For this 11 mile adventure you need a high tide between noon and 2pm, preferably as close to 1pm as possible. Ashlett Creek is very tidal, and you can only get to the pub when the tide is high. https://www.ashlettsc.org/creek-info has useful information about the creek, and we typically visit the public slipway at the top of the creek. Follow the navigation marks and all will be well.
Ashlett Creek is a tiny and untouched village at the edge of the huge oil refinery on Southampton Water. The Jolly Sailor Public house has good food and drink, there is a picnic area outside the pub.
Launching
Seafarers is the name of a sailing club on the Solent, and strictly speaking we are not visiting the club in any way, we are using the Salterns public carpark to rig and derig, and the public slipway to launch and recover. However, if the members of the club are about they may welcome you to join them in their club when you get back, as they are lovely people.
The location of the club is http://www.seafarers-sailing-club.org.uk/Where.php
(1) We park in the car park and rig, then sail when the sailing club is not launching for a race or recovering. Typically we sail from here when the tide is high at lunchtime, and the sea is a very long way away when the tide is low.
(2) Follow the north shore, and do not cross the main shipping lane until opposite Ashlett Creek.
(3) Cross as a fleet, perpendicular to the shipping lane, and ensure that there are no big ships about before you cross. There is a mandatory 1000m rolling exclusion zone in front of every big ship.If the wind is light, be prepared to row, paddle, outboard and/or tow to minimise the time spent in the shipping lane.
(4) The entrance to Ashlett Creek is just to the South of the oil refinery terminal, tucked in very closely to the edge of the industrial area. Follow the navigation marks to stay in the deepest water. Only enter if the tide is still rising; if you are late and the tide is falling, go to Calshott Spit where it is easier to manage your boat on the ebb.
(5) The harbour is very shallow, and there is only water at High Water Springs. Do not leave it too late after the high tide has crested before leaving.
(6) Take the same precautions when returning over the main shipping lane.
(7) At mid-Spring Tide there will be a considerable amount of beach to pull the boats up, so there is every reason to wait until a few others have landed. (Note that at low Spring tide there is a hazard to dinghies directly in line with the public concrete slipway, some thigh high concrete blocks are scattered on the beach at low tide, so go 50m to the east when landing at low tide. It is a very long way to get the boats to the carpark, so take your time, and have enough people about in the fleet to help. As long as there are enough people in the cruise to pull the boats across the beach it’s all manageable.)
Extend your sail
A visit to Calshott Spit is an interesting distraction on the way home. Follow the shore and land on the shingle of the spit.
Reasons for sailing from Seafarers to Ashlett Creek
Ashlett Creek is a delight nestling in the shadow of a behemoth. The pub is good, the grass is well maintained and it’s a lovely location for a lunchtime picnic.