What is wrong with the river Hamble?

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Why are there so many yachts (sailing and motoryachts) coming out from the River Hamble cutting across everything and everyone, (except the Ferries) totally oblivious of rules or courtesy. You can see the people holding the wheels as if they have been glued on, with sails flapping and engine flat out making for a biblical exodus. In some cases even kids are steering the boats.

I am not complaining; it is quite amusing actually and I now expect it, I just keep a close eye on the yachts coming out from the Hamble. Miraculously, I have not seen any accidents yet in my whole 3 years sailing in the area. Am I the only one who has noticed this?

 

[ripvan1]

Same as Pompey entrance - must be a Solent thing

 

[photodog]

There is something about the place...


I had to dive across the cockpit and slam us into reverse a few years back when we were coming in after a charter and the boat we were overtaking... The boat coming in from port... And our own helmsman, All became zombi like and attempted to Enter the same space time continuum at the same moment...

 

[jac]

Always used to notice that when we were berthed in Shamrock Quay, the trip back got a lot more relaxed after passing the Hamble entrance. Now that we're on the Hamble we get the same feeling once we get past Hamble Point and Port Hamble.

I put it down to a lot of charter boats, racing boats and sailing schools doing strange things. Add that to the sheer volume of boats coming out !!

As for engine on and sails flapping, heading from the e cardinal to s cardinal is usually into the prevailing wind so very unusual to see a larger boat trying to sail out, in fact many will motor out and raise sails on that leg. If the boat is then heading west then it makes sense for the boat to carry on for a couple of extra minutes under engine, get across the deep water channel before the precautionary area.

Why they all have to cut everyone else up is a different matter!!

 

[Hambler Rambler]

If you leave any more than a boat's width gap to the moored boats/marinas on your stbd side and (for some reason) are motoring at less than 6kts you will also find yourself being overtaken on both sides, often simultaneously...

 

[l'escargot]

Same as Pompey entrance - must be a Solent thing

More likely a busy narrow entrance thing, Poole's probably even worse.

 

[Seajet]

More likely a busy narrow entrance thing, Poole's probably even worse.

That and strong tides.

I must say I have noticed something about boats from the Hamble though, it is indeed a ' boat park ' and sensitive souls like me never visit there again after having tried it, I suspect a lot of the ' Solent Sailor ' banter is based on peoples' experiences there !

 

[Firefly625]

know as the Hamble Scramble.... gets worse every year... shear volume and stupidity of some folk means you always need to be alert.. pic taken a couple of weeks ago...ever get the feeling you are being followed!

 

[l'escargot]

know as the Hamble Scramble.... gets worse every year... shear volume and stupidity of some folk means you always need to be alert.. pic taken a couple of weeks ago...ever get the feeling you are being followed!

Looks like the mobos outnumber the raggies there

 

[SolentBoat]

One of the (many) pleasant aspects of being a local is that I usually sail outside of the Hamble-Scramble "rush hours" (when the Solent is also blissfully empty).

Got a shock a couple of years back; arriving home at the Hamble entrance "against the flow of traffic" on a sunny Bank Holiday weekend. Not only were there wall-to-wall oncoming vessels but, darting amongst them, it seemed were most of the youth of Warsash in Oppies.

 

[PhillM]

Answer to the OP, nothing, its great.

Sure there are rush hours, sure there are a few plonkers, sure there are a lot of people who are not as good as they would like to be (me included).

BUT its a nice place with plenty to see and do. Plenty of places to go and lots of things to keep the family happy.

I really enjoy the 45 mins it takes to get up or down the river (max 4 kn for me). Always something to see, whatever time of day or night. I find it a very relaxing start or end to a journey.

I don't like the very end of the river, its always lumpy and seems more windy than anywhere else, oh and usually a ferry or other wash to try to knock me off the foredeck, but that's a very minor grumble.

Yes, you have to be alert, yes you can get over and undertaken. Yes its overcrowded, but popular places always are. If you want solitude don't live or sail here. You don't live in the SE and expect space, peace or quiet. If you are looking for that go somewhere else.


Oh and I agree that if you can get out week days it is SOO quiet compared to a Saturday morning.

TBH there always seems more traffic in Cowes or Pompey when I visit.