Entering Bembridge before high tide

rwoofer

rwoofer

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 Apr 2003
Messages
3,355
Location
Surrey
Visit site
Bit of a dilemma. I'm booked into a restaurant near Bembridge for 6:15pm next Saturday (all later times are booked) and low tide is at 4pm and high tide is about 10:30pm.

According to the Bembridge Harbour Masters website the channel is 0.2 metres above chart datum and vessels who draw 1.5 metres can enter 3 hours before HW.

UKHO EasyTide has LW 1.0m above CD, which would suggest that you could enter quite a bit before 3 hours if you are using a standard tidal curve. I don't have a specific curve for Bembridge, so is there a specific reason why 3 hours (eg. odd tidal rise) or is the harbourmaster being very conservative?

I would like to get in just before 6pm and I have 1.3 metres draft. Am I cutting it too fine?

Bail out option is too anchor in Priory Bay, get the tender in and bring the boat in after dinner, but not too keen on that option.
 
With 1.3 m draft I would have thought you should easily get in a couple of hours after LW. I've been into Bembridge with a 1.7 m draft a few times and there always seems to be more water than expected, although I am not a local expert. Looks like it could be low pressure next w/e too, so you should get a few extra cm's!!
 
It's the deadline that's causing the dilemma. For the sake of domestic harmony, Idon't want to try, fail, then need to get back to Priory, anchor, inflate tender and row in to be late.

If the perceived wisdom is that I'm cutting too fine, then I may cancel my reservation and take it easy.
 
Hi. I wouldn't actually. The problem is that the bottom is hard sand as you enter the channel and as anyone who has overnighted in Priory Bay knows, there is pretty much always a swell. I tried gently going in a bit early on a rising tide last year and when I touched, nearly shook my teeth out! Others tried too. Needless to say I retreated quick.
 
If you look in the Almanac, Bembridge has a 'special' set of tidal curves based around low water. If you draw 1.3m then arrive at the tide guage at LW+1 have a look at what it reads and proceed slowly. The tide gauge gives depth over the bar so anything more than your depth plus a bit and you will be ok on a rising tide. The tide rises very quickly and you won't have to wait more than a few minutes. If you arrive a bit early go slowly and 'feel' yourself in. The bottom is sand. Enjoy yourself!
 
The relevant tide curve is Portsmouth, so 7 hours rise and 5 hours fall, allegedly.

You could look at the tide gauge just to the north of St Helens fort, but I would check with the harbourmaster that it is still accurate for the channel.

Edit, as above, there is a curve for Bembridge on page 222 of Reeds.
 
when you get near the fort give the harbour master a call on channel 80. Ask how much water is at the bar which I believe is near the first set of buoys on the way in. They have a marker on the pontoon which gives depth at the shallowest point. They told me yesterday is quite accurate.
 
UKHO Total tide says LW 17.00 (BST) is 0.2m, at 18.00 (BST) its only 0.5m. Its a big spring, so I suggest, sorry, but you wont get in until about 19.30 (BST) at the very least. (data from Bembridge tidal curve)
 
Easytide has it as 1m low (13:05) 4.7 high for sat afternoon (21:47) .... how come there is such a huge difference in height - these were for Bembridge approaches - whilst Bembridge Harbour has a completely different set of heights! Easytide - BH
 
I was working on the Easy Tide prediction, so very concerned that the tide can vary so much between this and Total tide.

Anyone know which is likely to be the more accurate?
 
But what is the difference between Bembridge Harbour and Bembridge Approaches ...?? Other than a heck of a lot of water!!
 
Bembridge approaches? How far out do you want to go?

If there ain't any water to get into Bembridge its academic!
 
Forget it. not enough water even with local knowledge.
If you really can't get a later table then arrive at lunchtime or resign yourself to Cowes and a taxi.

Incidentally, both tide gauge and HM's advice are very conservative to keep you out of mischief!
 
I think you might be pushing your luck with the amount of water in the channel. Check the tide gauge out by the fort. There is a shallow spot where the bouyed channel crosses the line between the fort and the Norman church on the shore (this is the old causeway out to the fort). If you're taking it steady then you can feel your way across this bit. Follow the channel in towards the shore but don't be tempted to 'straight-line' between the bouys, as you'll have the sandbank on your port hand. The sand bank will protect you from the swell if there is any - if there is then it will be blowing a 5 from the east and you should have aborted long ago! When the channel turns to run parallel with the shore (the bit with the railway carriages on it) there is another slightly shallow spot, so take it easy here as well. As you approach the short breakwater which sticks out from Attrills point (on your starboard side) the water will be slightly deeper. Don't cut the corner too much, but turn to starboard after the breakwater and follow the channel up to the pontoon- stay as close to the moored boats as you can as you shout for Pete to come out of his box and help you tie up. And then some idiot Corribee owner will come down the pontoon to gawp at your boat and delay you getting to the restaurant.
 
If your restaurant booking is 6.15 then your problem is worse than indicated. Say 15 minutes from leaving the boat to get to your table, then you need to be in Bembridge and tied up by 6. Say 10 minutes to moor and tie up and another 5 to tidy yourself/the boat. This would mean arriving into Bembridge by 5.45, which would mean crossing the shallow bits at 5.30 at the latest.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top