Eastney Slip, Portsmouth

[busybee]

Hi I am new to Ribnet but have been reading for months, I bought a Ribcraft
5.3m back in October and have been using the Eastney Slipway but an increasing amount of stones has built up on the concrete slipway making launching impossible.It was Portsmouth City Council's job to clear but after speaking to them today I was told it is no longer an official public slipway as they did not want to spend out on keeping it clear, could we not put some pressure on the council to do their job that we are paying for? maybe all start
complain to them.http://www.rib.net/forum/images/smilies/dance.gif

[busybee]

I am thinking of trying Northney Marina slipway(Hayling), has anyone had experience
of the route out to the Solent? is their a lot of sailing boats racing in the channel during the Summer?

[ribsta]

Hi, Have you considered joining the Eastney Cruising Association. Private slipway which electric winch etc. Have a look at their website. Regards.

[busybee]

I have but they are full, might try Northney, thanks

[ribsta]

I would try in February as the membership renewal is due and normally a number of members do not renew at that time. It free's up a lot of space.

[busybee]

Thanks for that, would you know if you can join to use slipway without boat storage, i.e arrive with boat on trailer?

[ribsta]

Yep, I am certain you can do that. Also you leave your car and trailer in there fully secure when you're out on the boat as you need security cards to get in.

[Dry Run]

You could always try the Camber slipway in Old Portsmouth instead - mind you, you might have to stump up £2-50!

[Pete7]

Sounds like a good business opportunity. Get permission from council to clear the slip and flog the gravel to a garden centre or builder

Never really fancied Eastney, hell of a tide that can run through there, Camber a bit more gentle.

Pete

[thomas]

Originally Posted by busybee

I am thinking of trying Northney Marina slipway(Hayling), has anyone had experience
of the route out to the Solent? is their a lot of sailing boats racing in the channel during the Summer?

I guess it depends which way round the island you go as I expect you can nip up to Emsworth and go through Langstone Harbour in which case it's only a short hop over to Portsmouth.

We launch at Chichester and Itchenor, it can get quite bumpy going over Chichester Bar but then it's not far to Bembridge or the Forts.

Best thing is to go and give it a try.

[busybee]

For me the car drive through busy Portsmouth is off putting, Northney looks great but 40 mins to open sea. The best location for me would be Portsmouth
Watersport Centre along the Eastern Road you can be a member and use the slipway if you book up, but only some of the time they seem very vague at what they could offer due to reduced opening hours and barrier access, shame they could make a fortune

[Nasher]

The problem with Northney, and the Watersport centre to a lesser degree, is the amount of time it takes to get to open water without a speed limit.

The Camber, as suggested by Dry Run, is ideal really as you've only to cross the harbour(Remembering to call the HM to ask permission) then you're out through the channel into the Solent in 5 mins.

The ECA is a good place, and if they'll let you join it has all sorts of other advantages.
I wasn't aware the public slip had been un-adopted by the council.

Nasher.

[Smithyyy]

The launching itself from Northney is straightforward, nice hard surfaced slip down to a sheltered area at the end of the channel into the marine, with a pontoon the boat can go straight alongside. Bit of a narrow channel out to the main run downharbour but after the first time you've done it, is OK.
Yes it's then a long chug down to open water and you may encounter racing fleets tacking up or gybing down the channel (I may be one of them sometimes!) but if you're after an easy launching spot I'd recommend it
Full marina rates though (£20+ from memory?)