Meet the Crew
Boat: Najad 331 (sailing yacht)
Home Port: River Hamble
Crew: My husband, our French Bulldog Elsie and me (Sacha, Gill Marketing & Comms Director)
Cruising Area: The Solent and Isle of Wight
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With our boat berthed on the iconic River Hamble – of Howards' Way fame – we're incredibly lucky to have one of the best cruising grounds in the UK right on our doorstep.
The Solent is our backyard and throughout the summer you'll usually find us cruising somewhere between the East and West Solent and the Isle of Wight. Whether it's a few hours on the water after work, a weekend away or a longer summer cruise, there is always somewhere to go.
That's what I love about sailing here. One weekend we might be wandering around the historic streets of Lymington, the next we're sitting quietly on a mooring in Newtown Creek watching the sunset. From bustling harbour towns to peaceful anchorages and nature reserves, there really is something for everyone.
If you are heading to the Solent this summer, here are a few of my favourite spots.
Bembridge
Bembridge is one to look at carefully from a tide perspective. It's always worth planning your arrival and departure around a rising tide, but once you're in, it's a fantastic destination.
The marina offers a mix of rafting options and finger pontoons, provides good shelter and has benefited from significant investment in recent years. The new shower facilities are excellent, there's a handy marina shop and a container bar and café on site for refreshments.
For anyone cruising with dogs, it's one of our favourite stops. Within a few minutes' walk you're at The Duver and the beaches around Bembridge, which are perfect for stretching four legs and, on warmer days, enjoying a swim.
A walk around the harbour takes you past the local chandlery and yacht club, while a short (and fairly steep) walk up the hill brings you into the village itself. Here you'll find a Co-op, fishmonger, cafés and a selection of independent shops.
The harbour office also operates a water taxi, which is particularly useful if you're carrying provisions back to the boat or fancy a quick trip across to The Best Dressed Crab. It's a great spot for fresh seafood, whether you choose to eat in or take it back on board.
Beaulieu River
The Beaulieu River is one of those places that never gets old. Privately owned and managed by the Montagu family for centuries, it's one of the few privately owned rivers in the world and feels wonderfully unspoilt.
You'll need to keep an eye on the tides when crossing the bar at the entrance, particularly if you have a deeper draught, but once inside you're rewarded with fantastic shelter and some beautiful scenery.
You can pick up one of the yellow visitor moorings on the way up the river or continue all the way to Buckler's Hard Yacht Harbour. Recent renovations have transformed the marina facilities and there is now a great marina shop, modern facilities and a pop-up bar during the summer months, often joined by visiting food vendors at weekends.
It's one of those places where the journey is as enjoyable as the destination. The river winds through ancient woodland and if you're lucky you might even spot one of the white-tailed sea eagles that have been reintroduced to the area.
Newtown Creek
If you're looking for peace and quiet, Newtown Creek is hard to beat. This National Trust nature reserve can get busy during the summer months, particularly at weekends, so timing is everything.
If you're lucky enough to find one of the white visitor moorings available for the night, it's a great place to stay. Just be aware that it gets progressively shallower beyond the derelict footbridge, so make sure you're comfortable with your depth calculations, even if you're picking up a mooring.
Alternatively, there is plenty of room to anchor in the main pool or between the moorings.
A tender is pretty much essential if you want to go ashore, but it's well worth it. There are lovely walks around the reserve, plenty of wildlife and a small beach spit that's perfect for children, dogs and a bit of traditional messing about by the water.
On summer evenings you'll often find families and sailors gathered on the shore enjoying a barbecue and a drink as the sun goes down. It's one of those places that reminds you why you bought a boat in the first place.
Lymington
If you need fuel, water, provisions or just fancy a wander around one of the South Coast's best sailing towns, Lymington is always a good option.
This historic market town dates back to Saxon times and still hosts its famous Saturday market along the High Street.
There are plenty of berthing options available. At the mouth of the river, Lymington Yacht Haven is a great option and offers some fantastic walks, including the route out towards Hurst Castle and Hurst Spit for those who enjoy stretching their legs. It also has a great restaurant with a sun deck overlooking the marina – perfect for a drink while watching the boats come and go.
The recently redeveloped Town Quay has been a great addition and the walk-ashore finger pontoons put you right in the middle of everything. Within minutes you're at the pubs, cafés, shops and restaurants that make Lymington such a popular stop but be-warned, the quay can get very busy – and noisy – in the summer months.
One of my favourite additions in recent years has been the restored Lymington Sea Water Baths. Originally opened in 1833, they're believed to be the oldest open-air sea water baths in the UK. Whether you fancy a swim, a sauna or simply somewhere to entertain younger crew members on the inflatable water course, it's well worth a visit.
Yarmouth
My final recommendation is Yarmouth. It's a great stop if you're heading out of the Solent and cruising further afield, allowing you to line up the tides through Hurst Narrows and around the iconic Needles, but it's also worth visiting in its own right.
Yarmouth has been welcoming sailors since the 12th century and remains one of the Isle of Wight's most popular harbour towns. The harbour offers a mix of rafting options and bookable finger pontoons, although spaces can be limited during the summer.
One of the best things about Yarmouth is simply sitting and watching the world go by. Find a spot overlooking the harbour with an ice cream or a drink and you'll be treated to everything from beautifully executed berthings to some slightly more creative interpretations, often assisted by a strong tide.
The Hut restaurant has become something of a Solent institution and you'll often see visitors being collected by the Land Rover shuttle from outside the harbour office. Whether you're heading there or not, it all adds to the atmosphere and makes for excellent people watching.
The town itself has all the amenities you could need, while one of our favourite walks follows the River Yar towards Freshwater and the Red Lion pub. If you fancy a swim, there's a small beach within easy walking distance and a stroll towards Fort Victoria provides fantastic views across the western Solent.
The Solent does get busy in the summer, so it's always worth planning ahead and many of the marinas are now bookable. But for those happier at anchor, there are still plenty of options. The mouth of the Beaulieu River, Osborne Bay and Priory Bay are all regular favourites.
And if you're prepared to venture a little further east, East Head is well worth the trip and opens up a whole new cruising playground in Chichester Harbour.
Happy Sailing!
