A Personal Guide to The Ports of the Channel
Nicholas Hill
Beaulieu
Beaulieu is a beautiful and well sheltered river, with two caveats. The first is since it is so popular, there is fairly constant traffic, and the second is that the lights of the refinery at Fawley do rather impinge on the night sky. When it is quiet, however, it is almost unbeatable.
finding it
From Southampton Water, Lepe Spit South Cardinal makes a good waypoint. There is also a yellow racing mark in the summer about 3 cables from the Bar Beacon, which makes a good point to start the approach.
Be wary if coming from the west - the shoal at Lepe goes a long way out. It covers above about half tide, but is still very shallow.
getting in
There are few problems near High Water, but be very cautious near Low Water, particularly at Springs, when the bar might have only a metre or so above it. There are a lot of shoals either side of the entrance, so it is as well to line up your approach from some way out.
For night approaches, there is a new lighthouse, with a sectored light Oc. WRG 4s.
hazards
Plenty of shallow patches: proceed carefully round the bend at the entrance, and don't cut corners.
The moorings begin after the turn at Need's Ore, and room from here on is relatively restricted. There are withies on the starboard side, and the bottom is thick mud.
The tide can run quite fast in the river: be careful when picking up a mooring.
berthing
You can anchor in the stretch up to Need's Ore (but an anchor light at night is almost essential), find an empty mooring, or proceed up to Buckler's Hard, which has either pontoon or pile moorings. Not cheap!
The usual rule about the moorings applies: you must be ready to move if the owner comes back. You will still be charged by the harbourmaster for either anchoring or finding an empty mooring.
facilities
Full marina facilities at Buckler's Hard, otherwise none. You can, however, take your dinghy up to Buckler's Hard, although it is a very small, if scenic, village.
charts and waypoints
Chart 2036 - The Solent and Southampton Water, 1:2500
Chart 2021 for the river itself.
Just south of Lepe Spit: 50o46.75N 01o20.63W
Entrance approach: 50o46.54N 01o21.43W
Google Earth
1 - Bar beacon. 2 - approaches. 3 - turn into river. 4 - lighthouse. 5 - towards Need's Ore. 6 - Buckler's Hard
Move your mouse over the numbers below to see the photograph in question
All photographs copyright CNH. Please ask if you wish to use them and please acknowledge the source.