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Unusual Anchorages This page shows the versatility of the Seal Class boats by describing some of the more unusual places skippers have taken them (by accident or design!) Also places where Seal and Parker boats can safely take to the ground saving mooring fees. If you have stories to tell of anchorages where owners of other than Seal/Parker boats would dare to use, please share your knowledge with others and contact me at
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By Tim Reader Received 8 Oct 2007 |
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We went into Ventnor this summer as we abandoned our trip to Cornwall due to the high winds and instead visited nearly all harbours on the Isle of Wight. We approached Ventnor in a lumpy south westerly but as soon as we were in it was OK. The harbour master was friendly and takes your ropes in a RIB and you are towed in backwards between the fishing boats on a fore and aft mooring. You can see it is pretty tight. However it is worth it - you are right in the middle of Ventnor and the bottom is flat sand for sitting on. We went out about 3.5 hours after low water with everything up. It is worth going to but small. We were the 7th yacht in this summer at the beginning of August! It is not to be visited with any suggestion of a strong south easterly.
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Off
Herm - Channel Islands By Tim Reader Received 27 November 2001 |
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We sailed over in very calm weather and motored with the keel mainly
up amongst the rocks about 300 metres north of Fisherman's harbour.
In about 2 metres depth we found what appeared to be a patch of sand
just north of a large rock. We anchored and as the tide went out
I got off and checked the bottom for sharp rocks. Everything
appeared fine and we settled nicely in a patch of sand that turned out
to be surrounded by escapee oysters from some nearby oyster beds.
During the night I put out a kedge anchor to keep us over the sand, which worked well. I also noted a transit out over the lowest part of the rocks in case we had to leave in a hurry. We spent a very peaceful night in an anchorage which is very sheltered apart from the North West. In the morning we waited for the tide to reappear and then departed back to the fleet at Guernsey with whom we shared a few more oysters! A very memorable anchorage.
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River
Otter at Budleigh Salterton Received 4 December 2001
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The one great thing about Seals is that they can get to places and stay with ease where few others dare. The top end of the Lerryn, Lostwithiel (mind the wire!), Batson and Southpool, Tresillian, St. Just and St. Germans, Timbrels Quay, Shalfleet or King's Quay, Conyer, Arthur Ransome's Red Sea, Battlesbridge, Snape or Thornham......the list is endless, never mind a trip from London to Bristol via the Kennet and Avon canal! None of this is particularly extraordinary especially with local knowledge as they are all in protected waters. Some really difficult anchorages shown in the old and more adventurous Pilot books (e.g. among the Stags off the Lizard or Man-o-War cove) are not so much restricted by draught as bad weather. There is an anchorage mentioned in the excellent, but now well out of date, South England Pilot. Vol. III. (Imray Laurie Norie and Wilson Ltd.) just inside the river Otter at Budleigh Salterton only a few miles to the east of the Exe. As far as I know the last Seal to visit this spot was quite some time ago under the command of our intrepid President, Denis Fastnedge. The depths have changed in recent years and the direction of entrance now better from a more westerly point. A recent rec suggested to us in Elsa that the neapish tide was not sufficient for a first try. One needs, ideally, a spring tide and gentle offshore winds. Under these conditions there should be a good metre at high water in the centre of the very narrow entrance. Once inside and in the ‘pool’ one can stay afloat, just, at low water. It goes without saying that the pressure must not be too high or the river in serious flood conditions.
The enclosed map shows the proximity to Budleigh Salterton and a
zoomed in version shows the position of the ‘pool’ and the direction
of entry.
The photo right shows Otterton Point and the entrance to the river just left of centre above the top of the flagstaff in a NE direction.
Here is a closer view of the entrance to the river Otter. The very narrow channel turns sharply to the left round the shingle bank. Close to HW at MHW.
This photo below shows a view from the westerly shingle bank looking out (SE) of the entrance at lowish water over Otterton Point and the Ledge. Rick Thompson (Kotick) and Alice Turner (Elsa) in the foreground.
If you look behind you from the same spot but looking westerly towards Budleigh you will see the pool showing water present close to low water. We have visited this spot either anchored off or by land and think it is a distinctly possible anchorage. Unfortunately, the conditions were not right for entry at the time. At the 25th anniversary celebrations at Topsham a local member said she had not heard of boats other than dinghies entering in recent years. Historically, the entrance once allowed small ships up to a quay at Otterton.. A violent storm sometime in the last century? closed off the main entrance with a large bank of shingle. She suggested that if anyone should anchor in the pool, that they ought to contact the local press who would be very interested!
