Whitstable question

TTwiggy

TTwiggy

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Hello all,

I hope this is the correct forum to post in. I was wondering if anyone might know if it's possible to pick up a temporary mooring anywhere off Whitstable (Kent)?

The GF and I have always had a desire to sail round there, and then motor ashore for a beer at the Neptune. Now I've got a larger boat and tender, I'm wondering as to the feasibility; hence the question.

Many thanks
 
All depends on how close to Whitstable you want to be.

The harbour is commercial and pleasure vessels are not welcome except in an emergency. The water outside the harbour is pretty shallow and there are commercial shellfish beds out there with restricted anchoring and threats of penalties for causing damage. A lot of it has charted depths of as little as half a metre.

Your best bet is probably to go to Hartyferry on the Swale - about five or six miles from Whitstable. Good moorings with good shelter and a rather nice pub on the riverside that you can easily motor to. If the weather is OK, it should not be too bad a journey round to Whitstable in a dinghy with a reasonable outboard.
 
Cheers - yes, I know it gets very shallow round there.

The other option would be to drop the hook, but I don't think I'd be keen to leave to boat unmanned in that sort of situation!
 
TTwiggy said:
Cheers - yes, I know it gets very shallow round there.

The other option would be to drop the hook, but I don't think I'd be keen to leave to boat unmanned in that sort of situation!
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What is the draft of your boat? We would have to drop the hook a good two or three miles off shore to be certain of having enough water. Go to Hartyferry - you may decide that you don't need the other pub!
 
TTwiggy said:
She draws about 2m, so it would be as you say.

Is it the Ferry House Inn you're referring to?
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That's the one.

An alternative would be to go into Swale Marina with a couple of bikes on board - not a long ride to Whitstable if you are tolerably fit!
 
maby said:
That's the one.

An alternative would be to go into Swale Marina with a couple of bikes on board - not a long ride to Whitstable if you are tolerably fit!
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With 2m draft he'll be lucky, plenty of tides are too small for that draft. We were neaped on our berth 4 or 5 days a month with 2' 6" draft. With 3' 8" there were some tides we couldn't even get up the creek.
 
The Lazy Kipper said:
With 2m draft he'll be lucky, plenty of tides are too small for that draft. We were neaped on our berth 4 or 5 days a month with 2' 6" draft. With 3' 8" there were some tides we couldn't even get up the creek.
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Hmmm, you're probably right - haven't been in there since we got rid of our shoal draft boat.
 
Many thanks for the replies. I've found an old pilot guide to Whistable that suggests there's safe anchorage to the east of the harbour. Not ideal if a northerly's blowing though I imagine!

Edited to add - actual draft is more like 1.5m, but I like to play it safe. I've been to Swale marina, and while it's nice, I don't want to get stuck there for the sake of a beer!
 
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:):D

At Whitstable there is (or used to be) a dinghy causeway extending out West of Harbour, near the Pubs and Oysters, where I would suggest consideration be given to 'beach' yr boat nearby and walk to the local pub - but its some years since I attempted anything like that at Whitstable!
Caution though - the local Sailing Club grounds are very close - but having said that, why not contact the Club and ask them if they have a temp mooring, there used to be Yachts in the club?
 
Good idea re the local sailing club. I will call them and see if they can advise. I know the causeway you refer to. It would be fine for a dinghy to use.
 
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