Few ports have such a grand entry as Southampton. If coming from the west, join the main shipping channel at the port-hand NE Gurnard buoy and, paying due attention to shipping, follow the marked channel round Calshot Spit and into Southampton Water. From the east, use the North Channel to cut the corner while avoiding the Bramble Bank and head for the Calshot north cardinal buoy on a bearing of about 300º from the east cardinal E. Bramble.

Once in Southampton Water there is a buoyed channel all the way up which if you keep close to it will see you safely into Southampton. When you get to the starboard hand buoy Weston Shelf, take the right hand fork up the R. Itchen. Now that the Town Quay Marina no longer welcomes visitors there are no berths available up the R. Test, though there are plenty of moorings which a visitor may with luck be able to use.

Ocean Village Marina is a short distance up the Itchen on the port side and is clearly labelled at the entrance. It’s a typical modern development, good of its kind, surrounded by apartments and with a fine view of any Cunarder which happens to be in town. There are two restaurants on site, Tesco Express round the corner and the city centre 10 minutes walk away. The marina also runs a book exchange which seems a nice idea: just bring along your well thumbed paperback and pick up another one.

A little further up the river on the same side about half a mile beyond the bridge (headroom 24.4m), and just before the river meanders sharply round to the left, is Shamrock Quay Marina out on the river. There’s a restaurant and many other facilities on site, though it’s a bit less sheltered and a little further from the city centre.

The third alternative in the area is Hythe Marina Village on the west side of Southampton Water just before the rivers separate. It’s another new development with all facilities including fuel, more “villagey” than Ocean Village, but you need to lock in. There’s a half hourly ferry to the town centre.

Many will find Southampton an acquired taste, though the area is rich in history. Not only was it for decades the home port of many of the world’s greatest liners, including briefly the ill-starred Titanic, but Woolston on the east bank of the Itchen just above the bridge was also the site of the original Supermarine factory where the first Spitfire aircraft were produced. The Spitfire was developed from Supermarine’s S.6 and S.6B seaplanes which won the international Schneider Trophy races of 1929 and 1931 held off Calshot Spit at the southern end of Southampton Water, the 1931 race reportedly being watched by half a million spectators.

For today’s pleasure sailor Southampton Water offers a splendid stretch of sheltered water which can be sailed in all weathers and which helpfully runs more or less at right angles to the prevailing wind. History aside, what more could a yotty ask?

© 2009 Yachtpilot