Bembridge Report

[Twister_Ken]

Yes, the long pontoon is now connected to the shore, and very substantially too. The pontoon itself is longer. We didn't take the ground nearly as early as last year, and the guy who collects the fees says they dredged along the outside of the pontoon to make more depth.

Walk from the pontoon to the marina showers is about 10 minutes, but is very pretty in a 1950's sort of way. Now that the pontoon is connected, the water taxi is less in evidence.

Shallowest water in entrance channel seemed to be in vicinity of No 3 buoy - we recorded 2.3 metres about HW Portsmouth -1.5, on a 3.9m range.

Bembridge Yacht Club has been considerably redeveloped, with an excellent dining room.

 

[brians]

Has the charge gone up now it is connected to land? Also have the portakabin loos/showers arrived as promised?

 

[Twister_Ken]

We were charged about £11 for 28', with a 'rally' discount which is pretty much the same as last year (I think).

No loos/showers at pier foot - were told they would be installed over the winter. There is water on the pontoon - maybe power, but as we don't use it, I didn't look.

 

[tony_brighton]

Whats the minimum depth of water on the pontoon?

 

[Twister_Ken]

I'm guessing slightly, but about 1.0m I suspect, except on a very low spring. But the bottom is quite soft, so keels plug into the mud nicely. There was a biggish Bavaria on the inside of the pontoon, and she didn't seem to have a problem with keel-in-mud.

 

[JeremyF]

They have intentions, but no plans regarding additional facilities. That's what I made of a chat with the guy doing tyhe work. They will gradually add water down the pontoon. They intend to add electricity. They intend to put up portacabins. There's nothing as definitive as a plan, tho'

<font color=blue>Jeremy Flynn/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif
Dawn Chorus</font color=blue>

 

[bedouin]

Sorry to be pedantic - is that really a 3.9m range, or 3.9m high tide?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Range - I don't have my logbook to hand but it was something like 4.4 HW, 0.5 LW

 

[bedouin]

Ouch - only 2.3m near HW Springs - I wouldn't like to try it at all at neaps then.