Save anchorages on both sides of the English Channel / La Manche?

[Hydra]

Is there a purpose in doing this beyond cleaning your bottom?

Yes, the purpose is to stay for a few hours in a place where there is not enough water to stay afloat at low tide. In N Brittany, the range of tides varies between 8 and more than 12m (40 feet) at springs and there are not so many deep water harbours. I intend to have "beachng legs" made for my boat this year, exactly for this purpose.

Is it a nice way to have a quiet night "at anchor" in high winds?

Not really: if the wind is really strong, it will raise a chop over a few hundred meters fetch. Sometimes, the swell comes around the land that protects you from the waves. Then, you must expect some bumping on the ground when drying out and again when floating. I remember a bad morning in Gorey (Jersey): the previous evening had been calm but a fresh wind was blowing when the tide came and we could not get away before floating fully.

Is the odor of the seabed bad?

It depends... Sometimes, the mud is really smelly! Sand is much better.

Alain

[boatman61]

From the Thames Estuary to the Isle of Wight there are no sheltered anchorages except when the wind is from the North..

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by multihullsailor6

Franziska,

At high water you can take your cat all the way up to Wareham and moor just before the bridge - great place!

Shussssh, that's our secret location too. Actually whilst the op said he didn't want to stay at marina's there is a very friendly yacht club 10 minutes walk before Wareham called Redclyffe which welcomes visitors, has showers, water and elec and a pleasant short walk to Wareham. Wareham itself might be a problem because the quay always seems to have little boats tied up along side. Also there is a gravel bank in the middle of the river just down stream from the bridge, don't ask how we found that one

Our other favourite is Keyhaven as mentioned by Phil. However, with a cat you can go and moor alongside the quay and dry out, its hard flat gravel on the end. See the river warden in the watch tower and pay him, but its cheap enough, I think we paid £12 for the first night last year and he let us off the second night. Again free water and elec on the quay. The yacht club do meals and welcome visitors in the bar, plus free wifi.

This is a great website for the Solent area:

http://www.troppo.co.uk/tightwad/tightwad.htm

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by boatman61

From the Thames Estuary to the Isle of Wight there are no sheltered anchorages except when the wind is from the North..

Dungeness? although I haven't used it.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Poole harbour, Dorset.. the name belies the place.. once in the entrance if you turn right it leads to the moorings, marina's and commercial port.. however if you follow the channel to the left it takes you to some beautiful drying anchorages behind the islands.
Well worth the stop.

Don't miss Studland Bay just outside Poole Harbour, the beach is flat sand and the tourists go home at tea time. Walk up the path and turn left on the road to the pub for a beer and a superb view over Poole Bay. Tap on the beach for small quantities of water.

Mupe Bay Dorset if its calm is a superb anchorage to wait the tide, photo care of Dockhead.

[Franziska]

@All
Awesome information! Thanks.

@Conachair
Great Pdf Link!

@sestina
Where would you drop the hook inside Dover harbour? Outer harbour, north east of the Prince of Wales pier?

[sestina]

Yes, just to the NE of Prince of Wales Pier. I've used it often as a quick stop on passage down channel. You will probably have to come in via the western entrance, as the eastern is much used by the ferries.

[Franziska]

One more ;-)

Of course I'll look further into this myself, but someone might know a perfect spot.

Alternatively, ;-) any boatsitters around?

It turns out I might need to leave the boat for a week or so at anchor in between.
Somewhere around Cherbourgh or Southampton.
A Marina is not really an option due to cost.

Where would you do this best?

[Hydra]

Franziska,
There are drying harbours on the W coast of Cotentin peninsula, SW of Cherbourg. You might consider Diélette, Carteret, Port Bail, Surville, Saint Germain or Agon / Régneville.

I have never been there but my pilot book (Pilote Côtier "Saint-Malo îles Anglo-Normandes Dunkerque") says they are practicable.

Alain

[Franziska]

Merci beaucoup Alain. Vous êtes une très bonne source pour la Manche!

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Franziska

One more ;-)

Of course I'll look further into this myself, but someone might know a perfect spot.

Alternatively, ;-) any boatsitters around?

It turns out I might need to leave the boat for a week or so at anchor in between.
Somewhere around Cherbourgh or Southampton.
A Marina is not really an option due to cost.

Where would you do this best?

Try contacting some of the Yacht Clubs in here.. many have a handful of guest moorings pretty cheap.. or will know boatyards that do.
Solent Handbook
Poole harbour would be a better spot.. lots of sheltered spots to anchor.. Euro ferry, air, road and rail transport to hand.. let the harbour police know where she is to keep an eye out.. or.. pick up a club mooring.
More info.. yellow marks the anchor area.. sand and shale drying.. anchor fore and aft beam to the beach.. drying shallows all round and good shelter all points. Island is private with nature reserve and day visitors and camping bird watchers, scouts etc. Picture is looking E - W along the beach you'd be anchored off.