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By Martin Hopton From the 2002/01 SSA Newsletter |
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CUCKMERE RIVER CONQUERED My article on interesting and challenging anchorages in last summer’s Newsletter stirred up quite a bit of interest as it would seem that few of you had even heard of the Cuckmere River let alone sailed into it. This didn’t surprise me as it is well off the beaten track and doesn’t appear to feature in pilot books. In August last year, having got fed up with
tiying to fight our way westwards against strong head winds, Sheila and
I changed our cruising plans and headed east. After visits to
Littlehampton and Brighton we set sail for Newhaven in a SW 3/4 with the
option of taking a look at the Cuckmere Haven if time permitted. It did and, as we passed Seaford Head, we could see the chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters stretching out before us towards Beachy Head in the distance. We rounded up, furled the sails and motored into the bay. Although Seaford Head affords some protection from westerly winds there was quite a swell rolling into the Cuckmere Haven on that day. There are no navigation marks but we could see the long shingle beach and the wooden training walls marking the entrance to the river. It was decision time and as we had arrived at high tide and hopefully slack water we decided to go for it. With the keel half raised and the echo sounder showing 1.2 metres at the shallowest point we passed through the narrow entrance and into the tranquil river beyond to the obvious amazement of those watching from the shore. Shemar was still afloat and in one piece!
Once inside the river the depth improved and we found ourselves in a narrow and fairly straight channel surrounded by beautiful rolling countryside. We motored gently up to the road bridge about a mile inland and then returned to a hole further back. Having dug the anchor into the western bank Shemar fell back on the wind to lie in the middle of the channel where she stayed afloat when the tide went out. The ebb runs strongly and we had a hard row to the Golden Galleon pub by the bridge. The manager, who was also an auxiliary coastguard, asked us if we were in trouble or needed help, as he was not used to seeing boats in the river. We reassured him and settled down to an enjoyable evening meal. The weather kept us in the Cuckmere River for the
next three days. It is part of the Seven Sisters Country Park and
popular with visitors many of whom walk the South Downs Way. There is a
visitors’ centre that conducts tours of the park and other activities
such as canoeing. The river is full of wild life such as geese and
swans. One evening, when we returned from the pub, we found a cormorant
sitting on the cockpit guard-rails. He took no notice of us and was
still there when we woke up the following morning at which point he went
off to fish for his breakfast.
The locals walk their dogs along the river bank and often stopped to have a chat. One told us that he had never seen another yacht in the river during the twenty years he had been using the park. This is not surprising as there is not much room and there are a number of obstructions on the river bed one of which we managed to nudge on the way out. Although we enjoyed our visit, the Cuckmere is probably not really suitable for anything other than Seals. However, we felt a sense of achievement in having been there.
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Rascal's trip to Fishbourne Bridge Submitted by Philip Linsell 20 September 2002 |
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This is a high water springs trip only. Follow the moorings upstream of Dell Quay, through the old causeway (this will be underwater so difficult to find) and look for an entrance in the reeds. Turn round and back into the channel as there is no turning round once in the reeds. When the bridge is in sight, anchor and pay out to get as close to the bridge as you dare. Get out, take pictures and leave before the water disappears.
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Submitted by Chris Turner 10 November 2003
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On my first visit to Batson Creek, many years ago, the harbourmaster looked curiously at me and Elsa when I asked if it was OK to go right to the top. Up to you, he said, it’s very shallow and the natives might not be friendly! As it happens, just after I had dropped anchor, I saw a chap come out of one of the little group of cottages and make his way down. ‘Havn’t seen a boat this size anchored up here in twenty years! Come in and have a drink!’ I’m sure he can’t have been looking. But it was only his holiday home.
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RASCAL DITCHIN’ AGAINSubmitted by Philip Linsell 20 August 2005 |
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For some time I have been meaning to head upstream from my mooring in the Bosham channel, Chichester harbour, instead of the usual setting off towards the entrance and beyond. I recently found the time and tide to explore the head of the channel, up to the A259. That’s the Chichester to Emsworth road. It’s best to arrive at the head of the creek an hour before high water, before the row of stakes disappear. There is room for several seals and time for a pint at the ‘Out and Out up the road before the water goes away. I coasted up under jib with a light southerly, which also dictated leaving under power.
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ANOTHER
DITCH CONQUERED BY RASCAL |
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Between Wooton Creek and Osbourne Bay lies Kings Quay Creek. This really must be the last ditch in the Solent area, not yet visited by us seals. I decided it was the right time, 11/2 hours before a good high spring tide. The entrance is small, no sign in the foreshore other than a gap in the shingle beach, it was also shallow, a bit more than a metre. Once inside the water deepens to 2m or so. The narrow channel twists right and left, with a strong current flowing in. I was enjoying the ride until the second bend, only a few hundred metres, when the end of navigation appears, a stone wall with a small hole letting the water through. A tricky turn round and lots of engine got me pointing back out. I would defiantly go there again, it was very sheltered and quiet inside the creek. It would be a ‘nice spot’ for lunch on spring tides, maybe an overnight on neaps, if there is enough water to get in. Signs inform you that this is a SSSI and private land, so no landing. Note - The creek can be seen very clearly from the air using 'Google Earth' - free down-load from Google.
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