Visiting Studland

[EddieBlue]

Hello, we have recently moved marinas and gone back to Cobbs Quay at Poole after being away for a couple of years.

I have read that the Seahorses have managed to thrive despite/because of the activity that takes place at Studland and knew that an area was to be designated as no anchoring.

We went there yesterday, and saw a number of red bouys, some with boats rafted up and very few people anchoring. One boat was on a red bouy and had fenders out either side but he/she could have been waiting for friends.

Could any please tell me what the current protocol is at Studland please regarding anchoring / bouys

 

[epervier]

I believe it's a VNAZ voluntary no anchor zone, and there are buoys marking the area with vnaz marked on them, the sea horses are doing fine according to this :- post 18 in particular

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239519

It's the humans who are in danger, not the seahorses

 

[DAKA]

There is a voluntary no anchoring zone but it is a very small part of the anchorage that with a small/medium boat you would not normally wish to anchor in anyway.
The rest is anchorage is as normal and it would be a shame not to anchor in the rest of it for two reasons

a) it would make the no anchoring trial zone a waste of time as it would not be a fair trial

b) it is thought by some that not anchoring could actually harm the seahorses.



Are the locals trying to avoid anchoring in the bay altogether ?

 

[strakeryrius]

The VNAZ is marked by small yellow buoys, and is actually a remarkably small area close in under the cliffs at the Southern side of the bay. They don't have any markings, but then again they also don't have any hoops on top to assist with picking them up. This doesn't seem to stop some from lassoing them regardless. The red buoys are all proper mooring buoys and have hoops atop.

The picture in the first post of the other thread linked above shows two of the VNAZ buoys in the foreground

 

[strakeryrius]

Just read your profile Eddie and realised that I was anchored next to you on Sunday at Chapman's Pool. And came back through the 18:30 bridge with you also. Maybe see you around the marina and meet up for a beer sometime.

 

[EddieBlue]

Just read your profile Eddie and realised that I was anchored next to you on Sunday at Chapman's Pool. And came back through the 18:30 bridge with you also. Maybe see you around the marina and meet up for a beer sometime.

at

That seems a great idea, always keen for a beer and a chat. We ended up at Chapmans Pool as we were unsure what to do at Studland. Some of the red bouys seemed to be marked Branks Arms which I believe is the pub up the hill at Studland.

As it was Chapmans Pool was sheltered and sunny and I even managed a swim off the back of the boat without a wet suit!

We will look out for you, is your boat Nimue?

Eddie

 

[geardownthreegreens]

Now i anchor in Studland quite a lot and have always dropped anchor. I notice plenty of bouys around, now with the exception of named bouys, are you allowed to attach yourself to any others?

Si

 

[strakeryrius]

at

That seems a great idea, always keen for a beer and a chat. We ended up at Chapmans Pool as we were unsure what to do at Studland. Some of the red bouys seemed to be marked Branks Arms which I believe is the pub up the hill at Studland.

As it was Chapmans Pool was sheltered and sunny and I even managed a swim off the back of the boat without a wet suit!

We will look out for you, is your boat Nimue?

Eddie

I saw you go in - I'd considered it but went in the other week and the parts of me that shrivelled up haven't all come back to life yet!

If you moor up to one of the Bankes Arms buoys its sort of expected that you will go in and have lunch or similar at their pub, just up the road from the beach. Lots of people don't bother and just use the buoys and go, but there are also plenty of other buoys that don't seem to be associated with anyone, and even the ones marked private seem to get used by just about everyone.

My boat is Nimue - I'll look forward to seeing you around during the rest of the season.

 

[strakeryrius]

Now i anchor in Studland quite a lot and have always dropped anchor. I notice plenty of bouys around, now with the exception of named bouys, are you allowed to attach yourself to any others?

Si

It seems to be a first come, first served situation there - as I mentioned above even the ones marked private seem to get used by just about everyone.

This time of year and through the height of the season they can be very difficult to get onto, as many boats seem to stay overnight moored to the buoys reducing the number that are free, and on sunny Sundays the remainder are usually all taken by the first comers through the bridge. I have often arrived as one of the first through the bridge at 10:30 to find them all already occupied. Its not too much of a hardship to anchor up slightly further off the beach, and can be a bit quieter depending on your spot and your neighbours.

 

[EddieBlue]

Thanks for the information. I think the first beer must be on me for that.

The water was cold, well that is what I told my wife! Cold but not too bad

Eddie

 

[Dave_Seager]

Poole Harbour Notices to Mariners

I suggest that you look at the Poole Harbour Commissioners web site at www.phc.co.uk and read the Notices to Mariners. Here you will find a lot of useful local information including detailes for the Vonutary "No Anchor" Zone.