Cobb’s Quay Marina

This MDL Marina,  located in Holes Bay, Hamworthy in a delightful part of Poole Harbour, offers some of the best facilities in the area including 280-berth dry stack berths writes Sue Pelling.

Cobb’s Quay at a Glance

50°43.30’N 2°00.10’W

BERTHING FOR 1,130 VESSELS

Access is via two lifting bridges at all states of the tide

Visiting Poole

Poole Harbour, Dorset claims to be Europe’s largest natural harbour and is one of the most delightful, unspoilt havens in the country. As well as being home to an historic quayside, some of the most beautiful, clean beaches, and anchorages on the south coast, the harbour is also made up of many different habitats with mudflats and salt marshes, which makes it important ecologically for the birds and wildlife that live there.

Poole is also unquestionably one of the most popular cruising destinations on the south coast, or start points for venturing further afield with places like Studland Bay, and Swanage – part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site – on its ‘doorstep’ to the south and west, and the Solent, and the Isle of Wight and Chichester Harbour to the east.

About Cobb’s Quay

Given its many fine attributes therefore, it is not surprising Poole is known as a hot spot for visitors and berth holders alike. In fact, if you’re looking for a rural, yet convenient location in which to berth your yacht long term, Poole Harbour’s MDL’s Cobb’s Quay, is a good one to consider.

This marina offers 850 berths for vessels up to 25m loa, plus 280 dry stack berths for boats up to 10m loa, and has all the facilities and services you would expect from MDL including a fuel station that stocks petrol, diesel and gas, top rated toilet and showers, and laundry room, a bar and restaurant, convenience store, and a chandlery. Also, if you are travelling to the marina by an electric vehicle, there are Tesla and Universal Type 2 charging facilities.

If you are looking for a base that offers boat maintenance, repair and servicing, Cobb’s Quay has it all including a 40-ton boat hoist and slipway, and plenty of local on-site marine engineering, and boat repair/restoration companies as well as sailmakers. There is also a host of local cafes, bars and restaurants including the Bankes Arms Country Inn, The Pig-on-the-beach, both in Studland on the Isle of Purbeck, or Rick Stein’s Sandbanks restaurant overlooking the harbour and Brownsea Island.

As well as enjoying the marina’s excellent facilities and services, visitor and berth holders can also enjoy the benefits MDL’s Otium membership scheme. This rewards-based loyalty scheme is free to join with points generated for every MDL service purchase including fuel, berthing fees, and boatyard services. Points (£1 spend is equal to one point) can then be redeemed using MDL services, and the services of MDL’s specially selected partners.

Passage planning

The entrance to Poole Harbour is straightforward and well-marked by lit buoys. It is,  however, a busy harbour with commercial traffic such as fishing boats, the cross-channel ferry service to Cherbourg, and the Condor Catamaran service that runs to the Channel Islands. In the height of the summer season, it’s also buzzing with pleasure craft, so you need to keep a constant look out, and ideally check the shipping movements and plan your entry. If you are a visitor, it is also advisable to call the marina prior to arrival on VHF Ch80 or 01202 674299 to check berthing availability particularly at the height of the season. The marina staff will also advise on berth location.

The Swash Channel is the main entry from Poole Bar buoy or, to save time if approaching from the east you can take the shallower East Looe Channel route. Continue up-harbour via the North Channel or Middle Ship Channel. Cobb’s Quay Marina is about a mile up river from Poole Town Quay, on the west side of Holes Bay. Once you have passed Poole Quay you need to transit the first of two lifting bridges (Poole Town Bridge), then the Twin Sails Bridge slightly further up river. There are regular scheduled lifting times, but for more information you can contact the bridge operator on VHF Ch12 using the call sign ‘Bridge Control’. Once clear of the bridges, follow the buoyed channel to the marina.

Cruising ground

Poole Harbour is one of the most convenient places along the south coast in which to base your yacht, use as a starting location for a cruise further afield, or a holiday destination. The harbour and surrounding areas are wonderful places to explore, with award winning beaches such as Sandbank just across the bay. The National Trust-owned Brownsea Island in the middle of the harbour with its fury inhabitant such as red squirrel and sika deer, is well worth a visit too.

The World Heritage Site Jurassic Coast stretches from Studland Bay to Exmouth, Devon over about 96 miles. The bit from Studland to Lulworth Cove  – on the Isle of Purbeck (or Purbeck Peninsular), is a delightful place for cruising because it is dotted with anchorages like Worbarrow Bay, and the sheltered waters of Portland Harbour (approximately 28nm).

With easy access to the Solent, it doesn’t take long to venture across to the Isle of Wight either Cowes (approximately 28nm) is a popular sailors’ haunt with plenty of restaurants and pubs to suit all tastes, but beware the summer season gets extremely busy there, particularly during the annual Round the Island Race and Cowes Week. Osborne Bay, just to the east of the River Medina, is a great place to drop anchor for lunch and a have a swim. 

Slightly closer in the Western Approaches is the delightful town of Yarmouth (approximately 19nm), which has a marina and well worth a visit. It’s a great place for dining out with plenty of pubs and restaurants, including the Terrace – a waterside restaurant that overlooks the Solent. Or if you stick to the mainland, there’s other holiday favourites such as Lymington (21nm), and Beaulieu River, the entrance of which is 25nm from Poole.

Useful Info

Fuel berth: Diesel, petrol, gas

Boatyard services including lift in/out: On site

MDL Marina storage: +44(0)1202 674299

Sailmaker: Southern Sails & Covers: +44(0)7854 597948

Yacht broker: Blue Lagoon Marine +44(0)1202 081700

Charter/ownership: flexisail.com

Sailing school: poolesailing.co.uk 

Places to Eat and Drink

Cobbs Bar & Restaurant +44(0)1202 673690

Bankes Arms +44(0)1929 450225

Harbour Heights +44(0)800 4840048

Italian Diva +44(0)1202 674319

The Pig on the beach +44(0)1929 450288

Poole Arms +44(0)1202 673450

Rick Stein, Sandbanks +44(0)1202 283000

Riggers Restaurant & Slipway Bar +44(0)8451 226999

Rockfish Poole +44(0)1202 836255

Shell Bay Seafood Restaurant +44(0)1929 450363

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