Solent

The destination

The Solent is a compact cruising ground, with Hampshire to the north and the Isle of Wight to the south. Short passages connect harbours, rivers and anchorages, making it well suited to day and weekend charters. Lymington combines a working harbour with the New Forest, while the Beaulieu River offers quieter cruising inland to Buckler's Hard. Across the water, Cowes is the centre of the Solent's sailing scene, particularly during Cowes Week when the harbour comes alive. Further west, Colwell Bay is home to The Hut, one of the Solent's best-known stops. Set directly on the waterfront, it has a relaxed but lively atmosphere, with impressive lunches, good seafood and tables looking out across the water. Arriving by boat and coming ashore by tender is part of the experience. The distances are short, so a day can take in several different settings without spending hours underway. It is an easy escape from London, with the pace and atmosphere changing during the major sailing events.