Portsmouth Travel Information & Planning Guide

Address & Map

Address

Sunsail UK
The Port House
Portsmouth
Hants
PO6 4TH, England

The Sunsail Sailing School office is open from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm Monday to Friday all year round.

Location

Port Solent is one of the largest and most up-to-date yachting centers in Europe, offering 24 hour access to Portsmouth Harbour and the Solent. Our base, situated in the attractive Port Solent Marina, is the idea south-coast location, easily accessible by road, rail and ferry, and only an hour and a quarter away from London. Southampton Airport is just 20 miles away.

Base Open Hours

Monday to Thursday: 9:00am – 8:00pm
Friday: 9:00am – 9:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am -10:00am 
Sunday: 3:00pm -9:00pm (when a course is running)

Base/Shore Facilities

As well as providing excellent sailing facilities, Port Solent also offers a choice of restaurants coffee shop, and shops, including a marine chandlery for sailing equipment and clothing. It boasts a six screen movie theater, Pub, David Lloyd leisure center, a beauty salon and the popular Boardwalk, where you can enjoy food, drink, and shopping all year round, and live entertainment at weekends in the summer.

Facilities include:  Free car parking at base, fuel & diesel, showers & toilets, laundromat, water, ATM (boardwalk), Sunsail reception, restaurant and bar. Post boxes are at the marina reception and the entrance to the Boardwalk.

Base Bar & Restaurant

The Quayside is located on the ground floor of the Port House overlooking the prestigious Port Solent Marina. The Quayside has a bar and restaurant with a regularly changing menu of exciting and freshly prepared dishes. If you are chartering a Sunsail yacht you will automatically become a temporary member of Quayside for the duration of your stay.

Restaurants at Port Solent include, Café Uno, Chiquito, The Mermaid Pub, Prezzo, Zizzi, and Dragon Marina.

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Arrival & Departure

 

Please note country entry/exit requirements are subject to change. Please check https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html for the latest information before you leave. Sunsail is not accountable for any requirement changes.

Airport Transfer

Gatwick or Heathrow to Port Solent approx.  1hr 30 minutes
Bournemouth International to Port Solent approx. 1 hr
Southampton to Port Solent approx 30 minutes.

Travel/Transfer

Driving from the West
Leave the M27 at Junction 12. As you approach the traffic lights ahead stay in the left hand lane. Go through these lights to the left and a further four straight ahead. Pass under a bridge and filter into the left hand lane and follow road round into the Port Solent Marina complex.

Driving from the East
Join the A27 and continue heading west. Filter left down to the Hilsea roundabout when you see a sign for Copnor, Hilsea. Take the second exit off the Hilsea roundabout and continue until you reach the Marriott Hotel traffic lights. Stay in the middle lane and continue along the road ahead through the various sets of lights. Pass through four sets of traffic lights and under a bridge. Filter into the left hand lane and follow road round into the Port Solent Marina complex.

Driving from London
Travel towards Portsmouth on the A3 and continue on the A3 (M). Take the right hand fork at the bottom of the A3 (M) for the A27, marked Portsmouth & Southampton. Take the westbound A27 and follow the “From the East” directions.

By Train
The nearest main line station is Portsmouth & Southsea with regular connections to Chichester, Brighton, London and Southampton. However, if a bus service to Port Solent is required you will need to get off the train at Fratton railway station, Portsmouth. The nearest local station to Port Solent is Portchester and the station at Havant is conveniently placed on the Network South East, London to Portsmouth Harbour Service.
For information on local and national train times and fares telephone: + 44 8457 484950 (24 hour service)

On arrival at Port Solent

Follow the main road going straight across the first roundabout. At the next roundabout, bear right (the only way). At the third roundabout, take the second exit. Then drive over two “sleeping policemen” and take the next right. The Port House building is directly ahead of you. Parking is free in the gravel car park on your left.

From the main Port House entrance, go left along the board walk and follow this round to the back of the building. You’ll see signs for the Quayside Bar. Enter through the main door and you will see Sunsail UK Yachts Reception directly on your right.

Onboard

You will be shown to your yacht and introduced to your Skipper who will be your instructor for the duration of your course.  After settling in you will be given a brief to go through the planned route and itinerary, and give you an explanation of what the course involves and an opportunity for questions.

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Sailing Information

 

UK-Port Solent

Sailing Experience Level 3 – Experience levels are based on sailing conditions and the length of passages within your chosen sailing area.  Follow the link for more information on sailing conditions.

Experience required

Sailing experience level 3 – At least 20 days or 400 miles as skipper on an equivalent size yacht.

Level 3 destinations are our most challenging. Suitable only for confident, experienced sailors, Level 3 destinations offer long spells of open water sailing, broad tidal ranges, strong winds and remote anchorages.

A minimum of RYA Day Skipper is required, however those wishing to charter beyond Chichester and Poole must produce a Coastal Skipper Certificate or equivalent experience.

Night Time Sailing

Night Sailing is not permitted; you must be moored at least one hour before sunset at all of our locations.

Cruising Area Limits

Those wishing to charter beyond Chichester and Poole must produce a Coastal Skipper Certificate or equivalent experience, and notify the base well in advance of departure.

Mooring and Marina Fees

Mooring/marina fees are included in the course fees.

Area & Sailing

The cruising area for our fleet is based within the sheltered waters of the Solent and Southampton water. From Port Solent yachts generally head west to enjoy some of the famous locations of the Solent, or you could venture south for a trip to the Channel Islands or over to France.

Charts & Pilot Book

RYA Practical and/or Theory Course books. These can be purchased in advance direct from the sales team at the booking office.
Charts are provided between Chichester and Poole only.
All the charts and pilot books you will need for the sailing area are on board the yacht. 

Coolers

Coolers are available at the base on a first come first served basis at no additional charge. Clients must sign these out and return them clean and undamaged otherwise they will be charged for replacement. Only one per boat.

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General Information

 

Tipping

If you have Sunsail crew on board your boat, tipping is at your discretion but standard is 15-20% of the crew fee.

Shopping

Port Solent – Book Store, gift shops, Snow and Rock, boutiques.
Tesco North Harbour, Southampton Road, Portsmouth – 24 hr shopping and fuel. Only five minutes from base.

Hotels

Portsmouth Marriott Hotel
A five minute drive from Port Solent.   All guests services available including restaurant, bar and health club.

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Electrical, Phones & Music

 

Electricity

Wi-Fi: free wifi – log on to portsolent2

Music/Ipods

All boats are fitted with a radio and CD player. If you wish to listen to your IPOD whilst sailing you will need to bring along an I-trip or FM radio transmitter.

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Health & Safety

 

Safety

All yachts are equipped with adult life jackets harnesses we leave it up to you to decide when personal safety equipment should be worn.

Swim Safe 
For your safety and for environmental reasons, the feeding of fish is not recommended and may be prohibited in some destinations.

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