Isle of Wight Anchoring in an E / NE

[dolabriform]

Hi all

We're currently in Cowes but want to anchor tonight and head to Alderney tomorrow.

Wind is currently showing E / NE overnight, is there anywhere on the south of the island that will be a good place to stay overnight?
Anywhere with beach access and fossil hunting for the kids would be a bonus !

Thanks

Edit: We also want to go to Swanage, but from what I've read staying there tonight would not be a good idea.

 

[Frogmogman]

Freshwater bay ? Fine for NE, not so great for a straight easterly.

 

[Hermit]

Not on the south side, but Totland and/or Alum Bay are good jumping off points for Alderney in an easterly. Did exactly that a few weeks ago.

 

[Frogmogman]

Looking at Windfinder, it looks more like an Easterly for tonight. Alum bay maybe ?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Freshwater bay ? Fine for NE, not so great for a straight easterly.

We’ve got an easterly here right now, and theres nobody anchored, which tells you something.

Totland is the best bet in an easterly or if it goes south of that. We went for a sunset swim there last night, about 10 or so anchored for the night. Not too full.

 

[dolabriform]

Thanks all, much appreciated.

@Hermit what were your tide timings for leaving Alum for Alderney?

 

[Elessar]

Hi all

We're currently in Cowes but want to anchor tonight and head to Alderney tomorrow.

Wind is currently showing E / NE overnight, is there anywhere on the south of the island that will be a good place to stay overnight?
Anywhere with beach access and fossil hunting for the kids would be a bonus !

Thanks

Edit: We also want to go to Swanage, but from what I've read staying there tonight would not be a good idea.

Not sure braye will be very good tomorrow shelter poor with north in the wind. I’m hoping to go over too but pushing on to Guernsey. (7 knots STW not planing may see you en route)
May anchor in Alum tonight. Or if I can get into Yarmouth I’ll go in there.

 

[Airscrew]

Totland Bay. South of the jetty/pier. Opposite the Waterfront bar. Will be busy on and off the water. But its a perfect location in an Easterly, heading West, as its is outside Hurst.

 

[Hermit]

Thanks all, much appreciated.

@Hermit what were your tide timings for leaving Alum for Alderney?

Aim was to go and then tweak to be a bit uptide before arrival. Had planned on a 5 knot SOA, achievd 7.5 with a brisk easterly under the port quarter and actually averaged abut 7 (including motoring the last bit at 5.5 as the wind died about 20nm out).

Agree with @Elessar that Braye may be a bit rolly with the NE component so maybe the east side of the harbour will provide most shelter (but longer in the dinghy to get ashore).

If yu have time while in the CI's, throughly recommend Beaucette Marina (and nearby beaches for the kids) on the NE tip of Guernsey and Fleur du Jardin do a fantastic lobster salad for £20 on Sark. Have a wonderful time over there!

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Beaucette is fantastic. The entrance is an experience on it’s own

 

[mainsail1]

Totland Bay gets my vote. Alum Bay can be quite rolly at certain states of tide even with no wind.

 

[dolabriform]

Thanks all, now anchored in Totland Bay

 

[Chiara’s slave]

We’ll be swimming there later.

 

[Elessar]

Thanks all, now anchored in Totland Bay

May see you later. I’ll come through at 20 knots doing a couple of laps to be sure of my position, anchor too close and make sure that you can enjoy my dance music. I am a mobo after all.
Likely to be there by 8pm or so.

 

[Frogmogman]

May see you later. I’ll come through at 20 knots doing a couple of laps to be sure of my position, anchor too close and make sure that you can enjoy my dance music. I am a mobo after all.
Likely to be there by 8pm or so.

It’s like the scorpion and the frog….

 

[Lightwave395]

May see you later. I’ll come through at 20 knots doing a couple of laps to be sure of my position, anchor too close and make sure that you can enjoy my dance music. I am a mobo after all.
Likely to be there by 8pm or so.

Make sure you crank up the volume so we can hear it in Gurnard !

 

[Chiara’s slave]

There is a brave soul anchored in Freshwater bay, he’s rocking through 25 degrees, I can see his mast swaying.

 

[dolabriform]

As long as the dance music is good I don’t mind

May see you later. I’ll come through at 20 knots doing a couple of laps to be sure of my position, anchor too close and make sure that you can enjoy my dance music. I am a mobo after all.
Likely to be there by 8pm or so.

 

[Elessar]

Left swanwick about 1930. Behind time already!

Significant adverse tidal flow so have opened the throttles to 2200rpm…….

That is an advantage of a mobo. I will slow down for the anchorage though I promise!!

 

[Elessar]

Just cleared Cap de la Hague. Not a great saily day with virtually zero apparent wind but lovely for me. Even saw dolphins.