Breeze www.bembridgeharbour.co.uk Bembridge Harbour Authority biannual newsletter Issue 7 – Spring/Summer 2015

Bembridge Harbour Bembridge Harbour Food Festival Family Fun Weekend 2nd-4th October 31st July-2nd August

BEMBRIDGE HARBOUR AUTHORITY Harbour Office, The Duver, St Helens, PO33 1YB Tel: 01983 872828 E-mail: [email protected] www.bembridgeharbour.co.uk Follow us on Facebook Editorial

From Malcolm Thorpe

t’s hard to believe that we are heading towards our 4th season at the new on-shore facilities and amenities (new showers/toilets/laundry and I Harbour - if you’ll pardon the obvious pun, much water really has offices) at both the Duver and the Marina, together with a cluster of gone under the bridge!! small commercial units and additional Marina car parking. Also included As well as our general maintenance work over the winter period, are 14 new houses overlooking the Harbour on three different sites that we have also completed several projects in and around the Harbour will enable us to afford all this further investment. Timing wise we want - we are now looking smarter and cleaner than last year, with newly to start these works this autumn to enable us to have our facilities ready painted pontoon piles (not pink I would add!!) complete with white for our customers in Easter 2016. What we will not change though is the tops to name but one example. Our all important and on-going environment where the Harbour is sited - we are so very fortunate and dredging programme just after Easter will involve the Duver Pontoon, although we work hard to promote what this beautiful, vibrant and unique Fishermans and Bembridge Sailing Club to bring our depth back to a part of the Island has to offer, it is not a difficult sell. sensible level. A live-feed tide height gauge relevant to the entrance Our Family Fun Weekend, this year being held on 31st July and 1st, 2nd channel bar will - hopefully by the time you are reading this - have August, will once again support the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air been installed, calibrated and tested so that it can be fully operational Ambulance, and include many family events such as crabbing and sand as early as possible - live feed data will displayed on our website and sculpture competitions, watery adventures with Tackt-Isle, and firm at the Berthing Office. These all add to the improvements already favourites such as the Great Bembridge Paper Boat Race, Dance on the in place such as WiFi and our Harbour management software system Duver and our Fireworks Display - more details to be found on page 5 . introduced last year. An early booking for a berth is advisable. Together with our permanent staff we have a great crowd of seasonal We are also promoting a new extended weekend event to be held locally staff for this summer; all well trained, with a sense of humour, and - the Bembridge Harbour Food Festival - more details below. We hope prepared and willing to help in any way possible. many of you will be able to join us for what promises to be an exciting Locals and regular visitors will be aware that we submitted to the inaugural event and hugely enjoyable weekend. Isle of Wight Council last summer, a planning application for further ”To finish off with - roll on summer !! regeneration works to the Harbour; the essential element being Fair winds and tides

Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th October A new event coming to a Harbour near you! Celebrating the wonderful variety of local food and produce grown and made on the Isle of Wight. A Festival Marquee at Bembridge Sailing Club will host tastings and foodie events and local restaurants will be offering Festival menus and dishes. A showcase for all that is Island! Bembridge Harbour Authority would like to invite all our visiting owners and High Water is 1532 on the Friday - Weekend Rallies are very welcome. crew to a Cocktail Party at the Duver Visitors’ pontoon on Friday evening to To book a rally or as an individual visiting boat please e-mail Malcolm start the weekend off. Thorpe - [email protected] give the Harbour Office a ring on 01983 872828, or complete the Food Festival Booking Form More information on the Food Festival is available at www.bembridgefestivals. on the website. co.uk or on Facebook - www.facebook.com/bembridge.harbour.food.festival

Front Cover: Britten-Norman plane over Bembridge Harbour - photo from BNAS collection of BN original images, used with kind permission. Edited by Fiona Thorpe Designed and produced by Solitaire Creation Tel: 01983 752232 Printed in England by Crossprint Ltd, Tel: 01983 524885

