Route guides
Here is some help if you are planning a trip to one of our other marinas. Do feel free to logon to our forum if you feel you would like to add to our tips and we will add them in for others to benefit from.
To Access Chichester Marina via Chichester Harbour
Chichester Harbour is hard to spot from the sea with extensive shoals either side and is best entered 2½ hours either side HW. From the west sail to the west waypoint and head 056° to the West Pole. From the east sail to the east waypoint (both these waypoints are about 2 miles offshore) and head 308° for the West Pole. The water shoals to 1m or less at low water springs so use your depth sounder and if in doubt, retreat.
Leave the West Pole close to port and head to the Chichester Bar (pole on a wooden platform) leaving this to port and continue towards the west winner mark which is about 1 mile to the north and right in the entrance. Leave the mark to starboard and run in parallel and close to the beach on the left hand side. Hayling Island Sailing Club is on the left.
- Access: Shoals to 1.1m
- West Waypoint: 50° 45'.10N 00° 58'.00W
- East Waypoint: 50° 45'.00N 00° 55'.00W
- Entrance mark: West Pole, bearing 056° from west waypoint. West Pole bearing 308° from east waypoint
- High water: As Portsmouth
- Minimum depth: 1.3 metres but generally 2m in channel
- VHF: Chichester Harbour office CH 14/01489 512301
To Access Southsea Marina via Langstone Harbour
Langstone Harbour has shoals to the east and west which combined with cross tides requires careful navigation. Sail to Waypoint 50° 46'.00N 1° 01'.00W and turn north-west. The Langstone Fairway Pillar Beacon (not to be confused with the isolated black & red striped danger beacon) should be ¼ mile bearing 330°. From the Fairway Beacon turn to 352° and head in, then sharp left for the entrance to Southsea Marina which is guarded by a tidal sill which closes at ½ tide at a depth of 1.6m.
- Entrance: All states of tide
- Waypoint: 50° 46'00N 01° 01'.00W
- Entrance mark: Langstone Fairway Pillar Beacon.
- Bearing from Beacon: 352°
- HW: As Portsmouth
- Minimum depth: 1.3 metres, but generally 2m in channel
- VHF: Langstone Harbour Master Ch 12 or 02392 463419
To Access Swanwick Marina via The River Hamble via Southampton Water
There are two ways into Southampton Water. The Main Channel runs SW to NE from east of Lepe beach, and the North Channel runs parallel to the mainland shore from Lee-on-Solent. Both avoid the mid-Solent Brambles Bank which dries at LW and is on a direct line between Cowes and Southampton. BOTH channels are used by big ships and you MUST keep clear of them at all times. The channels are marked by numerous buoys, so stick to the starboard (green) ones going in.
To use the main channel get to the West Bramble cardinal buoy (west of the Brambles Bank) and sail 025° to pass the Thorn Knoll channel marker to starboard. Continue on past North Thorn to the Calshot north cardinal mark, where you turn NW up Southampton Water.
To use the North Channel simply sail well clear of the mainland shore until Calshot Spit Tower is abeam to port, then follow the starboard channel marks.
You can go directly over the Brambles Bank at high water but risk getting caught in a very exposed spot so watch your depth sounder. The Bank is marked by a metal pole.
via The River Hamble
About ⅓rd the way up Southampton Water on the right hand side, Hamble Point south cardinal buoy marks the start of the harbour entrance. Leave the mark to port heading 347° from the waypoint to reach the channel piles.
- Access: All states of tide
- Waypoint: 50° 50'.10N 01° 18'.53W
- HW: Same as Portsmouth for all practical purposes
- Bearing into river from waypoint: 347°
- Minimum depth: 2 metres
- VHF: Harbour Master on Hamble Harbour Radio CH68 or 01489 576387
To Access Port Solent and Gosport Marinas via Portsmouth Harbour
Entering Portsmouth can look daunting, particularly with the three 'forts' which while acting as good markers are easy to confuse. You may opt to 'follow the ferry' although the route then taken will vary depending on the tide.
Horse Sand Fort is 1.8 miles off shore and it is at the end of a submerged barrier running from the eastern shoreline. The derelict Spit Sand Fort is closest to the entrance and half a mile offshore. No Mans Land Fort is closest to the Isle of Wight and not relevant. From the east/south east stay in the main Solent Channel until past Horse Sand Fort and Southsea Castle bears due north. Steer towards the Castle and then between the channel buoys. At the harbour mouth move to the small boat channel on the left (port) side of the entrance. This must be used when entering and exiting.
From the westerly waypoint head towards the War Memorial on 049° with Spit Sand Fort to starboard. Once in the marked channel turn towards the entrance. Note that this approach shoals to 2m at low water springs.
Portsmouth is a very busy harbour so extra vigilance is required when entering or exiting.
- Access: All states of tide
- Waypoint from south: 50° 45'.00N 01° 05'.00W
- Waypoint from west: 50° 46'.00N 01° 07'.32W
- Bearing from south: 354°
- Bearing from west: 049°
- High water: As per tables
- Minimum depth: 2 metres
