Yellow Buoys in Osborne Bay

[JABS]

Does anyone know why yellow buoys have been laid in Osborne bay and by whom???

Tony.

[boristhebold]

I don;t know for certain but I think perhaps it's as a result of the fact the Beach at Osbourne House is now open to the public so perhaps they are markers for keeping boats x number of feet/metres away from the beach. Just a guess

[JABS]

So who is allowed to do that.

I haven't seen it in any Notices?

Surely there is a process to go through?

Are 'they' trying to restrict anchoring?

[Max...]

Locally on the East Sussex coast these usually indicate (as above) the 'exclusion zone' from other water users, ie no powered boats within the buoys - if using a powered boat you must go 'straight' out to beyond the buoys on the way sticking to 8 kts or less.

[JABS]

My point is to ask who has the authority to restrict access to part of the bay?

I thought there were laws about coastlines and access??

Surely ownership only goes as far as the low water mark?

[ribber]

This is going to be an interesting debate from all boat users. I see the 'sailors' are in full flow Today at Osborne bay - Yachting and Boating World Forums one even suggesting the yellow buoys are to keep the RIBS at bay with their excessive speeding

Perhaps the yellow buoys are there to protect the swimmers from constant flushing of the heads when 'sailors' are at lunch for 4 hours at anchor

Whatever our needs, environmental or intrusion, I'm glad to see that we are all concerned about the need to know what authority 'they' have in restricting use of our coast line, yet again.

[wellhouse]

at highcliffe/mudeford area, it's a 8knot zone inside the yellow buoys, maybe it's the same at osborne.

[A1an]

Is there not enough of the sea to play in?

[Dhf]

Looks like a sea grass conservation zone then, we've got a few round here, with no yellow marker buoys though, just marked areas on a free local water guide, the wafi's cause most damage with there heavy anchoring chain ripping the grass up as they swing.
I think Sea grass areas need looking after though.

[PeterM]

Interesting ...I 'think' they have or are in the process of removing the volutary no anchor zone in Studland bay as they have found no eveidence of the damage to the grass...

Dont quote me on this - just think I heard it somewhere....

Sounds like they could be a little over keen on stopping people come onto the beach, doesn't sound like the 'normal' yellows demarking the speed limit zones on most beaches down this way.

[James Slatter]

We were there on Sunday and were hailed by security on the beach and asked to move beyond the yellow bouys. Apparently because it's private and the seabed is a protected environment. I thought it was just mud and weed down there ! Nothing particularly rare or special about that.

The guy on the beach was kept busy hailing all approaching boats and asking them to keep away.

We moved to the west side of the bay and weren't hassled there

[willk]

Originally Posted by James Slatter

The guy on the beach was kept busy hailing all approaching boats and asking them to keep away.

I'd hate that

The Sopranos. Tony is NOT buying the house - YouTube

[C2 RIBS]

Jabs, the day they opened the beach for the first time for use by the public we were in the bay with corporate clients off a yacht. There were no buoys out there then and only a few on the beach walking.

I passed very slow along the area showing them Osbourne House, beach, beach hut and the small fort which is still occuppied. I suppose three knots and about 200 yards off. I saw a man in a green top waiving at us from the beach so we all waived back. Maybe he was staff trying to waive us away?

Not sure on protocols for beach protection for swimmers but loads of beaches use similar methods

[m chappelow]

We have had in the past yellow Tidal survey buoys about a metre or so in diameter dropped in for a month or so our area ,just with a number stencilled on the side
Seemed to have monitoring equipment inside them ,
sometimes they have placed a notice to mariners other times not .
Funny as there is now a wind farm being constructed in the area now

[tonto]

Originally Posted by JABS

My point is to ask who has the authority to restrict access to part of the bay?

I thought there were laws about coastlines and access??

Surely ownership only goes as far as the low water mark?

I am not sure about the exact situation here, but believe that the whole of the area is regulated by the harbour authority, who can decide to make provisions as they see fit for the safety of navigation and the safety of people.

The Harbour Master has the Authority.

I am guessing Osbourne house, and therefore the Island is owned by the crown? or is it NT? if it is the crown, well they can pretty much do what they want!.

If it is NT, there will have been some discussion with the harbour master who controls the relevant area about it, and a reason will have been given. I suggest an approach to said HM might give the reason why said buoys have been established.

[Bizzie]

Osbourne House is managed by English Heritage.

[C2 RIBS]

Jabs- Nothing shown on Cowes Mariners notices
Notices to Mariners :: Statutory and Shipping :: Cowes Harbour Commission

Some info here
http://www.mby.com/news/532152/priva...ies-from-boats

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d...e-house/beach/

[ribber]

EH obviously are encouraging the use of their beach, included within their entrance fee, I wonder then if Megaphone man will be shouting at any of the paying punters that are tempted to have a swim. Would appear to me, that eventually EH would get fed up with controlling such urges and would cave in.

Perhaps they will fence it off with that fancy red rope! Either way, policing the beach is going to be more hassle than I reckon they will have anticipated.

[Dry Run]

My understanding (having talked to somebody who priced the job) is that the markers are there to restrict access to an area where there is a protected type of sea grass - "Eel Grass" was mentioned.

[L'escargot]

They have a licence to mark off an area about 300 yards by 400 yards directly in front of the beach for swimming. Go here: https://marinelicensing.marinemanage.../search?area=3 and scroll down about 3/4 of the page until you find "English Heritage" in column 3 for details