Visiting the Isle of Wight by rib for first time.

[Futura 155]

Evening folks,
With the Honda bf50 purring away nicely after a carb clean up, I thought it would nice to take the missus over to the IOW from the Hamble as the kids are doing other stuff.
I've not done this before and i was hoping for a bit of advice.
How do you book a space on a pontoon or in the marina? Do you have to book in advance? What is the best spot to moor up for the first time? Is it easy to find your reserved space?
Sorry in advance for the basic questions.
I haven't got VHF radio just mobile.
Cheers all

P.s it's blowing bf8 here in Southampton at the moment, so might be dragged into TK Maxx instead - rather take my chances in the Solent!

[GuyC]

If you go to Trinity landing which is the pontoon on the Cowes side just as you enter the river, you'll either not be asked for payment or you'll get a 'parking ticket' that has a number you can ring to pay for parking. £9 for a 6m RIB for short stay. I rang up and paid mine a couple of days later so it's not an urgent thing.

You can park on the inside of the pontoon to the south of the linkspan.

Saturday isn't looking too bad.

[Limecc]

At Yarmouth just rock up and you will be met by the harbour master (on boat) who will relieve you of the required wonga and tell you where to go. Depending how busy you might have to raft with other boats on the floating pontoon.

[Matt]

I also like Bembridge, nice quiet little sleepy harbour. The Best Dressed Crab is excellent. Or you can go to Brading Haven Yacht Club as a visiting yachtsman. Or the harbour pontoons and you can walk along the sea front a little to have Moules at Baywatch on the Beach.

Wootton Creek is nice too, with a pub at the top. Bit tidal though

[Futura 155]

Chaps,
As always, thanks so much for your advice. I hadn't realised it was a simple case of turn up and pay as you go. I think we'll cut our teeth on Trinity landing and see who we get on. HT at 0900 and bf3 forecast, so fingers crossed. Although 13 degrees is not exactly Bermuda....!

[lakelandterrier]

I've taken the family over for a holiday a few years back - booked into East Cowes Marina for a few days no problem at all. I took the boat over, Mrs T took the car, great mix of exploring IoW by boat or car depending on weather / daily enthusiasm, and being able to different things with 2 modes of transport available

[gtflash]

Cowes is a good first trip from hamble. There is two channels in, small boat and large boat. I find the small boat channel confusing so stick to the large boar channel which always was the main route in and closer to west cowes shore. I still use the public mooring behind red jet despite my boat being over length. It can be a bit of a free for all at times. Of you have low headroom you can tuck in the inside of jetty too.

You could plod up the river to the folly pub also. Not as amazing as everyone makes out but I nice 20minute plod up the river.

https://www.cowesharbourcommission.c...sitor_moorings

If your going to cowes, don’t forget bramble bank.

Yarmouth is nicer but less to do and another 30-45mins cruising.

[Matt]

I agree with flash re. The Folly.
It’s an interesting plod up the river looking at stuff, but I’d probably go to the restaurant in island harbour these days, of the 2

[paulbrown22]

Agreed, I had very fond memories of the Folly Inn from a Yachtmaster course years ago, but when I took our sailing yacht up there the other year full of nostalgia, wasn't particularly impressed anymore with the pub itself!

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by paulbrown22

Agreed, I had very fond memories of the Folly Inn from a Yachtmaster course years ago, but when I took our sailing yacht up there the other year full of nostalgia, wasn't particularly impressed anymore with the pub itself!

Me too...Sad to hear the "Folly" is fading....I remember tho old Ribnet meets there in past times and overall it was pretty good...Staff Food and atmosphere.
Probably needs new money and a re-boot.
Another vote for Bembrige...
and I alway found Ventnor (for an extended run or round trip most charming and with a very helpful Harbourmaster ...if he's still about.
By the way anyone heard from or seen Avocett lately??

[Matt]

We like Bembridge enough that we’ve bought a static caravan there for weekends and holidays and have joined BHYC just as a convenience.

[ShinyShoe]

Do we think doing that journey without VHF is acceptable (clearly it's not good practice) or asking for trouble?

I'd expect there to be mobile coverage throughout, probably 4G for a fair amount of it.

If all goes well - there will never be a need for a VHF.

If there was a technical issue (those freshly cleaned carbs gunk up again?) - the ability to call a passing boat rather than the coastguard by phone changes a "disaster" to an annoyance.

