It’s Saturday night on a glorious mid August day in 2020, with the South Coast packed with boats, yet fewer visitors’ moorings than usual available due to Covid restrictions, and the Solent’s popular anchorages are jam packed. Yet a couple of hours before dusk we’re on our own, having enjoyed a leisurely swim followed by sundowners.
The surprising factor is that we’re only 10 miles from Portsmouth and Gosport, where many thousands of yachts are berthed. And Zest’s 2.2m (7ft 2in) draught restricts the choice of anchorage compared to boats with a more moderate draught.
My reckoning is that the Solent’s popular anchorages such as Osborne Bay and Newtown Creek are honey pots that suck people away from anchorages that would be considered very viable in other places. In a lot of cases these alternative anchorages are also preferable and safer than one that’s over crowded.
Sandown Bay
Sandown Bay, our choice for that night, is a three mile long swathe of sand that offers good shelter and
