Poole, Dorset
29 May – 23 July 2026
How we got here: Along the Solent to Poole
Cowes, Isle of Wight → Poole, Dorset
A short, easy hop west past the Needles and along Christchurch Bay into Poole Harbour — mostly motored, barely any wind to speak of, so the engine did most of the work. Went straight into Poole Quay Boat Haven rather than anchoring.
What we did here
Poole Harbour is one of the largest natural harbours in the world, and was busy with dinghies and paddleboarders on a warm afternoon.
Picked up a swinging mooring off Brownsea Island for what turned into a two-month stay, getting the boat ready for the long trip ahead: replacing the cooling water pump on the engine, installing new solar panels, converting her into a proper liveaboard — the previous owner hadn’t lived on her — and many more jobs besides. Most days meant a dinghy ride across the harbour to Poole Quay Boat Haven for supplies and online orders. Weather was mostly good, but one storm brought gusts of up to 40 knots that properly tested our mooring lines.