Where to pick up crew in Southampton?

[BabySharkDooDooDooDooDoo]

Obvious answers are Town Quay and Ocean Village marinas but I'd rather pass on the short stay charges, have I missed any other options?

 

[ip485]

What about the pontoons in the river and under the bridge if you have a tender - does anyone bother to come a collect a fee for a short stop - it is kind of fun going under the bridge as well if your mast just fits - will we, wont we ;-)

 

[prv]

Hmm. The problem is that practically all the waterfront in Southampton is either the main docks (up the Test) or smaller wharves, yards, and marinas (the Itchen). There are some public slipways, the main one being Crosshouse Hard under the Itchen Bridge plus a handful of small semi-disused slips down industrial back-roads, but I can't think of anywhere truly public that you could bring a yacht alongside.

Private establishments with landings you could try asking are -

Southampton Water Activities Centre
Itchen Marine Towage
Shamrock Quay
Saxon Wharf
Kemp's Quay
Quayside Boatyard
Merlin Boatyard
Atlantic Quay

Pete

 

[PhillM]

If you really wanted to avoid short stay fees but you needed Fuel, you could ask Atlantic Quay if you could pick someone up when you are filling up at their fuel berth. Your timing would have to be spot on though cause they can get quite busy with largish commercial boats.

Or what about the outside waiting pontoon at Hythe Marina? They could get the Hythe ferry and then walk round to the marina. I guess you'd need a friendly formuite to share the gate code with you.

 

[PhillM]

Another idea, are you a sailing club member?

Royal Southampton has its own club pontoon in Ocean Village and short stays are (I think) a bit cheaper than MDL. I'm sure you could get in there, especially if you were going to have lunch in the club.

 

[eddystone]

I've picked someone up from the end of the pontoon at Shamrock by the boat lift which is accessible without entry code. Tidal flow round the corner can be a bit fierce so better option may be to pick up vacant spot on a mid-river pontoon and dingy over to Shamrock.

 

[Seven Spades]

I think if you ask nicely for a touch and go there is a good chance the MDL marinas won't charge you a short stay.

 

[PurpleKate]

According to the town Quay website you can pick / drop off with just a donation to charity:
http://www.townquay.com/Marina/Visitor_Berthing_Tariff_/

 

[BabySharkDooDooDooDooDoo]

According to the town Quay website you can pick / drop off with just a donation to charity:
http://www.townquay.com/Marina/Visitor_Berthing_Tariff_/

Don't know why I didn't spot that earlier!

Many thank for all the suggestions, all good to know

 

[harstonwood]

Boat Show pontoons?

 

[BabySharkDooDooDooDooDoo]

I'd assumed the access from to/from shore was blocked in some way otherwise everybody would be using them?

 

[colingr]

I think the access to the shore is non existent at the moment so unless the guests can swim they'll find access a bit tricky.

It's a good place to practice pontoon bashing though.

 

[janeK]

According to the town Quay website you can pick / drop off with just a donation to charity:
http://www.townquay.com/Marina/Visitor_Berthing_Tariff_/

Really friendly and helpful staff at the Town Quay marina, plus if your crew are arriving at Southampton Railway station there is a regular bus service due to the Red Ferry terminal.

 

[Go with the flow]

Its not just the short stay charges, nearly all have car parking charges / enforcement in place now for visitors. Probably better to pay the short stay and check it covers parking if they are coming by car..

 

[Boreades]

Jeez, has Soton become so crew-unfriendly?

Err, why does it have to be in Soton anyway? Why not Portsmouth?