Where should I park (Solent or Bristol Channel)

[andy_wilson]

My wife is getting on my nerves with her constant whinging during the drive from Yorkshire to the West Country, so shaving a couple of hours off the journey time looks attractive. We know people around the Solent so that is her preference.

I would prefer ease of road access so two distinct possibilities are Wicormarine, with car and dinghy park laid on, and a Hamble mooring, which much to my suprise looks like I may have just about bubbled to the surface of the list.

Question is, where can I leave the dinghy (and o/b preferably) by The Hamble, with car parking too. Who offers it, and what sort of charge per year or season?

Also, I am well familiar with the treck down to the Hamble side of the river. Is it much harder / further to get to the waters edge on the Warsash side?

S'pose a secondary question would be any further suggestions for locations with reasonable access from the motorways leading from Yorkshire. Not bothered about paying for a marina berth for 365 days when we only use them for about 15.

Third option is to continue clockwise around the coast and bunk up around Watchet or adjaecent places which would save an hour or so. Any thoughts of an interesting base for a season up the Bristol Channel, fin keel, 1.6 m, happy to have some tidal restictions on access (well I'd need to in the Bristol Channel!).

 

[Scarboroughsloop]

My vote would be for Wicormarine. Very friendly yard with good facilities close by.

 

[graham]

Watchet is a pleasant little Marina but access is limited to about 2 hours each side of High Water.

Portishead offers about 3.5 hours either side but is placed well up channel and is a bit of a building site at present due to being expanded.

Cardiff /Penarth offers almost unlimited access through the cardiff Barrage.

I have to admit if berthing on the South or South West coast was an option for me I would take it in preference to Bristol Channel.

 

[ChrisE]

Well on the basis of being based in The Solent and a weekend's sailing in the Bristol Channel and money being no object, I'd plump for The Solent.

I'm not knocking the BC but you are limited in your venues for a weekend sail, relative to the number of fleshpots in The Solent. I'd guess that after a couple trips to Bristol, Watchet and Portishead, all lovely places, you'd be wondering where to go next. Cardiff Bay and Penarth are OK but again limited in their appeal in my view. And whilst the tides could be challenging/interesting they are so strong that I'd guess a fair amount of your sailing would be under iron topsail

However, if money was a factor then you'll have more money left in your pocket in BC.

 

[jhr]

Depending on where you are moored, Wicormarine may or may not have tidal restrictions. Otherwise, everything I've ever heard about them is positive, though I've never been moored there.

Hamble is more centrally placed in the Solent and it'll be quicker to access open water than Wicormarine, which is a long way up Portsmouth Harbour. If your sailing involves going out on Saturday morning and returning Sunday evening, then the "Hamble Scramble" is a pain.

So far as travel times are concerned, Warsash side is a bit quieter (fewer marinas!) but it's a more circuitous route to Warsash than to Hamble, so I suspect it's swings and roundabouts.

On balance I'd go for Wicormarine, particularly if it's an all tide mooring.

 

[WayneS]

You could also try Portchester Sailing club at the top end of Portsmouth Harbour. Not sure of the availibilty of suitable morrings but worth a try. Cheap too and has dinghy park and parking. Close to M27 too.

Cheers

Wayne

 

[ColinHuggins]

I used to sail a Fulmar out of Hamble regularly. It takes only half a tide to reach either end of the Solent which can be exasperating after you've visited everywhere and want a change. I moved to Portsmouth which is much better placed for weekend cruising. And that 'long haul' down the harbour is very useful for making things shipshape, and winding down on the way back.
No contest IMHO.

 

[Goldie]

I'd go for Wicormarine. The pile and pontoon (between piles - no shore access) moorings are all tide, as are most of the swinging moorings. The yard staff are pleasant and helpful and the moorings are inspected most days, and certainly after a blow. Friends of ours moved from the Hamble to Wicormarine precisely because of the difficulties in finding somewhere to keep a dinghy and park the car. There is also the option to rent a locker for outboards etc, there is a small but well stocked chandlery on site and showers are available if required. Depending on tide, it takes about 45 minutes to the harbour entrance.

 

[Slow_boat]

I spoke to Portchester sailing club last year about membership and moorings.

I was told that they hold interviews for potential members twice a year, moorings are not readily available and they don't like the idea of members living a great distance from the club!

Not the same friendly club I used to visit in the seventies, by the sound of it.

 

[Slow_boat]

You could try Abersoch, North Wales. It's a lovely harbour and much nearer home.

Or how about Largs, even that's closer to you than Devon, isn't it?

