Chichester Yacht Club Magazine April 2017 | Page 10

By Robert Spencer
Portsmouth Small Boat Channel Moves
Portsmouth QHM has given notice in
LNTM 23/17 that following the widening
and re-orientation of the Approach
channel, the Small Boat Channel that
runs between 4 Bar Buoy and the Ballast
Pile has now also been realigned.
Approximately 50 metres wide
throughout its length, the small boat
channel is positioned over the western
slope of the main channel and has now
been rotated such that it maintains the
same relative position to the channel as
previously.
All vessels less than 20 metres in length
are to use the Small Boat Channel when
entering or leaving Portsmouth, unless
specifically exempted from doing so by
10
the Queen’s Harbour Master.
Furthermore, craft using the Small Boat
Channel are required to comply with the
measures contained in General Direction
7/10 (Portsmouth Harbour Entrance –
Approach Channel, Small Boat Channel,
Swashway and Inner Swashway).
In particular, they should avoid loitering
in the channel and should adjust their
speed to remain in the small boat
channel rather than overtake and be
forced into the main channel.