The Hamble

After the charm of Lymington, our next stop was the Hamble – one of the Solent’s busiest sailing rivers, always alive with yachts. Thousands of yachts are based here, ranging from modest cruisers to serious offshore racers. Pete was astonished by the number of mature sailing boats left sitting idle, gathering seaweed. It was a little heartbreaking to see.

For me, though, the Hamble was more than just another port of call. As a member of the Met Police Sailing Club (MPSC), whose yachts are based at Mercury Marina, arriving here felt a little like coming home.

The Approach

The entrance to the Hamble is never quiet. The little pink ferry zips back and forth to Warsash, racing fleets stream out like colourful arrows, sailing schools are training and there’s always someone charging into the river just as you’re thinking about turning in.

We kept close to the channel markers and held our line, letting the flood tide do half the work. By the time we’d passed the moorings and the wooded banks began to close in, the chaos faded into a more peaceful rhythm. Svea had her paws on the coaming, nose twitching at the salt marshes, while Pete kept one eye on the depth.

Mooring at Mercury Marina

Mercury feels tucked away compared to the bustle at the river mouth. The pontoons are wide, the staff welcoming, and the whole place has a calmer pace. Svea jumped ashore as soon as the lines were on, clearly pleased with the generous walkways and grassy patches just a few steps away.

Pete had organised to meet Adrian Durrant, the UK accounts manager from Baltic, who had sponsored Svea with her life jacket, so a busy day was planned. Unlike other destinations, this was just a quick stopover.

Walks with Svea

From Mercury, we took the familiar path to the Hamble square. This is along paths and the road so Svea needed to be kept on her lead.

For longer walks, the Hamble is full of trails through oak and pine, giving a welcome break from the salt and spray of the Solent. Unfortunately, we were not here long enough to test them out.

Pubs and Food

The Hamble is never short of pubs, and most welcome dogs. Our highlights:

• The Jolly Sailor – just upriver, with a garden right on the water. Perfect for watching boats slide past while Svea curled happily under the table.

• The Bugle – in Hamble village, cosy and characterful, full of sailors swapping stories.

• The King & Queen – another Hamble favourite, lively with good food and a dog-friendly welcome.

If you hop across to Warsash, the Rising Sun is as classic a sailor’s pub as you’ll find, and worth the short ferry trip.

One of the real joys of the Hamble is simply looking around. Everywhere you turn there are remarkable yachts – from sleek modern race boats to classics that have circled the globe. Maiden for example is often moored just upriver, her name forever tied to Tracy Edwards’ trailblazing Whitbread campaign. To see her sitting quietly on the Hamble, alongside boats of every shape and size, was a reminder that this little river has been the home port to some of the most extraordinary adventures in sailing.