Moorings on the River Hamble

The River Hamble rises near Bishop's Waltham in south Hampshire and flows about 10 km past Botley, Bursledon and Lower Swanwick to Southampton Water, which it enters between Hamble-le-Rice and Warsash. That puts it within easy reach of the Solent, and its lower reaches are a major yachting area. The river is tidal for about half its length and navigable below Botley. The River Hamble Harbour Authority has its harbour office at Warsash.

The navigable channel is narrow and runs between dense moorings and marinas up to Bursledon Bridge. There is a 6 knot speed limit, no anchoring below the bridges, and a double high water. Swanwick is effectively the limit for yachts, but boats without masts can carry on under the Bursledon road, rail and M27 bridges. A passenger ferry links Hamble-le-Rice and Warsash.

Moorings on the River Hamble include Hamble Point Marina, Port Hamble Marina and Mercury Yacht Harbour on the west bank by Hamble-le-Rice, with Hamble Yacht Services between them, and Universal Marina and Swanwick Marina on the east bank further up. Around Bursledon, Deacons and the Elephant Boatyard have pontoon berths, and Deacons also has swinging moorings. The harbour authority runs its own midstream pontoons, pile moorings and walk-ashore pontoons at Warsash and Hamble.