Bembridge, advice please.

[MissIsle]

We are looking to spread our wings a bit further & visit Bembridge on Sat 17th Sept. I recon we'll be there about 1730, HW+2½, which will give us loads of water since we only draw 0.8m
The Almanac states that Bembridge Marina is for permanent birth holders only, but Reeds Marina Guide shows 100 visitor berth's on the Duver pontoons. Is it wise to book in advance, I have a 22' bilge keeled Newbridge Venturer which fits in most places, but also 2 kids under 10 so don't really want to be a dinghy row away from the loo.
Also, any tips regarding pilotage would be appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[Bobc]

There's a marina at the far end if loos and showers ae your priority. There's also a visitors pontoon on your right as ou enter.

What I would recommend though (especially with kids) is to turn left as you enter the harbour and anchor on the beach. There's the sailing club and a cafe at the top, and the kids can just jump off the boat and play on the beach (that's what we did when I was little).

Aim to get there about 2 hours after high water and just nudge the boat up the beach in reverse until it grounds, then just wait or the tide to go out and lay your anchors (or lay your bow anchor before you reverse onto the beach).

Just watch the wind though. If you get a strong S/W then the wind can blow you further on if your bow anchor isn't set firm (and it certainly will if you're anchored the other way round). My dad had to get into the water and pull the boat off the beach once because the engine didn't have enough umph in reverse t get the boat off against the wind.

Also, when entering, follow the bouys in (make sure you go for the next number every time). At first it looks like you're going in completely the wrong direction, but if you keep the faith, there'll be plenty of water. Also when you go through the entrance into the harbour you feel like you're horribly close to the edge on the left and that you're going to run aground, but it shelves very quickly.

It's a lovely place. Do enjoy it.

 

[wooslehunter]

Don't push the tide too much. I was in there a week or so ago & a bilge keeler was parked nicely aground just outside. 2.5hrs should be OK, but watch your depth on the way in & have a backup plan if you're late.

Do follow the bouys. There's a sharp starbord hander followed by a sharp port hander in the approach channel.

I've stayed in Duver & they charged me £20.80 for overnight. 26' in length. I don't think they accept bookings but at 22', you shouldn't have a problem. Then, if you want to use the ferry to get to the Pilot Boat Inn, it's extra - even more extra if you want to go back after 9 or 10pm. Make sure you have the office phone number if yoiu need the ferry. It's not on the mooring receipt. Shower block is OK but nothing special. Place is over very over priced IMO. Ryde is £12 with around the same access. Even Shepherds in Cowes was £17 with much better facilities. If you want to go to Bembridge which after all is a nice harbour, then consider parking on the beach. Hang a left after the entrance. There's a loo close by & the cafe is open for a decent breakfast. Pilot Boat Inn is that side too. Ground at 2.5 - 3hrs after HW & you will get off easily. I approach the beach there by just going aground slowly & holding the engine on for a few mins until I'm not going to move. When the water's gone, a walk up the beach with the bow anchor & a walk down the beach with a stern anchor is all that's required. Dig them both in & you're set. Comming off is almost the reverse. Take in the bower but leave the stern. When you're close to floating, start the motor & reverse off making sure you don't foul the stern anchor. Pull in the warp & you're away. Simples.

 

[l'escargot]

We are looking to spread our wings a bit further & visit Bembridge on Sat 17th Sept. I recon we'll be there about 1730, HW+2½, which will give us loads of water since we only draw 0.8m
The Almanac states that Bembridge Marina is for permanent birth holders only, but Reeds Marina Guide shows 100 visitor berth's on the Duver pontoons. Is it wise to book in advance, I have a 22' bilge keeled Newbridge Venturer which fits in most places, but also 2 kids under 10 so don't really want to be a dinghy row away from the loo.
Also, any tips regarding pilotage would be appreciated.
Thanks.

Website here: http://www.bembridgeharbour.co.uk/

They don't take bookings and expect to be rafted, the Duver marina is one long pontoon which is all walk ashore. Call up "Bembridge Marina" on Ch 80 as you go in and they will ask your length, draught etc. and instruct you where to moor - don't just tie up without asking as they will probably send you off and make you come in again somewhere else, they do sort boats into similar sizes departure times etc.

Basically just follow the buoys through the 2 dog-legs and don't get caught out by the extra one as you run parallel with the beach, 10a I think it is - they didn't want to renumber them all so added one in and gave it an "a" suffix. It isn't as daunting as it is made out to be and you won't have any problem with your draught several hours either side of high water in reasonably good conditions.

Have a look at the tide gauge as you go in if you want reassurance as it gives you the depth at the shallowest point which is passing over the causeway to the fort. Once you are over that you are safe as long as you keep to the channel

 

[VicS]

The visitors berths are on the Duver pontoon. There are showers and toilets at the Duver.

St Helens marina at the top of the harbour is for resident berth holders only.

There is a water taxi service from the Duver pontoon to Brading Haven Yacht Club ( next to St Helens marina ) and other locations.

They do not take advance bookings for visitors berths.

See http://www.bembridgeharbour.co.uk/

Dont be late arriving on a falling tide

I have never felt tempted to anchor on the beach. Not sure about toilets there. Public ones nearby maybe.

 

[DJE]

I recon we'll be there about 1730, HW+2½, which will give us loads of water since we only draw 0.8m
Thanks.

