Bembridge and downgrading !

[Guest]

Why oh why did Brading Marina reduce number of visitors berths ????? I do not like the channel pontoons stuck out from anywhere !

It used to be a very good run in, tie up in marina and then walk up hill to St Helens village or along to Bembridge town .... I realise that more permanent berth-holders are 'easier' to budget / forecast but day berthing visitors actually pay higher rates ... and I know that usually were rafted up 3-4 deep most summer days .....

So why the down-grade ????

I must note though that the Marina fees were always higher being private rates, not council as in Ryde, Folly, Newport etc. But I'm told that this was due in part to Brading Harbour Commisioners promising to use part of the money to improve Bembridge harbour ... dregding, access, pontoons, services etc ...... I may be wrong on this, but I would consider that not much apart from reduction of vistors berths has happened !!!!

Anyone else have a grip about any harbour / marina / port etc. ??????

 

[JeremyF]

Bembridge is a wonderful stop for lunch or overnight. Its one of the few lunchtime destinations for day sails if you are based in Pompey Harbour.

I'm told that the visitor pontoons in the harbour are now connected to the land, but Ive seen no sign of this on last visit - can anyone provide a definitive confirmation?

For an overnight stop the bast way to get a berth at the marina itself is to get in 2 hours before HW, and if you have kids, they do their damndest to find you a slot. Last time I was given a permanent bertholder's berth as it was vacant.

Jeremy Flynn

 

[Guest]

I am a Bembridge liker ..... having enjoyed the place for many years ..... I also am confused about so-called pontoon connection to land .....as I was there just a while ago and had to stay on the channel pontoons with no water taxi - despite numerous calls on VHF, no walkway to shore, etc. etc. In fact there was no sign of HM or anyone.
I must admit that for quickies I have usually sneaked a permanent BH slot - but fully apreciate that their return and anger is justified.... on finding another occupant !

I would love to see Bembridge improve the visitors allocation, but not too drastically or it will become too crowded for a small hamlet etc.

Luckily for me normally I can get in / out on most states of tide as I am BK .... giving a distinct advantage and the ability to use the beach if necessary !! I have even thought of using the sand bank outside the entrance for a short stay, based on rising tide or near LW etc.

Anyway - they need to think carefully about what they have done to visitors and what solution they can now bring about .... connecting the channel pontoons to the land is not apreciated if its necessary to walk right round the harbour etc. from St. Helens side etc.

 

[oldharry]

The pontoons finally were linked to land about 3 weeks ago. There are no other facilities ashore, except public Toilets on the seafront adjacent to the white 'Ship mark' some 10 or 15 minutes walk away. However you do get the code for the marina shower/toilet block - over a mile walk by land, at a guess.

The harbour man told me they plan to install shoreside facilities - toilets, showers, rubbish disposal (there is a wheely bin at present) plus water and power to the pontoons.

None of which is much use as the 'channel' is completely silted up between buoys 1 and 5 - it just isn't there! There is marginally deeper water (at most .15m deeper than the channel) by going south of the tower, and keeping no 5 in line with the white shipmark ashore. Watch where the local fishing boats go.