Keelboat news and development: Solent and Yacht Charter

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Solent and Yacht Charter

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Keelboat classes
Forum Name: Keelboat news and development
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URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8989
Printed Date: 04 Aug 25 at 11:25pm
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Topic: Solent and Yacht Charter

Posted By: Pabs
Subject: Solent and Yacht Charter
Date Posted: 11 Feb 12 at 11:19am

Hi all after some advice before I get some charts.

Looking at going to the Solent for our annual weekend away this year rather than Milford heaven.

Can anyone recommend a good start point and possible itinerary we pick the boat up friday night we like a reasonable night out on Saturday and a leisurly sale back.

Other then Google can anyone recommend a cheap yacht Charter Company down there or if there is any company you would recommend I stay away from?

Cheers

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Boatless and Clubless

Replies:

Posted By: Iain C
Date Posted: 11 Feb 12 at 8:42pm

Pabs, Solent tides are strong so your passage plan will be very tide dependant. Western Solent runs hard, especially at springs, eastern Solent less so. Your plan will be entirely dependant on when you are looking to go.

Arnie at Lymington Yacht Charters runs a good operation, nice boats too but high end. I skippered one of their boats a couple of years ago when some Rugby Club people chartered 3 boats for a weekend jolly...we had a very nice Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 45i...bit bigger than what I am used to!

With fortuitous timing we caught the ebb out through the Needles channel, messed around in Christchurch Bay for a few hours and came back through the North Channel on the flood on Saturday. Quick mooch up the Beaulieu River (watch the depths and be very precise on your transits), over to Cowes sat night for beers. Up towards Gilkicker Sunday morning then a race, ahem sail, back to Lymington for Sunday PM.

Do have a good read of the pilot book or take someone who knows the area, there's plenty of places to make a hash of things in the Solent!

Joking aside may be worth a call to Hot Liquid...with recent events they may be keen to secure some charter business!

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RS700 GBR922 "Wirespeed"
Fireball GBR14474 "Eleven Parsecs"
Enterprise GBR21970
Bavaria 32 GBR4755L "Adastra"

Posted By: blueboy
Date Posted: 12 Feb 12 at 8:51am

Depends on your definition of leisurely. It's certainly possible to sail to places like St Vaast or Alderney and back over a weekend. Friday night departure should get you in sometime Saturday morning. Lunch, dinner, set off after dinner, back in the Solent Sunday afternoon. Back to work on Monday for a rest. Cherbourg is the nearest French port but not hugely attractive IMO.

Alternatively, stay in the Solent. Hamble and Lymington (mainland), Cowes and Yarmouth (IoW) are all good to visit and the main yottie bases. Or you might sail to Poole and back if staying in the Solent isn't enough sailing for you but cross-channel is too much. Can't say I find Poole that much fun to visit but maybe that's just me.

Iain's advice on tides is good. Choosing a weekend when the tides match your plans is a good idea. P.S. Needles channel on the ebb in a stiff breeze isn't for the inexperienced.

Posted By: Skiffybob
Date Posted: 12 Feb 12 at 11:50am

What size boat are you after, and roughly when?

Solent is great for "booze-cruise" weekends, if you want some short sails and nice places to stop.

It can get VERY busy at weekends in the summer and school holidays/public holidays. It's now got to a point where you have to pre-book your mooring and restaurant in some places (like Yarmouth).

Also, as Iain says, the tides can have a big effect of your itinerary, although if you go for a boat based in Southampton/Hamble, you'll probably give yourself the most options.

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12ft Skiff - Gordon Keeble and the Furry Fly-by
AC - GBR271 - Whoosh
B49 - Island Alchemy

Posted By: Pabs
Date Posted: 21 Feb 12 at 8:03pm

one that will take 8-9 38+ we had a 42 last year and it was spot on but they are harder to get in the Solent unless you have your coastal and we don't which is a bit of a shame

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Boatless and Clubless

Posted By: Skiffybob
Date Posted: 21 Feb 12 at 8:31pm

Blimey, that' going to be a tough call.

Commodore at Gospost have got a Bavaria 44 but I suspect that they might want at least CS.

Depending on what time of year, you could possibly charter mine, but I've got to be on-board (for insurance, only covered for skippered charter, not bareboat).

As Iain says, Lymington have some, as do Solent, as do Fairview, but your problem could be lack of quali skipper.

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12ft Skiff - Gordon Keeble and the Furry Fly-by
AC - GBR271 - Whoosh
B49 - Island Alchemy

Posted By: Pabs
Date Posted: 22 Feb 12 at 6:54pm

Thanks Bob I think we have sorted one. Not as big as we wanted but good enough I hope

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Boatless and Clubless