 

[jwilson]

Don't write off the Bristol Channel, particularly if your keel can take the ground, against a wall or with legs. If a modern 'don't dry out on it' keel you are very restricted though, and it's probably not the place for you. I sailed there for many years, though I'm now now based in Falmouth. Based anywhere up-channel in the Bristol Channel (Watchet/Portishead/Cardiff etc) you can be out of the muddy stuff and into clear water in one ebb tide, with interesting places to go (though very few marinas). Unlike South coast boats who seem forever to pound along into foul tide on the engine, you probably use the engine less there. Once the tide turns against you in the BC the engine isn't much help. The fast tides though do take you a surprisingly long way in six or seven hours, even if the wind is on the nose (though it can make it a bit lumpy wind against tide). If you go with a free wind you can do spectacularly long distances in 6 hours of favourable plus a couple of hours of slackish water.

You do have to accept that once you've set off from somewhere you're committed for maybe 10 hours till near HW again - no convenient pop-in harbours like on the Solent - never more than an hour away from accessible shelter.

 

[christopherc]

I had a similar dilema, being based in the midlands. The thought of the hamble scramble on a sunday afternoon was enough to put me off for now at least, having recently cruised fab pembrokeshire coast. I've decided to try and get into Swansea when the new berths are available in November. Currently there is a big waiting list, which I'm hoping will quickly go when 130 new berths arrive. Access to Gower and Pembrokeshire, north devon, even back up to cardiff and bristol. A lot cheaper than Hamble, we'll see how it goes.

 

[andy_wilson]

I regularly dry alongside and the keel hasn't come through yet.
I have a slight problem entertaining wife and small child for long compulsory sails. Need two boats in two locations really.

Or mebe three!

 

[chubby]

Another vote for Wicormarine, I`ve been there 17 years so can`t be bad but is better than ever: very close to the M27, friendly family run yard, parking and storage for OB and dinghy, some moorings are deepwater and some tidal but they have dredged a dinghy channel so the slip is accesible nearly all tide . The moorings are peaceful and semi rural and Portsmouth harbour always full of interest with the ferries, RN etc. The Solent is 45 mins away, long enough to stow sails and boil the kettle on the way up harbour. You have to watch youself in the small boat channel but not as bad as the Hamble scramble, great place!

 

[hlb]

Well I live in Lancashire and have kept my boat in Plymouth for the last seven years. Know just what you mean about the journey having just come back yesterday. Mind I've been talking about moving the boat north ever since I bought it. But after the journey, theres little more to worry about. I hardly ever look at a tide table. Less it's a trip upriver.

I would not touch the Solent with a barge pole. Had unfortunatley to go up there this year. AGAIN. It's fine, like a kid likes a boating lake, with a candy floss stall at the end. But as you get older, realise. It's all a bit naff.

Bristol chanel, utter crap from the opposite perspective. Yep, spent a month or two in Penarth, Swansea Portishead and Milford Haven. It's just a life time spent pouring over tide tables and planning. OK if you like that sort of thing. Or have the time or inclination.

Wales is crap to. Apart from it's proximity to Ireland, which is a jem. West coast of scotland is great, though can get a bit remote.

Trouble is, you and I have found the best. Stuff the rest!! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[whisper]

Have you thought about the R.Exe.? Easy access off the M5 - would save you a good hour I'd have thought.
However, like hlb I reckon you are already in one of the best areas there is. Failing that, try the Clyde - superb and even super superb further to the North West.

 

[Seven Spades]

Why don't you go to Hartlepool, then you can spend more time sailing and less traveling?

 

[Malish]

Go for the east coast, readily accessible via the A1 / M11, much more sociable (and less crowded) than the south coast and, assuming you can read a chart, the shallow water / sandbank myths are quickly put to bed. Locations: the Orwell might be your best bet but plenty of other choices.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Hamble tender parking

Public (insecure) parking at Hamble village. Otherwise any of the marinae offer tender parking (afloat or ashore) with associated car parking, access to showers etc. I pay just over £500pa to keep my tender in a locked compound at Mercury, where there is a dedicated launching/landing area. I don't bother with an outboard, just keep a pair of oars with the tender.

 

[RichardTaylor]

Re: Hamble tender parking

[ QUOTE ]
Public (insecure) parking at Hamble village. Otherwise any of the marinae offer tender parking (afloat or ashore) with associated car parking, access to showers etc. I pay just over £500pa to keep my tender in a locked compound at Mercury, where there is a dedicated launching/landing area. I don't bother with an outboard, just keep a pair of oars with the tender.

[/ QUOTE ]

Insecure parking ourside of the marinas on the Hamble is a problem.

£500 to keep a tender at Mercury. I pay about that to moor our Griffon between piles on the Hamble!!!!

There is are good water taxi services (recommend Hamble Warsash Taxi - the pink ones) on the Hamble which we use, and keep a inflatable onboard for out of hours.

Worth looking at what the sailing clubs can offer, as some offer (limited) secure parking for weeks away and cheap tender dinghy storage.