UK berth size visitors

Sat in St Peter Port one afternoon having a G&T we watched the harbour master direct a 60ft yacht to the fish dock on the other side of the harbour as there wasn't anywhere for him to go in the marina or outside pontoons. Owner didn't look impressed climbing up the vertical ladder to tie up.
 
The Imray pilot guides I use in the med state max LOA for each port, and also often comment on how full they get in peak season. I can't remember if the UK guides also do this, but it may be worth a look.
 
rubberduck said:
Along the UK coast what is likely to be berth availability for a visiting boat around 50ft versus one closer to 60 ft during peak summer (52-58 to be precise) ?
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Admillington would probably be a good source as he has been running Squadron 55 / 58 and now I believe a Princess 56 in the UK for a number of years.
Might be worth a pm
 
Whilst not answering the question ..... on the Atlantic coast of France we were 12m. This was large! Most sailing boats were 10m ish and the only power boats were merry fishers ( thousands of them !) 12m was fine, 15m would have been a challenge, not impossible but you would be booking ahead. More than that .... would be interesting!

I have not really boated in the UK, but most things can be solved with a phone call. Having said that the one weekend I ever tried to go anywhere from the solent ( boat i bought was there) they all said busy so i didn't bother to go! Next stop was France!
 
I think you'd struggle. A friend on the South Coast has a 52' MY and is reluctant to go any bigger because of this. It's not just length but beam, so if you can't fit side-by-side on a double berth you're limited by the number of single berths in each marina.
 
From experience the following marinas would be fine to visit with a 50 - 60 foot boat

Helford will probably not want to take greater than 50' on a visitor bouy but will if pushed and no easterly
Mylor
Pendennis
Premier Falmouth, (although always tough to get in)
St mawes will take a big boat on a bouy
Fowey fine on the pontoons
Plymouth:
Mayflower
Sutton
QAB
Dartmouth:
Kingsmere
Dart Haven, (if you have the money and they have room)!
Portland
Weymouth Harbourside, (but you will be rafted in season)
Pool town harbour
Berthon
Bucklers Hard
Port Hamble
Mercury
Ocean village
Gosport
Chichester
Littlehampton, (they have one big space!)
Brighton

That's all I can help with - I'm sure others can fill in the gaps of which there are many. Personally I don't think that you will struggle as long as you call ahead and get in early....

You certainly will not have any problems in Brittany with a boat that size.

Hope this helps
 
rubberduck said:
Along the UK coast what is likely to be berth availability for a visiting boat around 50ft versus one closer to 60 ft during peak summer (52-58 to be precise) ?
Click to expand...

Having been around the Solent for the last 10 years with boats starting from a Phantom 50 and then onto a Squadron 55 and then a 58 and now a Princess 56 (really 60ft) it is not a problem getting a berth BUT you have to think ahead and book a berth - spontaneous doesn't work - you need to get it all sorted Monday morning for the following weekend.

For Buckler's Hard always go for 2 days as for larger boats they have an annoying habit of wanting you to move off the ferry berth by 10:30.

For Yarmouth, book on line via thier website.

For Lymington go for a Berthons as it is so much closer to the town and drop by Berth E5 for a cold beer.

Any questions please let me know.

Andrew
 
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