Portsmouth essential information

Location

Our Port Solent base is situated in the attractive Port Solent Marina and is the ideal south coast location, easily accessible by road, rail and ferry, and only an hour and a half away from London. The Solent is one of the largest and most up-to-date yachting centres in Europe, offering 24-hour access to Portsmouth Harbour and The Solent. 

Southampton Airport is just 20 miles away.

Please note UK sailing charters and courses are delivered by our partner, Prometheus Sailing Limited. (company number 13000262 and registered address Oddicombe, Orchard Avenue, Windsor, England, SL4 5AW)

Contact details

Sunsail UK
Lock Approach
Port Solent Marina
Portsmouth
Hants
PO6 4TJ, England

Office opening hours

The Prometheus sales office is open Monday to Friday and 9 am to 5:30 pm. 

Port Solent base opening hours: Monday - Thursday from 9 am - 5 pm (or 8 pm when we have yacht departures or sailing courses)

Friday from 9 am-8 pm, Saturday from 8 am - 10 am

Sunday from 3 pm-8 pm when we have yacht departures or sailing courses

Contact numbers

02394 350 505 to make a booking
(Monday to Friday 9.00 - 17:30)

Reception and for delayed arrivals 02394 350 505 (Within base opening hours)

Emergency Prometheus Sailing LTD operations 02394 350 505 (Outside base opening hours only)

Boat collection time is at 7pm if an earlier collection has not been arranged. If you would like to collect your boat earlier or later than 7pm, this needs to be agreed with the base and may be subject to an out of hours collection fee.

Base/shore facilities

As well as providing excellent sailing facilities, Port Solent also offers a choice of restaurants and shops, as well as a marine chandlery for sailing equipment and clothing. It also boasts a cinema, bars, leisure centre and the popular Boardwalk, where you can enjoy a range of food, drink and shopping all year round.

Facilities include free car parking at base, petrol and diesel facilities, showers and toilets, launderette, water, ATM (boardwalk) and Sunsail reception. Post boxes are at the marina reception and the entrance to the boardwalk.

There is a vast range of cuisines and restaurants available at Port Solent. 

Arrival and departure

Airport transfer

Gatwick or Heathrow to Port Solent takes approximately two hours.

Bournemouth International to Port Solent takes approximately an hour and a half.

Southampton to Port Solent takes approximately 40 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 mainline stations are Havant or Fratton station with regular connections to Chichester, Brighton, London, and Southampton. The nearest local stations to Port Solent are Portchester and Cosham. For 24 hour information on local and national train times and fares telephone: National Rail Enquiries: 03457 48 49 50.

There is a taxi rank at Havant, Fratton and Cosham train stations. The local taxi number is 02392 654 321. Uber also operates in the Portsmouth area.

On arrival

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 speed humps and take the next right. Follow the signs for Sunsail , parking is free in the gravel car park on your left.

On arrival, please make your way down to the Sunsail office, following the path beside the marina down towards a smaller car park where you will see the Sunsail building, and then check in with a member of staff.

On board

You will be shown to your yacht and be given paper work and a yacht brief to go through the boat and inventory before you depart on your charter. Please ensure you hand back any necessary paperwork before you depart.

Sailing Information

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 the sailing conditions.

Get more information on Port Solent's sailing conditions.

Sailing licence

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.

Please advise the base if you wish to cross the channel, as additional paperwork is required for the skipper to take onboard.

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 not included in the UK Course prices. Costs incurred for berthing will be split between the crew. Bareboat/Skippered charters must pay their own mooring fees.

Area and 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 and pilot book

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. Charts and pilot books can be purchased by mail order from the UK chandler Kelvin Hughes by contacting 02380 634911 or www.kelvinhughes.com.

General information

Shopping

There is a superstore just five minutes from the base. Tesco North Harbour is available for shopping and fuel.

Hotels

There are 3 hotels within a 10/15min walk from Port Solent marina. These hotels are the Marriott, Premier Inn Port Solent and Premier Inn North Harbour. There is also a Village hotel around 10 mins drive from Port Solent.

Bedding and towels

Please note, we do not provide bedding so please bring your own sleeping bags, pillow and towels.

Health and safety

Swim Safe 

Swimming is often a fun and important part of a vacation. However local rules, flag systems, currents and where swimming may be permitted, can be different and vary from country to country. Snorkel vests, Life Jackets and Diver Down flags are all available on board. 

Children:

• Talk to children about water safety at the start of a vacation, making them aware of the potential dangers.
• Accidents can happen at any time on vacation, but often they happen on the first and last day, so keep watch and do not get distracted when your children are playing by, or in the water.
• Children in or near water should always be supervised by an adult and never left unattended. 
• Get in the water with them, it is easier to keep an eye on them as well as good fun. Floatation devices are highly recommended for children but are not a substitute for supervision.

Be aware of your surroundings

• Check warning flags and signage on the beach and only swim where it is permitted. 
• Beware of dangerous currents, these can be very powerful. Not all beaches have lifeguards and/or warning flags.
• Beware of underwater hazards, such as reefs, rocks, sudden changes in depth and marine life.
• Never swim where a sign says not to e.g. in zoned areas for jet boats or jet skis.
• Never swim at night or after drinking alcohol.

Look out for others

• Never swim alone, ‘buddy up’ with others in your party and use the snorkel vests provided.
• Know how and where to get help. If you see someone in difficulty; raise the alarm, preferably the emergency services. Ensure you know the correct number for the country you are in.

Do not overestimate your ability

• Consider swimming lessons before you go if you think it would be useful to learn proper swimming technique.
• Even if you regularly swim in a pool, remember that open water swimming can be very different.

Safty

All yachts are equipped with adult life jackets, harnesses, snorkel vests & diver down flags. You can see all this equipment demonstrated in our online safety briefing, and we strongly recommend that you make use this equipment during your vacation. This safety equipment will be displayed in the saloon of your boat on boarding - If you have any questions feel free to ask our base staff during your briefing. 

We have a very limited supply of children's life jackets on base so highly recommend that if you are travelling with children, you bring their own. This ensures that children have correctly fitting jackets that are comfortable for them.  

Children should not be allowed in the dinghy without a life jacket or buoyancy aid and should wear a buoyancy aid or harness whilst on deck. 

Children under the age of 16 should not operate an outboard engine and should be supervised at all times when in the dinghy. 

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