Warsash Sailing Club is situated on the south coast of England, at the entrance to the River Hamble, which flows into the northeast side of Southampton Water. The club and pontoon are situated downstream of the Hamble Harbour Master's office.

The Warsash Sailing Club pontoon provides a good berth but is somewhat exposed to developed southerlies and the wash from the busy fairway. The pontoon can be safely accessed night or day, at any state of the tide and in all reasonable conditions.

The club receives visitors, and most particularly members of RYA-associated Clubs. It is advisable to check availability in advance as berths cannot be reserved and are allocated on a 'first come, first served' basis.

Keyfacts for Warsash Sailing Club

Position and approaches

Haven position

50° 51.090' N, 001° 18.453' W

This is the position of the southern end of the Shore House jetty.

What is the initial fix?

This is located 80 metres southward of Hamble Point South Cardinal buoy Q(6)+LF1. 15s and on the line of bearing of 352°T, in the white sector (351°-353°) of Hamble Common Light-beacon.

What are the key points of the approach?

Not what you need?

To find locations with the specific attributes you need try:

What's the story here?

Warsash Sailing Club is situated on the east bank of the River Hamble, just inside its entrance. The club's Shore House jetty is the first of five jetties that line the small village of Warsash. The village is easily identified by the Harbour Master's Office tower, painted white with black bands, located at the foot of the second jetty.



Warsash Sailing Club welcomes members of RYA-associated Clubs to its jetty at Shore House. The main pontoon of the Shore House jetty is also available for bona fide visitors using the Club's bar and catering facilities. They can accommodate three yachts up to 12.2 metres (40 feet) in length and/or 12 tonnes gross weight, but no larger. Yachts may raft up to three abreast. The pontoon can be safely accessed at any state of the tide and has at least 1.8 to 2.5 metres on the outer side of the pontoon. The club may also have vacant moorings available for temporary visitors.




Short Stays (of up to 4 hours) are [2025] charged at £5, and an extended stay of up to 24 hours is £15. Electricity is available on the pontoon for £3.


RIBs are not permitted on the main pontoon, but there is a dedicated RIB & Tender pontoon adjacent to it. The club has a second site at Lobster Quay. Situated immediately above the Hamble River Harbour Master's jetty, it is fronted by a 'floating' slip that provides 'dry foot' launching and recovery for dinghies.




Visitors wishing to stay overnight, especially on a pontoon berth, should contact the Club Administrator in advance of their visit. +44 1489 583575, admin@warsashsc.org.uk or moorings@warsashsc.org.uk. Payment can be made to the Club Administrator in Shore House or to the bar staff if the office is closed.

How to get in?

Guidance, tide timers, and waypoints to Southampton Waters are provided in the Western Approaches to The Solent and the run-up to Southampton or the Eastern Approaches to The Solent and the run-up to Southampton . Approaches, tide timers, and waypoints for the run-up the river as far as Bursledon Bridge, the effective head of navigation for most sailing craft, are covered in the Navigating the River Hamble .




Warsash Sailing Club Shore House jetty is the first jetty encountered opposite the Harbour Master's mid-stream visitor's pontoon and below their jetty. It is made obvious by its small white dock hut adjacent to the pontoon gangway.




Expect at least 1.8 to 2.5 metres (6 to 8 feet) on the outer side of the pontoon. Vessels may moor up to 3 abreast during busy periods.




It is possible to moor on the inner side of the club pontoon. It has about 1.5 metres (5 feet) at low water springs, but it shallows very quickly towards the shore. Vessels should stay as close as possible to the inside of the pontoon while berthing.


Significant caution is needed when berthing in the Hamble River on the ebb. This is particularly true during Springs when the 'river effect', caused by a very rapid initial tidal drop, is intensified by the Solent's double high 'tidal stand', which allows only 3-4 hours for the ebb to complete its cycle. The combination of the 'stand' and 'river effect' results in a disproportionately sudden and intense first ebb flush that is best avoided when coming alongside, or if the skipper chooses to proceed, requires close attention from the helmsman.

Why visit here?

Warsash Sailing Club was established in 1957 and constructed its original clubhouse on a disused lobster pound facing Warsash in 1960. The club's second location, 'Shore House', was purchased from the Royal Thames Yacht Club in 1980 and was significantly extended and improved. The Lobster Quay Clubhouse was wholly rebuilt in 2006 to include showers, changing rooms, and training facilities. The two-storey clubhouse offers stunning views over the mouth of the River Hamble.




Today, Warsash Sailing Club has over 1500 friendly members who are very welcoming. It is an RYA-accredited training centre with a long and successful history of training its young members. Many youngsters who started here have gone on to become World Champions, Olympic sailors, round-the-world racers, America's Cup skippers, and members of national sailing teams.




The club has an exceptionally active sailing calendar that fuels this impressive track record. During the summer, members enjoy regular handicap racing on Wednesday and Friday evenings, complemented by tidal-dependent racing on Saturday afternoons. The enthusiasm doesn't wane in colder months, with a competitive winter racing series held on Sunday mornings. Perhaps most notably, the club is the proud host of 'The Warsash Spring Series,' widely recognised as the UK's premier early-season regatta, attracting top sailors and adding to the club's prestigious reputation within the national sailing community.




Similar to the berths of the Hamble River Harbour Master, the Warsash Sailing Club berths provide outstanding convenience and competitive River Hamble berthing rates, particularly for members of affiliated clubs to visit Warsash, if you are fortunate enough to secure a slot on its pontoon.

What facilities are available?

Electricity and a fresh water tap are available on the jetty. Showers are provided at the club. Diesel, unleaded petrol, and gas can be obtained at the upstream Stone Pier fuel pontoon. Fuel may also be acquired across the river at the head of pontoon 'B' of MDL’s Port Hamble Marina or at Swanwick Marina's self-serve fuel berth on pontoon 'F', again upriver.

Warsash has three public houses, a Working Men's Club, and Warsash Sailing Club features two bars. Another public house is located towards the eastern boundary of the parish. The village offers a range of shops and restaurants, including some mini-supermarkets and a village post office. Hamble, or Hamble-Le-Rice, accessible by ferry, has several restaurants and pubs, as well as a convenient mini supermarket. The village is served by Hamble railway station, which runs hourly services to Southampton Central and Portsmouth Harbour. From Hamble station, a local bus operates to Hamble village. It is also connected by ferry to Warsash and is served by bus routes running from early morning until late at night / early morning to and from Southampton and Eastleigh.

With thanks to:

Jane, Warsash Sailing Club Administrator.