Fishbourne at the entrance to Wootton Creek is the main car ferry terminal for the Isle of Wight. Virtually right alongside the ferries lies the Royal Victoria Yacht Club and from this area Wootton Creek winds inland for about half a mile as far as Wootton Bridge. Although there is obviously a deep channel for the ferries, once past the terminal the Creek dries out rapidly.

The area around the Royal Victoria yacht club offers shelter for shoal draft craft in anything but strong winds from the North to the East quadrant. Visitors willing to take the ground may be able to find an anchorage deeper into the Creek to offer shelter in all conditions.

We don't have many useful photos of this Creek as yet, but in this case the Google interactive tour provides exceptionally good clarity. More relevant photos would be welcomed.

The Ferry Terminal is owned and run by Wightlink, but the creek itself comes under the jurisdiction of the Queen's Harbour Master Portsmouth, with the Wootton Fairway Assn. given responsibility for keeping the fairway clear.

Quick links to adjacent harbours: Ryde Leisure Harbour , Cowes Harbour  Area coverage: Solent

For the yachtsman or motorboater, approach from the West involves keeping a decent offing to avoid running up Wootton Rocks, lying approximately 300 m to the north-east of Wootton Point.

The tall ship Marjorie ended up stranding here in August 2007. Keeping offshore of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club's starting platform will clear these, and they are marked by a red beacon also, but this is virtually on top of them. See full pilotage details:

From the East there are no real hazards other than keeping well clear of Ryde Sands, and the northerly approach has plenty of deep water. The biggest hazards are the ferries and a quick study of their behaviour will pay off. When one is leaving there is very often another lurking around waiting to go in.... once this is in it has to disgorge and refill, which gives you around 20 minutes to negotiate the short channel without problems. There is really not enough room at low water for you and a ferry at the same time. Conversely when leaving it is best to wait until the incoming ferry has berthed, thus giving you a clear channel outwards.

Once past the green post number seven and virtually abeam of the terminal, swing to starboard leaving the yacht club pontoon on your port side. A pair of small red and green buoys show the deepest water.

If intending to delve deeper into the creek itself a westerly heading from here, try to pick up the leading marks consisting of a pair of triangles on the western shore. These lineup with the best water, and continue on this line until you can locate and pass the small green buoy (which should be ahead) closely on your starboard side. The best water is very close to this buoy, and a spit runs out towards it from the south-eastern shore. A swing to port is now made and a small red buoy is left on your port hand side. This together with a line of piles to port leads towards Fishbourne Quay, a small industrial area with a specialist aluminium boatbuilder (now believed defunct, area awaiting re-development).

Once past this boatyard a small green buoy looking like it's on the wrong side of the creek really does need to be left close on your starboard side, and from here on the deepest water lays fairly centrally as far as Wootton Bridge.

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Boats able to take the ground will find ... the pontoon belonging to the Royal Victoria Yacht Club can be used by visitors, but it does dry out.

They charge £1.50 per metre per night for this with short stays at £5.00. Water and electricity are available here.  Anchoring and drying out is possible deeper within, but it is not allowed to anchor in the entrance near the club. Nipping up the creek at HW to the Sloop Inn is possible.

The Yacht Club welcomes visiting yachtsman from other clubs to use its facilities including showers and toilets. The club is closed on Mondays but otherwise there is a bar providing meals and drinks. Telephone them on 01983 882325, or link to website below:

http://www.rvyc.org.uk/   

The intrepid gunk holer working his way into the Creek should be aware that the channel must be kept clear, and anchoring is not allowed on the Western side. It may be possible to anchor and dry out on the eastern side of the channel in the region of Ashlake Creek.

A high water it should be possible to reach the head of navigation at Wootton Bridge, and get your dinghy tied up somewhere temporarily by the Sloop Pub.

On the eastern bank by Wooton Bridge, the boatyard at East Quay offering drying moorings to local boats, and some repair facilities has now been replaced by an upmarket estate agents.  Such are the times in 2010.

A similar fate awaits the other boatyard at Fishbourne Quay (shown on the Admiralty chart as coming up just after the RVYC upon entering the creek).  There are now no facilities for a visiting small craft within Wootton Creek itself, and no fuel available.

At Fishbourne by the yacht club there is nothing other than one pub. A determined hike from here, (or a dighy mission on the tide to Wootton Bridge for less walking), will bring you to The Sloop Inn. From this area if you walk towards Newport you will find first on the right hand side a Tesco's Metro and more or less opposite a small parade of shops including a chemist, Post Office, Chip shop, and Indian takeaway.

Transport from the area is covered by Southern Vectis buses from Wootton Bridge towards Ryde and Newport, and of course the Wightlink Ferries from Fishbourne that go straight to Portsmouth and meet up directly with the mainline rail services for London and elsewhere.

The Royal Victoria Yacht Club offers simple bar meals but is closed on Mondays. Nearby is the Fishbourne Inn with restaurant and gardens.

At Wootton Bridge is the Sloop Inn with a large value for money restaurant, in really pretty surroundings complete with gardens. This pub periodically gets flooded and has to close for refitting. A dingy mission here on the tide will be worthwhile, as you should be able to get tied up right outside.

Very interesting site dealing with the Wootton Bridge area, much historical information and old photos in a state of the art interface.  Well worth a look.

http://www.woottonbridgeiow.co.uk/

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