Visiting Poole Harbour

You have a few options:

Poole Quay Boat Haven: commercial marina run by Poole Harbour Commissioners, close to town and shops, lots to see, can be a bit noisy. Facilities are across the road from the quay and are OK
Port of Poole Marina. Same ownership as above but much less convenient.

Poole Yacht Club: just to west of the main quay next to ferry terminal which is a bit industrial. A very active club with a good clubhouse. Good food, great views from clubhouse across harbour. A brisk walk into town across the Town lifting bridge.

Parkstone Yacht Club. Another very active club with a large brand new clubhouse opened this year. Facilities are good and food served all lunchtimes and every evening except Tuesday and Sunday. Again great views. Very good chandlery on site. A longer walk into Poole around the edge of the harbour but also can walk to Parkstone and Lilliput for restaurants and shops.

Salterns Marina: commercial marina on the east side of the harbour. Chandlery and fuel on site. Facilities Ok. Shops a short walk in Lilliput. Closest marina to the Sandbanks beaches.

Availability at the two yacht clubs will depend on berth holders being away. Probably better availability at the commercial marinas.

The easiest to access are the marinas at the Quay as you stick to the main channel all the way in
 
Call up first by phone as space is limited at all marinas.

If you have to go to the ' overflow ' spaces on the town quay go as far towards the bridge as possible; weather and deliberate wash from ' professional ' fishing and tripper boats can cause damage - guess how I know.

You might have all the money in the world but the best experiences you'll ever have are if you go with food etc to be self contained for a night or two and anchor at South Deep ( nb depth ) then go upriver to Wareham - or Redcliffe YC if they have space - if your draft allows.
 
Seajet said:
You might have all the money in the world....
Click to expand...
:) I don't! but the present Mrs Scala not interested in off grid experiences....

Seajet said:
... go with food etc to be self contained for a night or two and anchor at South Deep ( nb depth ) then go upriver to Wareham - or Redcliffe YC if they have space - if your draft allows.
Click to expand...
Draft is 1.7m. Buoys at Wareham but no Marina I think?
 
PHC Yacht Haven on the quay is the only realistic option. Would normally recommend Poole Yacht Club as it is quieter but close to the action (and I am a member), but officially the limit is 38' - although there are several members' boats which exceed that. You could give the club a call as there are some berths that will take longer, but there are no dedicated visitors berths.

The Yacht Haven is top price but excellent facilities and right in the heart of the action. Every thing you could possibly want in a town setting is walking distance. Downside is busy and noisy. Tuesday is a good night if you are into exotic motorbikes and Friday evenings in July and August for cars. July 27 best for pre 1983 cars - I often sneak my Morgan in as it looks old! 20 July to drool over Ferraris and other Italian exotics.

As suggested with your draft you can use some of the delightful anchorages, even if just for a lunch stop, but would advise against going up the Frome. OK with a smaller boat but it is very tight particularly past Ridge.

Let me know when you are coming or if you want any more info.
 
Scala said:
:) I don't! but the present Mrs Scala not interested in off grid experiences....


Draft is 1.7m. Buoys at Wareham but no Marina I think?
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No spare or useful buoys but as I suspected your draft is a bit prohibitive for the Frome and Wareham, sadly; might be worth a taxi from Poole as we discovered finding a decent meal there very tricky !

That was a few years ago so Poole may have joined the 21st Century food wise by now - otherwise it's a delightful place.
 
Have been going to Poole for many years and since it's construction have always used the Yacht Haven . Berthing there is fairly simple and staff helpful but would book in advance . Other options for berthing some way from town unless taxiing or carrying bikes however Poole is fairly sad and the facilities at marina not attractive . There was a reasonable French restaurant in a former pub which might be worth booking for meal out if it'd still there but otherwise fine dining lacking for the discerning yachtsman although I haven't tried yacht clubs. Best things if weather is fine is open top bus trip to Bournemouth or ferry trip to Brownsea . Generally after a couple of days you will be tired of Poole town though and longing to be in Portland/Weymouth, Lymington or even Ocean village in Soton. The best reason for berthing at Poole is to explore the locality outside Poole so if the bus doesn't attract car hire might be worth checking in advance as well. Given its proximity to Sandbanks , Poole offers little by way of a retail experience sadly.
 
The cinema at Canford Cliffs can be an interesting bus ride away in the unlikely event Hollywood has churned out something worth watching, there are a few other things going on though I think the Burger King may have closed ? And you're not going to see Seajet on Ice any time soon, you'll be relieved to hear.
 
Seajet said:
A wonderful place to be .:encouragement:
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Agree anchored there last sunday for lunch. What I like about it is that you can see North in between the islands back to the yacht club and ferry port, but it is a good sail of 1-1/2 hours each way to get from one to the other. If you have a shallow draft boat you can do a complete circuit of the islands. Two different worlds and a pleasant way to spend a day when you don't fancy going outside the harbour.
 
Anywhere to the south of the channel where it is straight after Green Island. There are plastic P&S markers for the channel that tripper boats use and withies outside them which mark where it shallows. Between the two has enough space and water. Invariably there are other anchored boats to give you an idea. Nice sticky mud bottom.

Other top spot is west of Brownsea, approached through the moorings in the Wych Channel on the north side of Brownsea. not as other worldy as South Deep but still pleasant and you can land on Brownsea if you want to stretch your legs.
 
Would just add Shipstal Point as a pleasant anchorage (there's a deep pool there) for a walk around the Arne nature reserve and a visit to the café.
Of course, Studland Bay is close by for swimming.
Entering or leaving Poole harbour from or to the east use the East Looe channel there's plenty of water and it keeps you out of the tide and the crowds.
Enjoy.
 
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