Ventnor Harbour IOW - my recent visit

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

I visited Ventnor Harbour recently and stayed overnight. I have a twin keeler yacht so we managed to squeeze in a little corner at the end of the pier pontoon close to the smelly sewer pipe outlet and dried out without a problem as the bottom is sandy.

The harbour is almost exclusively for the use of fishermen and there was no space for others and they made it clear that pontoon space is private and for them only. Next day very early morning at high tide we were off.

We tried to call the harbour master before we arrived while moored at anchor outside the harbour waiting for the tide to get in and also later several times afterwards to pay but no one was available; this is not a complain, its just the way things are sometimes; any similar experiences?

 

[theoldsalt]

From their website http://www.oceanbluequay.co.uk/haven/view/haven_facilities/

" Please pay at OceanBlue Quay Harbour Master Office if the Harbour Master is not onsite. Ring the doorbell on the front of the building as the office is above the workshop or enquire at the cafe. "

It does seem rather casual arrangement.

 

[horatio_nelson]

There's something of a "Wicker Man" vibe in the south of the island tbf

 

[Greenheart]

Your presence may have escaped the Haven staff, if any exist, but rest assured, a nice little yacht parked off Ventnor won't go unnoticed whenever I'm in the neighbourhood...

...and could this be the cap'n himself?

I'm sorry to hear that the Haven isn't a welcoming place for yachts. In the absence of any other safe harbours on the south of the island, I've always thought since they were built in recent decades, that Ventnor's rock breakwaters might be the beginning of a great little addition to the island's appeal for yachtsmen. Granted the crab & lobstermen needed a safe landing place (their big yellow power-cats used to park on the beach in the 'nineties) but I reckon it's daft of the council to let fishy locals discourage paying visitors.

 

[dom]

Your presence may have escaped the Haven staff, if any exist, but rest assured, a nice little yacht parked off Ventnor won't go unnoticed whenever I'm in the neighbourhood..

Ok it's getting a bit late in the evening; your engine is on your pushpit; so what on earth are those two fuzzy black balls above the stern of your dinghy? Prob wheels, but they look Area 51 weird!

 

[Greenheart]

...what on earth are those two fuzzy black balls above the stern of your dinghy?

The Cap must answer that...but a glance at another of my photos certainly makes 'em look like wheels.

I hope my observations aren't intrusive?

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Your presence may have escaped the Haven staff, if any exist, but rest assured, a nice little yacht parked off Ventnor won't go unnoticed whenever I'm in the neighbourhood...

...and could this be the cap'n himself?

I'm sorry to hear that the Haven isn't a welcoming place for yachts. In the absence of any other safe harbours on the south of the island, I've always thought since they were built in recent decades, that Ventnor's rock breakwaters might be the beginning of a great little addition to the island's appeal for yachtsmen. Granted the crab & lobstermen needed a safe landing place (their big yellow power-cats used to park on the beach in the 'nineties) but I reckon it's daft of the council to let fishy locals discourage paying visitors.

Thanks for the picture, that's me alright, waiting for the tide to get in Ventnor. I must say that Ventnor town is very nice place.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

The Cap must answer that...but a glance at another of my photos certainly makes 'em look like wheels.

I hope my observations aren't intrusive?

Not intrusive at all, most welcoming. The "balls" are indeed folding wheels.

 

[Greenheart]

I was delighted to see a forumite's boat there. As you say, Ventnor is a lovely town. I plan a visit in my dinghy this summer...not so sure where I'll haul her out, or anchor though!

I took the pics using my phone's tiny camera lens with a cheap Nauticalia monocular held in front of it. Hence the lack of definition...not a bad photo though...

...here's one I took without using the scope. On balance, I think a bit of fuzziness is forgivable in close-ups, considering how much closer the monocular brings the objective!

 

[l'escargot]

... but I reckon it's daft of the council to let fishy locals discourage paying visitors.

IW Council are currently considering ways to offload the harbours to save costs. Ventnor was leased out to local fishermen at preferential rates and is loss making for the foreseeable future - revenue from visiting boats wouldn't go far towards offsetting those losses.

 

[Greenheart]

Sad to say, that's very believable.

Still, Ventnor would seem to me a fine place to stop overnight, especially before a dawn start to Cherbourg. If only one or two berths on the pontoons were reserved for visitors, I reckon the prospect of an evening at the Spyglass Inn, or a meal in the town or a barbecue on Ventnor's beach, would appeal. I'll be going there...if I can assume I'll be welcome.

I'm sure the unavailability of other safe (or even moderately protected) berths for yachts on the south side, makes Ventnor's haven very appealing to yachtsmen.

 

[theoldsalt]

Thanks for the picture, that's me alright, waiting for the tide to get in Ventnor. I must say that Ventnor town is very nice place.

Tut,tut Cap'n. Why no anchor ball?

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Also, not a single yacht on sight during our voyage from Ventnor to the Needles. A bit of fog just before the Needles but this is why we have the radar for.

 

[Greenheart]

I promise I wasn't following you westward cap'n, but just as you observed, I was amazed not to see a single solitary sail on a bank holiday weekend, anywhere in the 300-odd square miles visible from the cliffs overlooking Watershoot Bay...(those are the Needles on the far right of the horizon)...

 

[jac]

Was a bit busier on t'other side of island though.

 

[lenten]

took my 15 foot boat into ventnor last year for a break whilst going round the island last year---all the pontoons were absolutely full of fishing boats----carried on to bembridge for a crab sandwich and cup of coffee at the floating cafe/restuarant

 

[Daydream believer]

Not intrusive at all, most welcoming. The "balls" are indeed folding wheels.

handy if you ever lost your legs