IOW Festival - what chance of getting a berth?

[PEJ]

I'm not a music fan and never been near a festival but some friends enquired about using my boat as a base to sleep in for the IOW festival.

Where would be the best place to berth, that is assuming one could even get a berth that weekend.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[SpottyDog5]

Island harbour (closest) or East Cowes Marina, should have no problem if you book early.
But I would tell to get a tent and camp, last year, it was quite a wet affair ! wouldn't want them on my boat.....

 

[PEJ]

Yeah, I thought of that after being a bit rash with the offer!

White carpet in the cabin. I might have to insist they take their dirty stuff off on the pontoon!

 

[oGaryo]

Deb abd I are going to the festival this year.... you cannot book a berth in East Cowes until the new year. We'll be doing just that and walking to the festival each day following a breakfast in the Folly... hard core us two, none of this namby pamby camp out in the mud malarky

 

[DAKA]

Yeah, I thought of that after being a bit rash with the offer!

White carpet in the cabin. I might have to insist they take their dirty stuff off on the pontoon!

If you book Island harbour (expensive for the three days as its a special loaded package) you can erect a tent in the marina for the same price (small grass area used specifically for boats own tents) next to BBQ area and shower block and bar.

 

[z1ppy]

As said, ialsnd harbour hike their rates up. when we went we stayed at East Cowes and got the water taxi up and down the river!

who is headlining next year? thought they have been a little average over the last few years?

 

[Garold]

Friend of mine stays somewhere on the Medina, then takes his rib up river and anchors for the evening. He reckons that he has a good view and can listen to the music. He also said that the river is pretty busy late on with lots of others doing the same thing.

Just a thought.

Cheers

Garold

 

[SpottyDog5]

Yeah, I thought of that after being a bit rash with the offer!

White carpet in the cabin. I might have to insist they take their dirty stuff off on the pontoon!

Especially the girls, there is a spare berth near me

 

[Firefly625]

Friend of mine stays somewhere on the Medina, then takes his rib up river and anchors for the evening. He reckons that he has a good view and can listen to the music. He also said that the river is pretty busy late on with lots of others doing the same thing.

Just a thought.

Cheers

Garold

never thought of doing that... but just looking & Sea Close Park is right up towards Newport... so I guess viewing only available at HW!?

 

[l'escargot]

As said, ialsnd harbour hike their rates up. when we went we stayed at East Cowes and got the water taxi up and down the river!

who is headlining next year? thought they have been a little average over the last few years?

Bruce Springsteen, also Madness, Elbow, Noel Gallagher and Noah & the Whale.

More here: http://www.isleofwightfestival.com/

There is always the Folly if you can get there early enough and Newport Town Quay is also an option if you can dry out.

 

[matt13]

Deb abd I are going to the festival this year.... you cannot book a berth in East Cowes until the new year. We'll be doing just that and walking to the festival each day following a breakfast in the Folly... hard core us two, none of this namby pamby camp out in the mud malarky

How far is it to walk from the Folly?

 

[timgriffin]

Was very wet on the Sunday we got drenched also they upped the capacity and boy did it feel overcrowded sometimes dangerous as hundreds rush through what seemed like a small gap.

They plan to increase capacity again this year and am not sure we are going to go due to the crush .

Tim

 

[oGaryo]

How far is it to walk from the Folly?

not too far

 

[KevB]

Was very wet on the Sunday we got drenched also they upped the capacity and boy did it feel overcrowded sometimes dangerous as hundreds rush through what seemed like a small gap.

They plan to increase capacity again this year and am not sure we are going to go due to the crush .

Tim

I agree about the crowd numbers last year but the organisers say there were no more than usual, 70,000. Apparently they are re designing the gap between strawberry fields and the main field so not so much of a bottle neck.

We've stayed in Island harbour a couple of times for the festival but @ £300 quid for a 10 mtr boat for the three nights it's a 'bit' steep. The last couple of years we've stayed on the folly pontoons for £11 per night and used the water taxi up to Island Harbour and done the 20 minute walk from there.

Last year the Sunday was a washout and can't imagine what it must have been like staying in a tent. It was horizontal rain all day and bloody cold.

Got next years tickets and looking forward to it already

 

[matt13]

not too far

But further on the way back

 

[dpb]

The view from the river.
Not perfect but just a fiver.