Beaching / Anchoring on the Isle of Wight

[swedishjedi]

I have now being using the rib now for about 3 years and having great fun, whizzing about, however I would like to move onto the next stage which is beaching or "bringing the anchor ashore while another anchor holds in the shallow".
I have a 8mtr rib so any tips / advice would be gratefully received, as well as any locations on the IofW.
I know this topic has been done before, but when you want it, you can't find it!

[Lee argyle]

Prob need to get a keel guard fitted to stop any gel coat damage, regards locations - lots of nice bays around the island, you thinking north or south side?

[swedishjedi]

North or South; I guess ideally the most sheltered, so I can get used to it.
I have two anchors and tried over at Priory Bay, but bottled it.
I dropped an anchor "out at sea" and slowly edged towards the beach, but got nervous as to whether anchor had held or not, as well as panicking if will bottom the rib, so gave up as a bad idea.
I hear / read of others "stopping off" at the beach for a BBQ or picnic, so just need to know where and how, to move on to the next stage of my Rib experience!

[cgf10]

I started beaching by picking somewhere I knew was very sandy with no rocks, then I also picked a calm day so it was much less stressful getting everyone on and off. Like most things it's best to start by making it easier and build up to more difficult conditions. Wind and tide often compete to push the boat around, not always where you expect it to. If you have a good anchor and a boat length of chain it's unlikely your rib will drift away in anything other than extreme weather. Parking it where you intended to park is another matter though and it takes experimentation to learn what's what. Good luck.

[Lee argyle]

I guess the weather on the day will influence u as to destination, personally I'm not keen on beaching and we carry a tender and small outboard in one of our lockers to get ashore. I used to run a 8m stingher and I recon you'll have room for a similar set-up if you can find a compact tender - always handy to have on board.
We enjoy the bay's around the West Wight, especially Newtown which is fantastic on a summers day, sheltered and picturesque does get very busy but one our favourites - we were there yesterday swimming and getting sunburnt lol, local seal was loitering around watching all the goings on

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Pick a sheltered cove with a sandy beach on a flooding tide and stick an anchor in the sand up the beach, shortening rope every so often if needed.

Or (even if rocky) in the similar sheltered cove with flooding tide, drop everyone off, drop an anchor, see which way you drift off it, once settled, swim ashore. ;-)

[lakelandterrier]

We tend to anchor & keep the boat in 5-6ft of water & swim to shore - floating picnic / BBQ stuff in on a bodyboard. If tide is on the flood you can anchor & pay out line until the stern's within in wading distance, but one person will need to secure the boat and get wet getting to shore!

[swedishjedi]

Thanks, all for the advice, it looks like had I had the right idea, methodology but not the "balls"!
I shall "grow a pair" and give it another bash, but on a calm day and with maybe a chained anchor as opposed to a anchor with a weighted rope.

[midlife]

It's no problem once you have done it a few times , I was very precious of the hull for first couple of years and now have got the hang of it, have done the tender thing and it's a pain inflating and towing it if you are going any distance etc , now I drop the anchor give the engine a touch in reverse and pay out the rope.Remember to lift engine right up when you drift in. As the tide comes in just wade in and drop the anchor closer to shore .make sure the boat is past the waves breaking , and if there is a swell them don't bother as you won't relax as I found out this summer ( off lannacombe beach ) , you are constantly up and down adjusting the boat !! .
Some examples below ,last one with the tender and the big rib 10 yds off shore in mill bay , in salcombe this summer even the 3 tonne wellcraft was no issue in water up to your knees , just don't let them get stuck if the tide is going out ...

[midlife]

[swedishjedi]

Thanks Midlife

[WhiteShark]

Here's a few at Priory Bay to inspire you. Take note of the sandbar you want to anchor to seaward of if there is a falling tide.

[midlife]

Another pic of the brig anchored off the beach at south Milton in Devon ..whilst lunching at the beach hut .

[Tedskee]

Originally Posted by swedishjedi

North or South; I guess ideally the most sheltered, so I can get used to it.
I have two anchors and tried over at Priory Bay, but bottled it.
I dropped an anchor "out at sea" and slowly edged towards the beach, but got nervous as to whether anchor had held or not, as well as panicking if will bottom the rib, so gave up as a bad idea.
I hear / read of others "stopping off" at the beach for a BBQ or picnic, so just need to know where and how, to move on to the next stage of my Rib experience!

If you are slightly unsure/nervous about your anchor a good tip is to try it out in a fast flowing estuary/river (knowing the seabed composition) when tide is in flood. You can sit there with engine running either using transits or GPS to check position, you will know if it drags. Also you can drop anchor then reverse to dig it in, you can apply as much power as you can to also see how good/bad it is at holding you. Generally it won't drag if you have enough chain on the anchor and correct length deployed. (6 x Depth). This will then give you confidence when anchoring off a beach with no tide and limited wind (because you want to have a nice day). I did own a 10m Sun Odyssey and slept countless nights anchored in bays surrounded by rocks, first few times with Handheld GPS next to my head on anchor watch then your faith slowly grows in your kit and finally you don't worry any longer. Assume you carry two types of anchor, we carry Bruce and Grapnel both with about 12ft of chain however only a 5.5m RIB.

[Chief Wiggam]

If you want to try a halfway house approach have a go inside Bembridge Harbour - to port at the harbour mouth, sandy beaches, café and good mooring - if the wind is in the SE or N it's a great sun trap

[WhiteShark]

Priory Bay yesterday, nosed up to beach to drop off passengers on a rising tide and then anchored off in water that was wading depth. Couple of hours with the BBQ and children playing and then tide has fallen enough to repeat the procedure in reverse.

White Cliff bay around the corner just past Bembridge is also great when the wind has any North or West in it.

[ribber]

Beaching on Bramble Bank mid Solent yesterday 2016





VID_20160918_180852936.mp4

[WhiteShark]

Outstanding form !!