About Us

Solent Local

Chichester - Chichester Harbour has something for everyone. Whether a sailor or walker, the Harbour will accommodate you. The harbour is made up of 13 villages all with their own characteristics and historical background. Chichester Harbour is internationally important for ornithology and for its coastal habitats, over the whole of Europe these estuarine ecosystems are rare. Wetlands, including coastal areas, are internationally one of the most threatened and diminishing habitats.

Cowes - Cowes, the renowned Isle of Wight yachting centre and Home of World Yachting, has hosted some of the greatest international sailing events and has an unrivaled sailing history. Cowes has been home to some of the most magnificent and traditional yachts ever seen and has been a focal point for Royal sailing. Home to some of the most famous Yacht Clubs including the The Royal Yacht Squadron founded in 1815. The first Club to establish organised yacht racing in the UK, becoming the principal authority for devising racing rules and handicapping. April to October sees an enormous number of events, which attract a wide range of classes of racing yachts, dinghies and powerboats. The town becomes a mecca of marine activity, the pubs, restaurants, shops and accommodation all do roaring business and there is a great social, friendly ambience for everyone to enjoy. The Solent is awash with colour of sails and brightly coloured spinnakers.

Hamble - The River Hamble at the heart of the sheltered waters of the Solent, protected from the open sea by the Isle of Wight, and benefiting from a two hour stand at high water, is an ideal base for cruising whether one's horizons are limited to the Solent and Isle of Wight, or extend further afield on the South Coast, the Channel Islands or France. The River Hamble whilst being recognised as the home of British Yachting, has a wide variety of leisure and commercial activities including three sites of Special Scientific Interest, a Nature Reserve Country Park and a 3km public right of way. This ideal sailing base is used extensively by national and international yachtsmen as a base when competing. The facilities available both to power craft and yachts are second to none on the south coast.

Lymington - Lymington harbour is a stunning estuary over two miles long with the entrance channel lying between salt marshes. It is used by yachtsmen, fishermen and the Isle of Wight ferry. There are two marinas, a ferry terminal and Town Quay providing access for up to 100 visiting boats, and being within two minutes of the town centre. The town is well provided for with a variety of shops from picturesque boutiques on the cobbled quay to the larger supermarkets and a bustling market in the High Street every Saturday. The Georgian and Victorian architecture and the varied and colourful history help to create a distinctive quaintness.

The Needles - The Needles Are the western most point of the Isle of Wight and are a series of chalk stacks produced by the decomposition and wearing away of the rock. Nearby is Alum Bay, home of the famous coloured sand. The sea around the Needles was notorious for shipwrecks. The current lighthouse dates from the 1850's. A helicopter pad was added in the 1990's when the lighthouse became automated. Called the 'Needles' because there used to be numerous 'pinnacles' jutting out of the water, one of these was a lofty conical rock, 120 feet high, known as Lot's Wife, which fell into the sea, in 1764, with a crash and a roar audible at Portsmouth harbour 10 miles away!

Portsmouth - Portsmouth is a unique waterfront destination, on or off the water there's something for everyone to enjoy. Portsmouth is a city steeped in history with an impressive cast of characters from maritime heroes to literary giants. From its humble beginnings, Portsmouth developed into a military garrison town and then into the home of one of the most powerful sea-borne fighting forces in history. If you want to learn more about Portsmouth’s past then where better to start than in Old Portsmouth? Wander through the cobbled streets and narrow lanes and let history unfold. See where convicts and heroes left England for the last time. Discover fortifications ordered by Henry V to ward off invaders and enjoy the pubs of Spice Island where once press gangs lined up new recruits.

Yarmouth (IoW) - Yarmouth is a picturesque fishing, ferry and yachting port and is widely regarded as one of the jewels of the South Coast. The deepwater harbour retains its old world aura while visiting yachtsmen will find a range of amenities which are very much up to date and accepted as being among the best in the South. Yarmouth Town is well stocked for provisioning and chandlery, and visitors will find no shortage of hostelries, cafes and restaurants for inner refreshment. With the advantage of accessibility at all states of the tide, Yarmouth has much to offer the yachtsman and makes an ideal transit point for passage-making across the Channel.