Christchurch harbour – anyone with local knowledge..

[simonmcnamara]

Any advice would be appreciated. I have to deliver our RIB for a service from Cowes to Christchurch harbour. Have never actually been into Christchurch harbour so any ‘local’ advice would be much appreciated especially in the entrance and in the harbour.

Thanks….

[Biggles]

I'm hoping to go there on Saturday so I'd be interested in that as well.

Regards Nick R.

[ADS]

Ok guys, Im from Christchurch and i use the harbour most weekends. However, im currently at Nottingham Univercity (studying Geography). Any questions ask away.

For non locals I would recommend you enter the harbour on or around high tide. You WILL NOT get in or out at low tide, unless you walk it!

At the harbour entrance there are several sets of port and starboard channel markers, the speedlimt here is 8 knots but I would stay slow. It is best to stay closer to Mudeford Quay on the way up 'the run' but watch out for fishing lines.
The channel markers are continued up the harbour and to the river stour, you should be alrite for depth during high tide. The speed limit in the harbour is 4 knots, don't be tempted to 'plane it' the marine patrol come out of nowhere, although they finish at 5:30pm, u didn't here it from me
It takes around 35 minutes from the harbour entrance up to the top of the harbour and the river stour.
There is no water side refueling for petrol in christchurch, but I can give you directions to a Texico which is almost riverside.
I can highly recommend a visit to Christchurch and although everyone says its really tidel and you can get stuck in there I have be known the enter the run at low springs and launch/ recover my boat at low tide, oh and my prop is mint!

any questions just ask away,

Alex

[simonmcnamara]

Alex

Thanks for the info, really useful. I plan to enter the harbour around 2.5 hrs after the first HW (0903) on Sat (01 Oct) but this is also about 1 hr before the second HW (1225). Based on what you said I should be where I need to be by just after 1200, still 30mins before the second HW.

From what I can see you have a double HW on Sat and there is a high water stand for about 3.5hrs! We won’t be leaving as the boat is staying so getting out is not a problem.

One question, if it’s blowing around 15kts from the west (Sat forecast) what do you think it would be like at the entrance and through the run. Bearing in mind I think there will not be too much flow at the time we plan to enter.

I also found this website which is really handy…

http://www.s109316956.websitehome.co...our/index.html

Thanks for the help…

Simon

[Simon Hawkins]

Hello and hope you have a good trip. One point that no one has mentioned about christchurch entrance is that their is a sand bar their which can whip up the sea. I note that you are plannning on getting their 2.5 hours after highwater, therefore you will have wind over tide plus the tide will be at its strongest at this time. I note your tide times but I think these probably relate to the tide heights at the quay in christchurch not the entrance at Mudeford, but I stand to be corrected !!

Another caution to be aware of will be the sea state at hurst as again you will have a wind over tide situation which will make progress quite exciting.

Simon

[ADS]

Simon you are correct in that the published tide times relate to the bar not christchurch quay. The quay is an hour later I believe but you never have any problem with water up there.

The sand bar doesn't usually present many problems if you follow the channel in, although in a wind over tide situation there are breakers over the bar. But this is only when its really windy and rough which is only a few weekends a year during the main season. If there are white breakers over the bar the channel can still be seen in between two sets of breakers. As long as your at high water you won't touch the bottom, so in the past I have waited for a gap and then nailed it! I haven't seen a forecast and I don't know what the weather is like down there at the moment, if its predicted rough I would'nt recommend it!
Simon M are you taking your boat to South Coast Marine?

Alex

[Robox]

Hi Simon,
Although we do not have the level of local knowledge of some of the guys who post on here we have been using the harbour for most of 2005, both launching from Mudeford Quay and berthing at Rossiters on the Avon .Generally speaking we have come in and out,with care, at 1m (rising)or above on the tide planner and not encountered any problems thus far. Taking into consideration comments made by Alex and Simon i do not think you should have any problems on the day and times you mention.
I believe that coming in the main channel is shallowest between the second and third sets of buoys and also at the harbour end of Mudeford Quay, where the black houses stand on the spit, keep to starboard side of channel as there is a sand bank there .Just keep an eye on that sounder.Reference the comments made on the web site you found , D on the map particularly, and you should be just about covered.
Who is servicing your boat ? Perhaps you could let me know after how you got on ,and if you would recommend them ,as i need to get mine serviced at some stage.

ROB C.

[simonmcnamara]

Thanks for all the great advice, very useful. Weather is not looking too good at the moment (F5-7 forecast!) so will delay a week.

Alex, Robc – yes am going to South Coast Marine. We brought the boat there last year (Bombard 640) with a 115 Johnson on the back which is still under warranty so want to have it dealer serviced. Can’t fault the service they’ve give us so far. .

[ashbypower]

Hi Simon, Agree with all the previous post's do be careful Christchurch has a few "Traps" however it is an enjouyable harbour to use, comimg in at night is a great challenge. Keep to the channel (Mainly Centre) DONOT wonder and you'll be fine. On the port turn leaving the "run" keep to starboard as the beach to port run's out away into the channel and is not bouyed.
I enjoy teaching from Christchurch it is a challenge for students and they get to see the difficulties first hand.

Have a safe trip and say hello to Mike @ SCM for me.


Regards

Brian