Moorings in Poole Harbour

Poole Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Dorset coast, covering about 36 square kilometres between Sandbanks and Studland, with Brownsea Island and several smaller islands inside it. Four rivers feed it, the Frome, Piddle, Corfe and Sherford, and the Frome can be followed up to Wareham. Poole town, Hamworthy, Parkstone and Lilliput line the northern and eastern shores, and Holes Bay opens off the north side.

The water is looked after by Poole Harbour Commissioners, who manage the harbour on behalf of its commercial and leisure users and run its moorings.

Depth is the thing to understand here. The harbour averages less than half a metre, so boats keep to the buoyed channels, while the main shipping channel is dredged to about 7.5 metres. The way in is a narrow gap between Sandbanks and South Haven Point, where the chain ferry crosses. Poole has double high waters and a small tidal range, so its tides do not follow the usual pattern. A 10 knot limit applies across the harbour, cut to 6 knots in places such as Holes Bay, and Holes Bay is reached through two lifting bridges that stay shut at rush hour.

Moorings in Poole Harbour take several forms. Marina berths are found at Poole Quay Boat Haven and Port of Poole Marina in the town centre, Cobb's Quay Marina in Holes Bay, Salterns Marina near Lilliput and the Parkstone Yacht Club haven. There are roughly 2,000 swinging moorings, either licensed to individuals by the Commissioners or hired, and the Commissioners hire out swinging moorings in Holes Bay, the Wych Channel, Brownsea Roads and off Hamworthy, plus pontoon moorings in Holes Bay. Applications join a waiting list and the mooring year runs from April to March.

Boats can carry on up the Frome towards Wareham. Ridge Wharf Yacht Centre, on the south bank about a mile and a half below Wareham, has pontoon berths and river moorings.