2 BEMBRIDGE BREEZE APRIL 2015 Bembridge Boat Storage News

High and Dry at Bembridge Boat Storage

ow heading into its 3rd year, Bembridge holding pontoon means your boat is ready and N Boat Storage is a truly professional business waiting for you and allows you to simply tie up and specialising in lifting, storing and valeting RIBs and walk away at the end of the day. sports boats of up to 10m (5 tons) and offering a Keeping your boat inside the BBS shed means no top end service to its customers which is unique on anti-fouling, no UV damage, reduced maintenance the Island. costs, higher resale value and peace of mind. Surely Their dry, clean, secure storage shed, is situated for RIBS and sports boats there can be no better immediately fronting onto Bembridge Harbour and way to go power-boating - so why wouldn’t you? offers an all year round on-site service. From 1st Flexible storage packages are available, from daily April winter-only storage customers will be making launching arrangements, over-winter storage to way for those who want to keep their boats under summer holidays only use. Later this year, new, lower cover during the season with a 1-hour launch on priced external storage will also be available. demand service, and a fresh water wash down before being stored back in the shed. A dedicated

BEMBRIDGE BREEZE APRIL 2015 3 Marine Conservation Zones An overview by Alan Deeming of Bembridge Angling Club

Space here does not permit a fully detailed report on Marine Conservation Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) will bear the main Zones (MCZs) so this is a basic overview with particular reference to the burden of responsibility for determining & enforcing any restrictions East end of the Island. Prompted by EU requirements, the UK government necessary for a designated MCZ since most features designated for initially considered stakeholder recommendations for the designation of protection will be chiefly vulnerable to various commercial fishing methods. a significant number of marine protected areas round the coast. Almost Apparently, once a MCZ has been designated, Defra will produce a risk the entire Island coast from the Needles clockwise round to Dunnose was matrix specific to an individual MCZ that identifies the features that the covered by 4 proposed MCZs with an additional 2 proposed offshore SE of MCZ was required to protect & assesses the level of risk of damage to the Bembridge features that various forms of fishing & angling activity pose to each feature. In addition there were proposals for 7 “Reference Areas” round the Island From that, the IFCA, in our case Southern IFCA, will then determine what coast & 1 offshore. These areas would be subject to severe restrictions management measures are required. At that stage, socio-economic factors other than passage through them. In the first round of designations, the are no longer considered. government declined to continue with any reference areas and any of the Bottom towed fishing gear is an activity that has been identified by Defra MCZs proposed round the Island. As part of the current second round as having a significant detrimental impact on a number of features round of designations the government has opted to consult on just the Needles the Island coast & consequently Southern IFCA has already banned this pMCZ plus the offshore Utopia & Overfalls pMCZs. activity from virtually all the close inshore waters round the Island. It is quite An existing informal stakeholder group consisting of representatives from the conceivable that this activity may also be banned from at least portions of RYA plus local anglers is likely to co-operate with submitting inputs into the both the Utopia & Overfalls pMCZs if designated. consultation process for the Needles pMCZ as there may be some impact on their activities if designation is confirmed. Impact from designation of the The government has recently commenced a scientific review of the impact Utopia & Overfalls pMCZs is only likely to be felt by commercial fishermen of the use of pots, traps & creels, the outcome of which could affect how & to a much lesser extent by anglers. There has never been any suggestion these are dealt with within MCZs. of restricting the free passage of yachts & other leisure craft through these Given that IFCAs only have a mandate to regulate fishing & angling activities, MCZs. it has been a struggle to get clarification on how other leisure boating Much concern has been expressed in the local media regarding the activities would be regulated. We have finally been advised that the Marine perceived adverse impact on leisure craft & harbour authorities of the Management Organisation (MMO) will carry out a similar exercise to possible future designation of the remaining, as yet undesignated, MCZs from that of the IFCAs but it is still not clear how policing will be accomplished the original list. The main concern expressed is that of prohibiting anchoring for this sector. If the Bembridge pMCZ gets designated in a future round throughout a MCZ. Such restrictions have never been suggested as applying of designations, the only likely impact on leisure boating may be some to an entire MCZ. The government agencies have been at pains to state that restrictions on anchoring in known seagrass beds. any restrictions on activities will only apply to the area within an MCZ that is occupied by a particular feature that is designated for protection. Within A simple google search on “marine conservation zones consultation” will this is mainly Seagrass. The RYA has been strenuous in its defence take you to the government site where detailed information can be found. of anchoring & has challenged the financial cost implications stated in impact assessments.

