Where oh where..?

[kilkerr1]

We're spending 4 days on board St T this Bank Hol w/end, and being newbies to the Chi/Solent area are wondering where oh where to head to escape from the inevitable holiday throng. The only viable suggestion I can come up with is the rather beautifully named Sea of Tranquility:

Anyone have any advice on the approach? Can we expect to be able to pick up a visitor's buoy with ease? And any suggestions for good hostelries thereabouts..? The Sea of Serenity is, of course, not a moon rock's throw away, but we favour the former for its historical interest...


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[StugeronSteve]

Didn't anyone ever teach you to keep your shadow out of the picture?

According to Tom Cunliffe's Shell Lunar Pilot, you need to keep Neptune in transit with Uranus on your approach and follow the little green leading lights.

I wouldn't bother with any of the restaurants and bars, I hear they're all a bit dull and lack atmosphere.

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[tome]

It's a tricky approach, and you'll want to make sure your fuel tank is fully topped as it's further than you'd think. NASA make a good approach thingy...

Seriously, the trick for BH weekends is to head for places where boats vacate for the weekend, eg the Hamble or Shamrock Quay etc. We're going out Saturday and will be facing a similiar dilemna as SWMBO wants to chill out locally. We'll take the Tuesday off so that we can do places like Yarmouth Monday night after all the crowds have returned.

Forget Cowes, Yarmouth, Lymington, Beaulieu, or Newtown and probably Bembridge Saturday evening! Having said that, I've never failed to get into Yarmouth even when the harbour full sign is up.

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[Nickel]

Depends what you're after.

Echo Tome - head for where other boats are leaving. The only trouble with that is that often once you get there, there's nothing about. The Upper Hamble is fairly dull until you get right up to Moody's and Deacon's Boatyard, where you've got the Jolly Sailor, the Ship Inn and the Spinnaker [the worst of the three IMHO], so you probably want to look for spaces by Hamble village itself.

Shamrock Quay is a good marina I believe, but it's a fair hike from anywhere in Southampton [except the football ground!].

Gosport Marinas and Gunwharf in Portsmouth are relatively near the towns, pubs and restaurants. Port Solent has it's own minitown. If that's what you're after.

Langstone Harbour has visiting buoys, [and Southsea Marina] and is great for wildlife - big RSPB reserve right in the middle. Can appear quite bleak, especially on a British Bank Holiday weekend, but i reckon it has a beauty alll its own.

Chichester harbour I know a lot less well, but there are some good visiting sites. I've been meaning to visit Itchenor for ages, partly because the name sounds good - another reason - I remember reading of one of HM Inspectors of Boatyards visiting some Solent boatyards in about 1789. He started in Beaulieu, and then by a 12 man longboat was rowed all the way to Itchenor for another visit that day. That's some row!

Have a good weekend - I'm laying lino in the utility room! Don't think about me! don't even give me a thought!




<hr width=100% size=1>Nickel

Being paranoid simply means - having all the facts.

 

[ChrisE]

Tom,
You'll fail this year. Yarmouth have done a risk reveiw and only allow max of 3 boats rafting up on each trot and they enforce the rule. As a consequence the buoys outside get filled up very quickly. Thus, pushing craft over to what used be my quiet side of the Solent grrrr!

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[robp]

Lends a new meaning to running aground?

Not sure about bouys but there are various anchorages within easy dinghy reach of pubs and hotels. Priory Bay for the Bay Watch on the Beach, Seaview for pubs and hotels. (Both can be rolly). Totland for a hotel. Osborne Bay for Cowes although I've never done that. There used to be a place called the Salty Seadog just by Gurnard Ledge, with free moorings for diners. I don't know what happened to that, or if someone else took it over? You can anchor outside Newtown Creek, presumably with a dinghy ride and walk to the pub? There are bouys outside Yarmouth too.

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[AIDY]

Yarmouth carnival this weekend. Busy, Busy. get there early

<hr width=100% size=1>/forums/images/icons/wink.gif <font color=blue> Regards Andy </font color=blue>

 

[rickp]

When did this change? We had 4 on a trot on an earlier bank holiday this year, and none of them were particularly small boats.

Rick

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[Walnut]

I couldn't help but notice from the picture that the tide has gone out quite a long way. Have you got the tide tables for the area?

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[kilkerr1]

/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[ChrisE]

Well, I as far as I know it came into force this year, but clearly there are exceptions. My info was based on chatting to Bryn, one of the berthing guys (the slightly toothless Welshman) earlier this year.

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[kilkerr1]

Re. fuel apparently the good ship Apollo 11 had only about 30 seconds of fuel left when arriving at the visitors pontoon...

Thanks for suggestions, tome.


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[kilkerr1]

Good point. Must pick up a copy of Tom Cunliffe's Shell Lunar Pilot, as advised by SturgeronSteve...

We could, of course, try the Sea of Crisis - I hear one must get used to running aground for five hours on soft mud with no teabags regularly here - or the Sea of Fecundity. On second thoughts, I'll stay away from the latter...


<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://kilkerr.members.easyspace.com/santateresa_pics.htm>Santa Teresa and other t'ings</A><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by kilkerr1 on 25/08/2004 14:49 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[jhr]

In spite of what Tome says about the Beaulieu River, if you ask him very nicely, the Harbourmaster may allow you to anchor at Bailey's Hard, about 2 miles above Buckler's Hard - or may even be able to find you a mooring up there. The river gets very shallow at low tide, but that shouldn't be a problem for you, as I think you have bilge keels? If you go up above the moorings and drop the hook, you should settle nicely - but don't forget to hoist your anchor ball /forums/images/icons/smile.gif. There is total peace and quiet, and absolutely no facilities except for a cold water tap at the landing stage. Buckler's Hard is about 25 minutes by dinghy.

This is what it looks like. Don't ram the rather fine craft in the photo.

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho