. We love Bembridge. Have a great time mate
I've been told sometimes by marinas to turn up on the day and there will be a place. They know that a lot of berth holders will be going out, they just don't know exactly how many until the day, so can't take bookings.
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Milford on Sea.
I'm not thinking of entering the Tour de France folding bike challenge next year !!
Henry
As has been eluded to if you call up in advance the answer is usually no, we don't have any space because they dare not promise you anything. Turning up with a plan B usually results in a satisfactory outcome.
You need to have as many options available to you as possible. Someone only prepared to take a pontoon mooring with shore power, hot showers, toilet and restaurants will limit their chances. Someone fully self sufficient in terms of home comforts and able to pick up a buoy, take to fore / aft piles or drop anchor will do better. Practice those skills and try to equip you boat accordingly. I'm always amazed for instance that some people don't have dinghies. They double up the number of options.
Cowes for example.
Cowes Yacht Haven, Shepards, East Cowes. All full? Go home. But wait, speak to the harbourmaster and see what options they have. Trinity landing, swinging moorings in various places, Whitegates mid river pontoons and so on. We have even been put on spare residential pontoon moorings. As a last resort (sorry, that sounds harsh, but I mean as a last resort for someone hoping to visit Cowes town) run up to the Folly - the guys running the moorings there will move boats to get you in if necessary. I appreciate it isn't Cowes Town but it's a plan B and that sometimes is how the best boating memories are made. Plan B days and nights.
This weekend was a prime example. Thought the wind was going to be light so anchored just inside Hurst Castle to explore Keyhaven and Milford on Sea by dinghy & bike. Went in, had lunch and a potter round. Came back to the boat to recover and it was a bit blustery. The wind was going to ease off overnight but didn't want the hassle to made our way over to Newtown Creek. Didn't bother with Yarmouth because I knew it would be busy and fancied tranquillity. Found a spot in Newtown, dropped the anchor but a bit close to a sailing yacht on one of the buoys. Probably would have been ok but as last man in it was my duty to ensure no touching so bailed out and went up the Beaulieu river.
Again, lots of options. Mid river buoy, Bucklers Hard, mid river pontoon or even anchor on the lower stretches. ended up rafted up in Bucklers Hard alongside a member of this parish
Tide times meant Beaulieu village was easy pickings by dinghy for Sunday lunch and comfy chairs in The Montagu Arms window alcove became available just before our starter arrived. A lovely potter back down river exploring deserted inlets. So plan B came up trumps yet again. Even discovered that the hose pipe on the river tours pontoon is über powerful making light work of a dirty Princess 50 as the sun faded.
Henry
This weekend was a prime example. Thought the wind was going to be light so anchored just inside Hurst Castle to explore Keyhaven and Milford on Sea by dinghy & bike. Went in, had lunch and a potter round. Came back to the boat to recover and it was a bit blustery. The wind was going to ease off overnight but didn't want the hassle to made our way over to Newtown Creek. Didn't bother with Yarmouth because I knew it would be busy and fancied tranquillity. Found a spot in Newtown, dropped the anchor but a bit close to a sailing yacht on one of the buoys. Probably would have been ok but as last man in it was my duty to ensure no touching so bailed out and went up the Beaulieu river.
Again, lots of options. Mid river buoy, Bucklers Hard, mid river pontoon or even anchor on the lower stretches. ended up rafted up in Bucklers Hard alongside a member of this parish
Tide times meant Beaulieu village was easy pickings by dinghy for Sunday lunch and comfy chairs in The Montagu Arms window alcove became available just before our starter arrived. A lovely potter back down river exploring deserted inlets. So plan B came up trumps yet again. Even discovered that the hose pipe on the river tours pontoon is über powerful making light work of a dirty Princess 50 as the sun faded.
Henry