4 BEMBRIDGE BREEZE APRIL 2015 Advance booking for visiting boats and rallies is Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance provides strongly advised - please e-mail Malcolm Thorpe at Air Ambulance services across Hampshire and the [email protected] - give the office a Isle of Wight in response to emergency calls. Since ring on 01983 872828, or complete the Booking becoming operational on 1st July 2007, 5,705 missions Form on our website. have been undertaken, many of which have saved lives. The Air Ambulance is flying 7 days a week with an HW Friday 31st July - 1222 (3.4m) average of 2-3 missions per day. Saturday 1st August - 1307 (3.5m) Sunday 2nd August - 1352 (3.6m) The charity receives no government funding and relies on the generosity of individuals and organisations On Friday evening, for visiting boats at the across the region. We are delighted to once again Duver, there will be food available and musical support this wonderful charity - as well as donations accompaniment in the form of local band Last Orders for events over the Fun Weekend, we will be running a (back by popular demand from last year to play their fund raising Raffle and have 2 adult tickets to this year’s traditional Irish music!). Bestival as the star prize plus many other great prizes. BEMBRIDGE BREEZE APRIL 2015 5 BEMBRIDGE SAILING CLUB Bembridge Sailing Club invites you to visit our beautifully The Commodore, Flag Officers, our General Manager, Daniel appointed Clubhouse which boasts excellent sailing and catering Jehan and his friendly team welcome members and non- facilities. members to join us for formal dinners, suppers, talks or drink parties. We welcome visiting yachtsmen to join us for freshly prepared lunches and coffee. Or why not enjoy a cooling drink on our If you are searching for that perfect venue, we would be happy balcony whilst watching the sun set over the Harbour. to discuss your requirements. Visiting rallies and regattas are welcome to arrive on an evening Whether you are here for a few days or just a few hours, we tide, race the following day in some of the best waters around would be delighted to share our wonderful Club with you. the south coast and finish the evening enjoying a delicious Contact us on 01983 872237 or email us on jacqueline@ supper. The club enjoys a busy social programme of activities bembridgesailingclub.org and we are fully licensed to hold civil ceremonies and host wedding receptions throughout the year.

BEMBRIDGE SAILING CLUB Visiting yachtsmen from RYA affiliated clubs always welcome Lunch available every weekend (Rallies by prior arrangement) 01983 872237 email:email: jacqueline@ [email protected] www.bembridgesailingclub.org

BestBest DressedDressed CrabCrab LtdLtd Ƅ m   ŷ 66(' Moored on the Fisherman’s pontoon on Embankment Road,       5( Ż O ' ' Best Dressed Crab’s distinctive lilac coloured “houseboat” 7 ,7( (actually a purpose built processing plant for locally caught 6 ,0 %( / crab, lobster and prawns), not only provides fresh catch to ( % 7+ $ Island restaurants and pubs, but also sells direct to the public, &5 and last year owner Graham Henley extended the premises to create a cafe style dining area. *  ŸT & Ÿ 9P0  Wonderful views across the Harbour can be enjoyed from :   - the cosy interior (a wood burning stove takes the chill off any day and makes winter dining a true delight!) or from the outside decking on a warm summer’s day. The daily catch is unloaded from the fishing boat straight into the BDC’s processing room and from there straight to the table - you can’t get fresher than that! Relaxed dining in this idyllic and quite unique setting - all NEW washed down with chilled glass of white wine .... THIS CAFÉ RESTAURANT YEAR Great Views t Tastiest Seafood t A customer’s comments posted on TripAdvisor in March Log Burner t Friendly Atmosphere 2015: “ Beautiful views, a very welcoming happy and enthusiastic Open from 10am – 7 days a week during the season owner who was more than happy to answer my children’s many The Best Dressed Crab Ltd., “Fisherman’s Wharf”, questions about where the crab had come from that day. And Embankment Road, Bembridge Harbour, Isle of Wight, PO35 5NS honestly the most beautiful dressed crab I have ever had in my Tel: 01983 874758 life, I can’t wait to go back on our next trip.” The building is fl oating. Children must be BOOKING accompanied by an OPEN FROM 10AM 7 DAYS INCLUDING BANK HOLIDAYS. adult at all times. ADVISABLE Tel: 01983 874758

