Bembridge, Can I get in ?

[Koolie]

My boat draws 2.2m,

My question is, can I fit in at Bembridge and stay the night?

This Saturday. I have read that I would be fine 3 hrs either side of low tide, do you all agree?

Cheers in advance.

Koolie /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Aardee]

3hr +/- sounds a bit optimistic, but I haven't actaully checked the Almanac for this weekend. Generally, Bembridge should be perfectly do-able for you.

In theory the pontoon berths should be deep enough, but I have seen yachts leaning at strange angles at the Harbour Office end of the pontoons at low water.

I hope you do get in, as it's a great place.

 

[slipknot]

I tried last year in a similar draught boat and had didnt get in. The entrance channel was definitely shallower than it showed on the chart/pilot books.

There is a tide gauge outside to check the depth of the channel. (assuming the channel depths havnt changed) I would suggest a telephone call to the harbourmaster to ask about access and actual depth in the entrance channel.

 

[alant]

Spoke at length to Bembridge HM at SIBS yesterday. He assured me that entry was ok 3hrs+/- HW. Showed me photos of a 3m draught schooner in there!

He is back on duty this weekend, so give him a call.

 

[wooslehunter]

Make sure you follow the bouyed channel on the way in though. It's VERY narrow and has a 90 degree bend.

If you're in any doubt there's a tide guage on the chart just outside.

 

[Evadne]

I have found that +/- 2hours is better for the nerves. There are (or were) a few lumps in the channel just inside the narrows that we "found" when trying to leave too early (draught = 4' 2"). Also we are a tad underpowered and the current is quite fierce at the narrowest point. We're hoping to get across this w/e as well - was hoping for a long weekend there but it may still be a bit windy and/or lumpy tomorrow lunchtime, so we'll see what Chimet says in the morning.

 

[ColinHuggins]

Re: Bembridge, Should you go??

Apart from indications that winds from the SE quarter may continue (and if strong that makes Bembridge rather unattractive IMHO) a recent lengthy thread focussed on the hazards of following the deepest part of the channel only to receive considerable abuse from craft going in the opposite direction trying to push you out of the way!

Those factors apart there are two main points to consider:

1 Getting in. Obtain an update from the HM but it's not in his interests to have craft stuck on the putty obstructing the channel so you can be sure that the Tide Gauge on the outer beacon errs on the safe side.

2 Berthing. After the harbour approach was dredged to give better access, less water is now penned inside at low tide. So you may go aground at LW Springs this w/e. I doubt if the HM is really bothered, so make your own mind up. OK?

Oh, if you do go, could you please take soundings and publish the results for those of us who are too chicken?

Best of luck!

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: Bembridge, Should you go??

Used to count ± 2 hours for our 1.5m draught.

Dunno whether subsequent dredging has changed this.

 

[alant]

Re: Bembridge, Should you go??

So you may go aground at LW Springs this w/e. I doubt if the HM is really bothered, so make your own mind up. OK?
___________________________________________________

Bembridge HM was quoting no problems for boats of 2m! Plenty of water at LW springs apparently.

At visitors pontoon, they are happy to raft boats 6 deep & no grounding - HM statement.

 

[Skyva_2]

Re: Bembridge, Should you go??

A Moody 64 has successfully moored there (draught 2m) and the mud is soft. Moor where the HM recommends.

 

[dulcibella]

Re: Bembridge, Should you go??

It's hard to see what the pleasure of Bembridge is now - just another big raft of oversized yots - the "Old Harry" aspect has gone out of the window since the development of the Duver pontoon.

 

[Skyva_2]

Re: Bembridge, Should you go??

Agree its not quite what it was but there are some incentives still left - the walk along the foreshore to the RNLI station and on to the Crab and Lobster - great beer and food; the walk south along the cliffs; the Duver itself; the WWII houseboats; its still an attractive harbour; the 2nd hand bookshop in the village, etc, etc, etc.

The main problem is the number of rallies attracted by all this, but should be OK this time of year.

 

[Evadne]

Re: Bembridge, Should you go??

I'm sorry, but I agree with dulcibella. Bembridge is awful these days, certainly not worth anyone visiting it, you should all keep away. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
FWIW we always go to "Ye olde Village Inne" in Bembridge. Not what you'd expect from the name. It's a bit of a hike, but is a proper pub with decent food, though not as good as I remember the Row Barge Inn used to be... them were the days, draught Addlestone's and Burts, and some of the best pizzas in the universe.

 

[billmacfarlane]

I went in on the Saturday on the biggest tide for twenty years a couple of weeks ago. I entered about one and a half hours after high water. I draw 1.5m. There was pleny of water all the way in until we came to the 90 degree turn at the beach. where on the opposite shore there is a small spit that juts into the channel. Keep well to port at this point or you might run out of water. I was 5th out on a raft and I just touched at low water.

 

[iangrant]

Going in there Sat 11:30 - meet you at the tide gauge north of the fort - we draw 2.2 metres and know the channel pretty well. Baywatch on the beach is good a five min walk.

boats called Sunbeat Two - will stooge for a few mins there if your not there we'll go in anyway

cheers

Ian

 

[brians]

I was there a couple of weeks ago when LW was 0.3 yes 0.3 and only one boat on the pontoon went aground by a few inches but he was a deep racer. I draw 1.50 and no problem +/- 2 hours.

 

[ColinHuggins]

[ QUOTE ]
"he was a deep racer."

[/ QUOTE ]

It appears that 6ft draft is no longer the norm. Don't people sail to windward anymore?

The Bargeman's saying aside ("If I were a yottie, which thank the Lord I ain't, I'd never go to weather, no not never") it's a sad fact that people DON'T!

Looking out of the window the other Sunday afternoon I counted 30 boats returning to Chi and more than half were motoring. Into a SE3/4.

How I long for yesteryear!

 

[benjenbav]

The very first time I went to Bembridge I almost missed the 90 degree turn, which is not all that obvious!

 

[castaway]

Is this the spit you were thinking of? Its right in line with the 2 stbd bouys.

www.yachtsite.co.uk/gallery/albums/fairweather/acd.jpg

Someone mentioned that out bound boats tend to somtimes push the inbound boats out of the chanel (by taking to much clearance from the beach). Its easy to end up on this bit..



Nick

 

[Rob_Webb]

For Bembridge (as with any other tidal harbour that you are not familiar with) I'd follow the simple rule of pilotage and simply do not leave or enter on a falling tide.

Many years ago when staying there for a few days I spent a day on the beach that overlooks the entrance over towards St Helen's castle - I was there are low spring tide and was appalled to see that the channel markers did not always mark the deepest part of the channel. In places you would clearly be better off ignoring the marks and going outside the so-called channel. Possibly a result of shifting sands and the buoy positions not kept up to date. When I spoke to the harbour master (a big bloke called Bob in those days) he admitted it was a bit rubbish.

Probably not hugely helpful these days - which kind of reinforces the point about only navigating the place on a rising tide.