Any reason for arriving so late? You should still have plenty of water but if you're delayed there will be a lot less an hour later. On a 4.5m tide the curve looks like this:-

So when it starts to drop it doesn't hang about.

 

[MissIsle]

Duver pontoon sounds just the ticket for us.
My wife & kids have never rafted up, & I've only done it on sailing courses, to be honest some of the horror stories have scared me off a bit. But since the kids are in bed by 9pm, & my wife & I are never usually far behind them, it'll be fun.
The beach could be a good back-up plan if the pontoon is full.

 

[mcframe]

If the wind is settled and in the south, (and you've got a dinghy) then it's nice to anchor in Priory Bay - with your draught, you could get nicely tucked in close to the beach.

 

[MissIsle]

Any reason for arriving so late? You should still have plenty of water but if you're delayed there will be a lot less an hour later. On a 4.5m tide the curve looks like this:-
[So when it starts to drop it doesn't hang about.

We're coming from Fareham. We really can't get out of our birth until HT-1 & it takes 1½hrs to get to Blockhouse. I'm allowing 2 hrs to sail over, but if I motor-sail I can halve this to be safe.

 

[l'escargot]

Any reason for arriving so late? You should still have plenty of water but if you're delayed there will be a lot less an hour later...

We're coming from Fareham. We really can't get out of our birth until HT-1 & it takes 1½hrs to get to Blockhouse. I'm allowing 2 hrs to sail over, but if I motor-sail I can halve this to be safe.

On the 17th it is a 3m tide (at Bembridge). You should have 2.2m at 1730 and 1.4m at 1830. You will also have a fairly strong ebb coming out of the harbour.

 

[dt4134]

My wife & kids have never rafted up, & I've only done it on sailing courses, to be honest some of the horror stories have scared me off a bit.

As to rafting up, 99.9% of people are fine about it, and if the harbourmaster has put you there they've no grounds for complaint anyway. Have enough fenders out and manouvre slowly enough to avoid scaring the neighbours. If any doubts about the lines you need just discuss it with the inside boat, as I say 99.9% are fine and if they're anything like me they'll be glad to get a boat outside them for protection from the next arrival.

 

[MissIsle]

On the 17th it is a 3m tide (at Bembridge). You should have 2.2m at 1730 and 1.4m at 1830. You will also have a fairly strong ebb coming out of the harbour.

Is there much of a tide race out of Bembridge? It narrows at the point but doesn't look to bad in the pilot book.

 

[VicS]

Is there much of a tide race out of Bembridge? It narrows at the point but doesn't look to bad in the pilot book.

Yes. It belts out through the narrow bit but should not be not a problem with a decent engine. Never had only problems with a decent outboard anyway, seen people struggling with clapped out Seagulls though

 

[l'escargot]

Is there much of a tide race out of Bembridge? It narrows at the point but doesn't look to bad in the pilot book.

There will be a knot or 2 at the narrowest point as you pass the last breakwater on the Duver and turn to enter the harbour proper.

 

[albionahoy]

On the 17th it is a 3m tide (at Bembridge). You should have 2.2m at 1730 and 1.4m at 1830. You will also have a fairly strong ebb coming out of the harbour.

Thank you all for this. We have a Sadler 29 fin keel 1.5m; are we ok to go in to and is it Duver or anchoring in Pilot Bay? Thanks very much...

 

[l'escargot]

Thank you all for this. We have a Sadler 29 fin keel 1.5m; are we ok to go in to and is it Duver or anchoring in Pilot Bay? Thanks very much...

You'll be alright going into the Duver pontoon but stick to an hour or two either side of high water on your first visit - once you've been in and out a couple of times you will judge it better. The Duver pontoon doesn't dry as it sits in a pool although depending on where you are on it your keel may just stick in the mud for a bit a bit at low water.

 

[VicS]

Thank you all for this. We have a Sadler 29 fin keel 1.5m; are we ok to go in to and is it Duver or anchoring in Pilot Bay? Thanks very much...

Pilot bay ? Do you mean Priory bay?

Priory bay dries.

Charts here

you can go into the harbour and alongside the Duver pontoon. Obviously the you will have to enter, and leave closer, to HW than a small twin keeler can.

 

[mixmaster]

What are the depths relative to LAT at the Duver pontoon? We draw 2.2m and have only had the guts to go in once. It's not the entry that worries me but how deep we would dig into the mud a low water.

Thanks.

 

[VicS]

What are the depths relative to LAT at the Duver pontoon? We draw 2.2m and have only had the guts to go in once. It's not the entry that worries me but how deep we would dig into the mud a low water.

Thanks.

The charts in my link above shows the depth to which it was dredged but it no doubt silts up again and requires regular re-dredging.

Accumulated material will be pretty soft I guess but it is a small harbour and not the most suitable for large deep draught boats

Having once run aground and been stuck in the entrance channel for half a day in a shallow draught bilge keeler it's the entrance that worries me the most!

 

[Moonshining]

What are the depths relative to LAT at the Duver pontoon? We draw 2.2m and have only had the guts to go in once. It's not the entry that worries me but how deep we would dig into the mud a low water.

Thanks.

I wouldn't worry about it. There are plenty of 40'+ boats in there who seem to have no problems, plus the mud is very soft. We (1.3m draft) got put onto the undredged side of the pontoon a couple of years back. There was only about 6" of water at one stage and we didn't have any problems.