HH VHF would have coverage in the area. Cost ~ £100. Licence is free. Operator certificate has a cost but is not required in an emergency (or on M1/M2). If your alternative is to call 999 from your mobile, you can justify emergency use.

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

Do we think doing that journey without VHF is acceptable (clearly it's not good practice) or asking for trouble?

I'd expect there to be mobile coverage throughout, probably 4G for a fair amount of it.

If all goes well - there will never be a need for a VHF.

If there was a technical issue (those freshly cleaned carbs gunk up again?) - the ability to call a passing boat rather than the coastguard by phone changes a "disaster" to an annoyance.

HH VHF would have coverage in the area. Cost ~ £100. Licence is free. Operator certificate has a cost but is not required in an emergency (or on M1/M2). If your alternative is to call 999 from your mobile, you can justify emergency use.

30 years ago we never had vhf chart plotters epirbs mobile phones only a bag full of damp out of date flares. Strangely we survived, my thoughts are youll be fine its not exactly the Atlantic your crossing

[Ribtecer]

Originally Posted by beamishken

30 years ago we never had vhf chart plotters epirbs mobile phones only a bag full of damp out of date flares. Strangely we survived, my thoughts are youll be fine its not exactly the Atlantic your crossing

Couldn't agree more 👍👍👍

[Matt]

Absolutely. And our perspective changes too. I remember as a lad, Langstone Harbour to Poole felt like some kind of epic journey. And if we stopped at Yarmouth, it felt like the gateway to a different world.

Does anyone remember Niton Radio? If you needed to phone up somebody, you could call Niton Radio on the VHF and they'd patch you through. And I seem to remember you could get Niton all the way from Cherbourg too? And waiting up for the weather forecast on Radio 4, along with tide charts, dead reckoning. Oh and the old Radio Direction Finders were the peak of technology, too.

Anyway, you'll have fine mobile reception all round the solent. Generally, I would recommend carrying at least a handheld VHF as well - if you do need to talk to Solent Coastguard, or India Juliet (actually it's replacement now I think - err........Golf November?) they are primarily on VHF. But for this journey, it's literally the busiest piece of waterway you could choose, you'll be fine.

[GuyC]

Originally Posted by paulbrown22

Agreed, I had very fond memories of the Folly Inn from a Yachtmaster course years ago, but when I took our sailing yacht up there the other year full of nostalgia, wasn't particularly impressed anymore with the pub itself!

When Andy and Cheryl were the owner's, it was ace. Good food, good beer and dancing on the tables - what more could you want. I took my troops there for a team night out. We struggled to find a taxi to pick us up so Cheryl poured us into the back of her car and gave us a lift to the ferry.

They now run the Wight Mouse at Chale. It's a bit more difficult to get to by boat but it is worth a visit.

[gtflash]

Originally Posted by Matt

We like Bembridge enough that we’ve bought a static caravan there for weekends and holidays and have joined BHYC just as a convenience.

Isn’t the river passage a bit of a challenge. An old work mate told me everyone turns round due to port navigation. (That was 20yrs ago)

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by Matt

Absolutely. And our perspective changes too. I remember as a lad, Langstone Harbour to Poole felt like some kind of epic journey. And if we stopped at Yarmouth, it felt like the gateway to a different world.

Not disputing that there is no technical reason a VHF is needed. Pretty sure Captain Cook didn't bother with one when he set off the find the West Indies... Not sure someone setting out on a similar venture today would do so without a VHF even if they were trying to be authentic to the original passage?

Anyway, you'll have fine mobile reception all round the solent.

Indeed. But a mobile doesn't actually replace a VHF, does it?

But for this journey, it's literally the busiest piece of waterway you could choose, you'll be fine.

Yeah... I think that was my thought - busy. Likely help is at hand. But unless I've missed how do you get the mobile number from a passing vessel?

Modern engines are far more reliable than old 2-smokes. But old 2-smokes were far simpler to repair.

OP flagged it... ...so I was merely asking if others had an opinion.

[lakelandterrier]

I was very unimpressed with the Folly -had high expectations from Ribnet reviews (from a few years back tbh) Charged per person for privilege of getting ashore, pub prices not cheap. Same menus as in all other pubs in chain - all prepared, nothing cooked fresh. We'd have done better staying at East Cowes Marina.

[Trevor G]

Originally Posted by Maximus

By the way anyone heard from or seen Avocett lately??

I'm now based in Poole - Avocet is still alive - just not been boating for a while. I think Mrs A is keen to get him afloat again so now lockdown is over I'll give him a prod.
Trev