Water-skiing

Water skiing is not permitted inside Portsmouth Harbour north of Fort Blockhouse, nor within half a nautical mile from any shore within the Dockyard Port (E. Solent) area except in specially designated areas. These areas must be properly marked with buoys.

Designated Water Ski Area

See Admiralty Chart No 2036). A designated water ski area has been established off Wootton Creek as follows:
An area to the northwest of Wootton Creek bounded by the following positions, each of which is marked by a small white buoy with the word "Ski" written on the side.

50° 44’ .78 N 001° 12’ .61 W
50° 45’ .27 N 001° 14’ .05 W
50° 45’ .05 N 001° 14’ .22 W
50° 44’ .55 N 001° 12’ .80 W

At Lee-on-Solent a variety of watersports take place in the vicinity of the Hovercraft slipway. In order to allow each type of sport to be enjoyed safely areas and rules described below are hereby promulgated.

Water Ski Area. An area marked by yellow buoys bounded by the following positions:

50° 48’ .34 N 001° 12’ .99 W
50° 48’ .60 N 001° 13’ .98 W
50° 48’ .38 N 001° 14’ .32 W
50° 48’ .16 N 001° 13’ .44 W

This area is marked by yellow buoys along the inshore side and by yellow buoys at the corners of the outer limits.

Water skiers wishing to access this area from the shore must use the hovercraft slip at Lee-on-Solent and the transit lane that separates the water ski and adjacent Personal Water Craft (PWC) areas. Craft towing water skiers may exceed the 10 knot speed limit in the transit lane and the PWC area but only whilst making passage directly to and from the water ski area. Within the water ski area their speed is unlimited but they should note the requirements of Rules 5 and 6 of the COLREGS, namely to keep a good lookout and proceed at a safe speed.

Licensing of Personal Watercraft

In accordance with The Dockyard Port of Portsmouth Order 2005 no Water skiing is permitted within the harbour or within 0.5 of a nautical mile from shore outside the harbour without a licence from QHM. The licences are free and can be downloaded from this website.

Swimming

The areas inshore of the PWC and Water Ski Areas are designated as swimming areas. All power driven vessels are to stay clear of these areas with the exception of life saving craft on duty.