widening Poole Harbour entrance

[BlueSkyNick]

Flying over and back across the Channel, its amazing how much more you get to see compared to being on a boat. In particular, the number of ships in the lanes, and how close they are together. Similarly, on a clear day, the tidal flows are obvious, eg round St Albans Head.

One thing that has really struck is how easy it would be to widen the entrance into Poole, by dreding away the Sandbanks peninsula. It would make it much easier for leisure and commecial craft to get in and out regardless of size, far less currents and more room to manouvre.

The chain ferry would have to be converted to a free floating vessel which would much safer for boaters. There could be 2 or more to better handle the volume.

The local residents would have to move, but at least they would get away from the awful traffic jams in the summer.

I'm off to wtite to the Dept of Environment to get the ball rolling ......

 

[Tisme]

They could also remove that Island and create more space for moorings.......

 

[Woodentop]

Not the least would be to dredge out the place.

It is claimed to be the largest harbour in Europe - but only on a spring high tide.

 

[blackbeard]

eg round St Albans Head.
Aldhelm's, surely? It's certainly his chapel on top.

regards, Mike, who wants to keep North London away from Dorset.

 

[blackbeard]

[ QUOTE ]
It is claimed to be the largest harbour in Europe -


[/ QUOTE ]
No way is it. Half the size of Morbihan, for a start
regards, Mike

 

[BlueSkyNick]

[ QUOTE ]
eg round St Albans Head.
Aldhelm's, surely? It's certainly his chapel on top.

regards, Mike, who wants to keep North London away from Dorset.

[/ QUOTE ]Try looling at N 50degs 34.5, W 2degs 03.3. You can see the overfalls on the chart, and read all about them in the almanac.

 

[bumblefish]

One of the largest harbours in the world, behind Sydney and Australia, unlike the Italians!

 

[blackbeard]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
eg round St Albans Head.
Aldhelm's, surely? It's certainly his chapel on top.

regards, Mike, who wants to keep North London away from Dorset.

[/ QUOTE ]Try looling at N 50degs 34.5, W 2degs 03.3. You can see the overfalls on the chart, and read all about them in the almanac.

[/ QUOTE ]
I don't have the chart to hand - it's on the boat - from memory it's indeed St Alban's Race, but OS map and, I think, the chart I use give both names for the headland. Reeds favours St Alban. Peter Bruce, in Inshore along the Dorset Coast, gives strong support for St Aldhelm; this book is well worth reading if you haven't already. To each his own.
Incidentally the chapel used to have, probably still does, a small display on St Aldhelm.
regards, Mike

 

[Admiral]

Re: widening Poole Harbour entrance/woodentop

you are well named sir! It is in fact the second largest natural harbour in the world, and spring tides have sod all to do with it!!

 

[Twister_Ken]

non-organic

So, what's the largest unnatural harbour in the world?

 

[Fergus]

Re: non-organic

may be largest harbour but most of the depth is less than 2m - I'm sick of running aground!

 

[Evadne]

Unnatural harbour?

That'll be Rutland Water.

 

[duncan]

Re: non-organic

drawing 1m I enjoy having most of the harbour relatively quiet and peacfull............. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

back to the original post - I think you are on to soething sir but have you considered simply opening a second channel? Think of the advantages

One way system through the channels will solve all those crowded Sunday afternoon situations.

Second chain ferry can be bought into action

Sandbanks could declare tax independence like the IOM

I am amazed that a council with so much foresight (just look at the twinned bridge proposals) hasn't jumped on this one!

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: Unnatural harbour?

"Rutland Water"

Errrr - no navigable connexion to sea.

I'd pitch for Cherbourg or Portland as a starter, but I'm sure someone can outbid me.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: non-organic

Re second entrance - I remember at some time reading about a proposal to build a tunnel under Sandbanks between the harbour and open water, and putting turbines in it to generate electricty.

 

[waterboy]

Re: non-organic

Now we are remodeling the South Coast, How about cutting a passage through Chesil Beach? Straight into Weymouth, no Portland Race and saving an hour or two on every trip across Lyme bay.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Re: Unnatural harbour?

Surely in terms of surface area, the Thames behind the flood barrier would be well up there?

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Re: Unnatural harbour?

Ooh.... lets not forget most of Holland!

Surely the inland seas there dwarf all the other man made harbours?

 

[Evadne]

Re: Unnatural harbour?

[ QUOTE ]
Errrr - no navigable connexion to sea.

[/ QUOTE ]

Picky. And who says you have to be connected to the salt sea to have a harbour? They have them on lake Baikal and the Caspian sea, y'know. Actually the biggest man-made reservoir in the world appears to be in Pakistan, the Gomal Dam. And according to the man on the Brownsea Island Ferry last week, Poole is the largest enclosed harbour after Sydney. Which surprised me as well, but maybe it's all down to how you define a harbour.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: Unnatural harbour?

Nah, all just ponds.

You gotta be able to get in and out of a harbour, tie up ships, find ladies of easy virtue, see lifeboat houses, search for MV Picton, that sort of thing.