RIVER HAMBLE & WARSASH 50°50’.40N, 01°18’.50W (ENT) RIVER HAMBLE & WARSASH
Internationally famous as a first class sailing centre, the River Hamble is also renowned for the excellence of its servicing and repair facilities offered in a variety of marinas and boatyards. Whether your interest is racing, power-boating or blue water cruising, the Hamble has the facilities you need; deep water, easy access to the Solent at all states of tide.
Popular with locals and visitors alike, the Hamble is perfect for weekend excursions or as a departure point for destinations further afield. It is used extensively by yachtsmen; competitors in Cowes Week and the Round the Island Race use the harbour as a base, and closer to home, local yacht clubs host the Hamble Winter Series, Warsash Spring Series, Bursledon Regatta, National, European and World championships. The river is not just a sailing Mecca, it is a nationally and internationally important site for nature conservation and a bird watchers’ paradise. Riverside walks or simply watching the world go by are popular pastimes. It also offers a safe location for rowing, canoeing and kayaking, and for the up-coming sport of paddleboarding. The river is a constant hive of activity during the summer season and therefore care should always be taken. Access to the River Hamble is available at all states of tide, although waves can build up at the entrance in a southwesterly wind combined with an ebb tide. By day, from the vicinity of Hamble Point Buoy, follow the main channel which is clearly marked with lit port and starboard-hand piles. From the Warsash Maritime Academy Jetty, the starboard side of the channel is clearly marked by four lit starboard-hand buoys. A ‘preferred channel’ mark (pile) is at the southern end of the first pontoon encountered; leave it to port for the main channel. Thereafter, the main channel is clearly marked with lit port and starboard-hand piles. At night, follow Hamble Common Directional light on a bearing of 352°, then Sailing Club Directional light on a bearing of 029° and then follow the lit buoys and piles as above. Depths obviously vary. Most marinas are dredged to 1.5m. Depths in the main channel vary from at least 4m in the approaches, to 2.2m at Bursledon Bend. Tidal streams can be very strong, particularly on the ebb. Mariners are advised to keep to the centre line or to starboard of the centre line and not too close to the entrance piles, especially at low water.
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