Centaur's new boat is kept at Poole, which for him from Rutland is a 3.5 hour trip, not bad!

I live in West Sussex , 30mins from the coast, however there is not much in terms of cruising except for Coastline and English channel.
I takes me 2hrs to Southampton (I'm closer than Mark by a fraction) and the Google Map timings say 2hrs 30mins to Poole, we have done it in that time so fairly accurate on a good day, but on an average day its 3hrs (but Centaur is miles further). Roads eh, just shows you....Loacation, Location, Location!
When we were young we used to do Norfolk and back in a day and some boating and on the odd occasion from Middlesex and the coast in a day or a few days easily, but then the roads were clearer.
What we are mulling over is usage i.e. up at 6:30, off at 07:00, at boat at either 09:00 or 10:00, breakfast on way or on the boat then all day boating and either overnight or back the same day.
All offer great boating, but Poole and Southampton are ahead at the moment.
Which area do you think?