welcome. Equally I imagine with the two high tides over the middle of the day you can do a lot of sailing, but would returning against the ebb with a small outboard be asking too much. I know the currents can be strong at the harbour entrance but presumably they can be pretty significant higher up too.

 

[GrahamD]

The currents in the upper part of the harbour are not as strong as the harbour entrance, but still significant when trying to sail or motor with a small engine against them. So be careful with the wind conditions and consider that if things go wrong you could be trying to get into an unlit river mouth in the dark.

You should be able to get back into the river in a wayfarer under engine at most states of the tide, except near chart datum but it's important to stay in the channel and to avoid strolling seagulls.

Places where you can leave a rigged boat with any degree of security are limited to the yacht clubs and Parkstone Marina. It may be worth contacting Poole or Parkstone yacht clubs, or Lilliput sailing club to see if they would allow you to leave your boat in their yards, but I'm not sure of their policies on dinghy visitors who are not there for an event.. You would also have to join as a temporary member for the duration of your stay. Just remembered that there is a compound at Rockley, so could be worth asking there too.

 

[FairweatherDave]

Thanks Graham. You are accurate on the hurdles for leaving a rigged boat. Just made calls to Parkstone YC and Rockley, and Rockley looks the easy route, but price for everything there (launch,park and storage) is £28 a day, or £101 a week. Then there are still the accomodation costs on top , so probably will dodge the strolling seagulls and go for Frome river! At least long daylight hours are on my side.

 

[snowleopard]

Redcliffe farm is actually where we are thinking of camping (and launching) . We would use the outboard to chug up river 'coz there is nothing my wife and son like more than lots of tacking..... It is the accomodation that is driving the location.......... Coming Thursday 2nd July for the weekend if it all looks good......

I think that's where we camped with our Nat 18 back in the 70s. We had a great few days and chugged up the river with our Seagull. It might be a bit tricky if you rely on sail.

p.s. you're not allowed to land on Brownsea Island if you're not an NT member but they wouldn't be able to do much about it as they don't have anyone stationed there AFAIK.

 

[lw395]

FWIW, I remember getting within a short stroll of the pubs in Wareham with the RYA's lifting keel Sonatas in the mid 80s. No motors, so I guess the wind direction must have been favourable, although we were pretty good at short-tacking...

 

[Seajet]

Dave,

the Frome is truly lovely, but as mentioned very windey so I'd be impressed if you could tack all the way to Wareham without motoring.

Ridge Wharf seems handy and Redcliffe YC is extremely friendly, but I suspect more cruiser oriented - worth asking, 01929 551227.

One tip, on the river you get a lot of weed coming downstream, so it's worth doing a 180 every now and again and reverse to clear off the build-up on the centreboard & rudder before you lose steerage way.

A wonderful area !

 

[blackbeard]

I have spent many happy weeks dinghy sailing in Poole Harbour - a wonderful area for dinghies, also for small twin-keel cruising yachts. Those with big deep-draught fin-keel yachts don't know what they are missing ...
I have sailed (ie with sails, no engine), several times, up the Frome as far as Wareham, in a dinghy; but you do need the right wind and tide. It's getting steadily more difficult under sail, with more moored boats (mainly a problem as you get close to Wareham); and if you sail from anywhere on this river, you will need an outboard motor or else a large slice of luck. You will need to get in/out fairly quickly as you will have some way to go, even after leaving the confines of the river, to get to Brownsea. Incidentally, the piles marking the channel mean it, but you are better off in a boat where you can raise the centreboard ...
Baiter could be a lot easier but it's some (many!) years since I have sailed from there.
On Brownsea - no, you don't have to be an NT member but, if you are not, you may (at least in theory) be asked to pay a landing fee. No landing on: area round the "Castle" (leased), near to the commercial ferry quay (FAR too busy!) or on most of the north shore (bird sanctuary). Can land on: west side (near Pottery Pier, but pier itself is derelict, disintegrating and dangerous (shame on you, NT)) and south shore (in Blood Alley Lake, named, some say, following a full and frank exchange of views between local "freetraders" and the Revenue). Marvellous island, must see, and only island which is not privately (as opposed to NT) owned.

 

[FairweatherDave]

An update. just back from a successful explore of Poole harbour from the River Frome. Stayed at Redcliffe Farm (Ridge, Wareham) and used the slipway there. For a Wayfarer there was plenty of water in the river as long as you stayed in the right bit (on two occasions we grounded) and on both days we passed yachts temporarily grounded somewhere near the bottom of the tide. First day was a great trip in a south easterly down to Pottery Pier on Brownsea Island and then down Blood Alley before returning around Furzey and Green Island. Quite happy to use the centreboard as a depth gauge and was well impressed with quite how shallow so much of the harbour is . But what a lovely place to have finally got to. Day two was a more windy SW with gusts up to force 5. Not a problem coming down the Wareham channel and lunch at Shipstal Point but beating directly back up against the ebb was challenging and very wet in the chop, (just a reefed mainsail), and the outboard had a lot of work to do to get us back up the river. Campsite was absolutely perfect (pretty quiet, lots of kayaks, Canadian canoes) and Wareham eateries and pubs definitely get a thumbs up. For a daytrip to Poole harbour I would launch elsewhere but for a long weekend it was perfect. We will be back, and thanks for all the guidance here, it was bang on.

 

[Tranona]

Glad you enjoyed it. As you probably found out the withies marking the channel for the final two bends going into the river are actually on the mud which you only discover at low tide. Adds to the charm. Met somebody the other day who discovered this for the first time and spent 3 hours on the mud! Fortunately it was a nice afternoon to watch the birds.

 

[FairweatherDave]

On the subject of channel markers I am pretty sure we grounded in the middle of the channel from Cleaval point that exits west south west of Pottery pier on Brownsea. It would have been near LW. We found it fascinating how shallow it could be seemingly a long way from land. I got the chance to look at some proper charts after the event as I spotted a fellow camper was studying his as he has a Wanderer and is a more regular sailor there.
The double high tides were great to witness from our lunch spot too.
We love Poole!

 

[LadyInBed]

Did you pay to launch at Ridge Wharf boat yard slip?If so, how much was it?