Wooton Creek - advice please

[max]

I am sitting in london while my boat (plus charts and pilot books) is in Portsmouth. I am trying to plan a meet up with a friend this weekend and being new to the Solent area don't know whether I can get into Wooton Creek at all states of the tide.

My boat is 10m, a bilge keeler, and draws 1.1m.

Also, are there many visitors buoys or some kind of pontoon to overnight on.

Final question - any reccomendations for a pub or restaurant?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Wooton creek dries quite widely, so beyond the ferry berth access is tide limited.

Plenty of boats live there, so if you can take th egroud you should be OK once in. It's ages since I last was there, but there did used to be a pontoon (which partially dried) as well as buoys. Like you, books are on boat, so sorry not to be more help.

Oh, found the following on the CA site:

Wootton Creek - Lat: 50n44.06 Long: 01w12.68 Here is the latest state of play as of 11/08/01 when I paid a short visit - Some Almanacs indicate 2m depth at Fishbourne Quay. It has also been known for fin Keel yachts to stay at the quay overnight as the water around the pontoons have been dredged. With this information in hand, I arrived at Fishbourne quay to find a completely different picture - The depth on the outer pontoon is now -0.9(dries) at CD. Fishbourne Quay is no longer in business but the yard does belong to Aluminium Shipbuilding Ltd, hence no yachting facilities. Overnight not suitable for Fin Keel yachts. The tranits which lead you up the narrow channel from where the ferries berth in Wootton (270 degrees), are in a poor state of repair. The rear triangle is slightly overgrown and the front triangle has fallen over. Mark Hawkins, Yacht: Merlin, 11/08/01

 

[l'escargot]

This info probably a bit late (been away) but if you haven't found it already, use the Royal Victoria Yacht Club pontoon (£1/metre o/n or £4 short stay). Details at www.rvyc.co.uk. Pontoon dries at springs but no problem for bilge keelers (or short fins that can sink into soft mud). The club is friendly and has a restaurant. If you want a pub, try the Fishbourne Inn - up the hill and on the seaward side of the Wightlink terminal.

Regards

 

[Rabbie]

L'escargot. I have noticed the Victoria club is adjacent to the ferry terminal. Do you know if this is a noisy berth for overnight stops?. Thanks.

 

[VMALLOWS]

Yes, I'm afraid it is, with the ferry banging and crashing all night (and day) ; LOUD HAILERS going; and siren practice in the morning! Having said that, you soon get used to it after a few pints at the RVYC, and I would still recomend it. Probably said before.........new pontoon is walk-ashore (not like the old two piles!). About 4-5 boats each side with rafting on the outside 2 (possibly 3 ) deep.

 

[max]

Thanks for the advice - went there for Saturday night. Rafted two to three deep either side. Dried out happily and didn't notice the ferry noise (admittedly after a few pints at the Fishbourne Inn).

Love the place.

 

[l'escargot]

There is noise but the ferry frequency does reduce during the night as does the number of cars/passengers. I generally find I sleep through it.

Regards