6 BEMBRIDGE BREEZE APRIL 2015 HAVEN YACHT CLUB

As is the way of these things this piece is written long before you The Club arranges a comprehensive programme of dinghy racing read it, at the beginning of March in fact. Despite the early date we throughout the year, on summer weekends the fleet is often to be are already seeing the first signs of spring, the wind remains chill but seen racing in the area inshore of St. Helen’s Fort, you may have the days are lengthening and the sunshine now has some warmth in passed them as you entered the harbour. In August we hold our it, all indicators of the summer to come that hopefully you are now annual Sail Training when eighty or more cadet and adult members enjoying. undertake courses learning to sail or improving their existing skills. Brading Haven Yacht Club is to be found at the inner end of the These courses and others throughout the year result in the award harbour adjacent to the residents’ marina, a short water taxi or of RYA sailing qualifications; we are a registered RYA Training Centre. tender crossing from the Visitors’ Pontoon or an easy walk along the Ashore there is a calendar of social events, the high point of which is back of the Duver and across the Old Mill Wall is all that is required the Summer Ball to be held this year on 29th August, the theme, as to reach us. We are a friendly informal club which welcomes visiting of now, still secret and probably yet to be decided! We are holding yachtsmen and their families. Our bar is open at both lunchtime and Open Days, on 18th April, followed by 16th May and then the 2nd evening. We have the benefit of a comfortable club room and also August. Visitors are especially welcome on these days during which changing facilities with showers which are free of charge to visitors committee members and staff will be on hand to answer questions who wish to use them. about the Club. Catering at the club is provided by Tara and Greg of Gail Force Details of our programme, sailing results and much more including Catering. Meals may be taken in our restaurant, in the bar or, a weekly newsletter can be found on our website at www.bhyc.org. on fine days, at picnic tables on the terrace. Bookings are not uk. If you would like to talk to us about the club please call in or always essential but may be advantageous at busy times. To book telephone us on 01983 873911 telephone the club on 01983 872289 or 873911 BRADING HAVEN YACHT CLUB Welcomes new members, visiting yachtsmen and club rallies. At the west end of the Harbour with easy access from the visitors’ pontoon by tender, water taxi or on foot along the mill wall. Bar snacks, lunches and evening meals. Sail training instruction for all ages. Please telephone for information and bookings. Embankment Road, St Helens, , Isle of Wight PO33 1XQ www.bhyc.org.uk e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01983 872289 wight_locations_advert_quarter_page_owners_ad_v9_duo marketing services 14/01/2015 14:56 Page 1

BEMBRIDGE BREEZE APRIL 2014 7 Britten-Norman Anniversary Week Place your holiday home in our hands 13th-21st June

The Britten-Norman Aircraft Preservation Society Trust, in conjuction with Bembridge Heritage Society and the Propeller Inn, will be hosting the “Islander 50” Week, with a series of events at Bembridge Airport from 13th-21st June. The celebrations will start on 13th June with a commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the first flight of the

prototype BN02 Islander, G-ATCT. Call us today on 617322 to discuss holiday letting your property More details from: Specialists in coastal and rural holiday cottages on the Isle of Wight www.ivanberrymandirect.com/bnaps.htm 10 wightlocations.co.uk/let-your-property C e l e b r a t i n g T e n Y e a r s i n T o u r i s m

BEMBRIDGE BREEZE APRIL 2015 7 Chill, relax with friends • Cosy and intimate Sunny courtyard garden • A place to shelter

Mediterranean inspired dishes Tangy and bold flavours Bookings: 01983 873555 4 High Street Bembridge PO35 5SD www.shedbembridge.co.uk free Wifi and parking in the village

Shed has carved out a very popular niche retreat for itself right in the heart of Bembridge serving great robust fragrant coffee, a new world of fine wines and tangy bold flavoured food from around the Mediterranean and fresh from the sea. The relaxing contemporary styling entices you to unwind daytime and night. Candle lit interior, twinkly lit garden, sofa and wood burner creates a cosy intimate space whilst attentive, passionate service is both relaxed, informal , fun and devoted. A unique contrasting air of cheekiness, respectability, fun and energy makes Shed a trendy vibrant place of surprises and the unexpected. Try out the fancy dress box, Prosecco, sun trap garden, beach art, Wi-Fi and dog friendly setting for yourself. Popular with locals and holiday makers alike, Shed’s casual trendy yet retro dining style attracts people from all ages and backgrounds. You can watch the world go by through the bi-fold doors, or on the pavement café, meet your friends and dine impromptu. The nibbly, chatty atmosphere is punctuated with laughter over the backdrop of edgy music, hiss of steam, coffee grinder and chink of glasses. From the clatter of pots and pans in the kitchen the aromas and tastes of the Mediterranean are transported to your table. Hints of garlic and chilli, fresh citrus and herbs to the fresh flowers and charcoal in the fireplace, the scented candles and newly cut logs create a place where you want to be.