Ramsgate has come up in the world in the last few years and now offers interesting "alternative" businesses and eateries in the arches. Have a peep inside the Greek restaurant (spicy pastourma recommended). The Royal Temple Yacht Club is very friendly and welcoming, also offering spotless overnight accommodation. The pontoons remain less than ideal and some screech as they bounce. Facilities were on the blink but the marina had half prices to compensate in May 2022. There is a decent Waitrose behind the RTYC for victualling.

I reviewed these notes in May 2022. The prices quoted have been checked for this year and are still quite low when compared to the rest of the South Coast. Lots of wind farm activity.

I reviewed these notes in March 2021. Nothing has changed with respect to the general information on Ramsgate harbour but be aware that the Windfarm activity has increased. The information on Covid 19 can be found via the link in the General information section. Prices have increased for 2021

We have modified the text in the Approach section to account for the changed traffic patterns here. The warnings mentioned in the members notes about the pontoons has been noted in the text and we've added a link to Google showing an overhead of the fingers. Prices up a little.

Overnight stay 31st March. Arrived in F4-5 Southerly which seemed to create swirling breeze inside the harbour making it tricky to control windage. The berths have fairly unforgiving hard plastic decking to the sides but also a nasty triangle of [exposed] iron running from finger to main pontoon. Fairly prompt action by the crew is called for to avoid bow impact. We saw two 30'+ boats hit within an hour of our own arrival :( Marina staff are very helpful, one of them is also the Pilot and is happy to advise on tides/passage planning. Marina facilities clean and modern. Some nice options for eating and drinking.

It is worth noting that Ramsgate Harbour can be subject to swell in easterly/south easterly winds in the tidal harbour, which can make it quite uncomfortable. I've stayed there twice and both times been affected by this. The easy solution is to go into the locked harbour when these conditions prevail, but that does have restricted entry/exit.

These notes were reviewed by Don in March 2016. Thanks Mike Kent (below) for the heads up on ferry traffic. The whole atmosphere has changed here; no lorries lumbering around the ferry terminal, no ferries steaming in and turning around, no ferries to deal with in the outer approaches. They can still be quite busy with wind farm traffic which is high speed (minimum 6kts) and there is a car importer operating from the RoRo berth on Tuesdays. Prices have been held for visiting yachties.

Sadly the Ferry running to Ostend went bankrupt so there are now no ferries operating out of the port.
Commercial activity is limited to small fishing boats, pilot boats meeting ships going up the Thames and fast working boats going to the offshore wind farms to the North.

These notes were reviewed in April 2014. The seasonal, lit red can buoy just outside the Royal Harbour is now a permanent feature. We have noted that there are International SS lights facing into the Royal Harbour from the Port Control at the root of the Northern Breakwater which should be obeyed for exit from the Royal Harbour.

Re our members "grounding" in the entrance to the Royal Harbour in April 2013..There has been dredging in the Port over the winter of 2013/14 and the lump he encountered should have gone now but for accurate soundings in the approach to the Royal Dock go to the port website/Approach/Hydrographic surveys - the 2 metre channel is still quite narrow.

When entering or leaving the Royal Harbour (ie after you have entered the outer harbour) watch out as there is now a sand bank midway between the green and red buoy's. Coming out at low springs last weekend I went through the middle and ran aground (1.5m keel). It was very soft sand and I was moving slowly too so nothing dramatic. Port control advised me to stay close to the green buoy which coming out was on my port side. The boat that followed us out went aground too and did the same as us.

These notes were updated by Don T on the 15th March 2013. Very little has changed and prices have been updated for the 2013. We note the revision of the former rules pertaining to dogs (of the four legged variety) and have altered the main text accordingly.

Message:

"Ramsgate port now welcomes dogs... but not from abroad ."

This was sent at 20/07/2012 12:36:42

4/7 – Ramsgate – Ramsgate is a great port with huge breakwaters, approaching there is a well buoyed main channel which navigates you straight into the harbour, make sure you VHF channel 14 before entrance and beware entering in times of fast flowing tide as you have to make a sharp right to get into the inner harbour. The staff are very friendly and facilities are basic but nice.