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Places
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Yarmouth
on the Isle of Wight, is a picturesque fishing, ferry
and yachting port widely regarded as one of the jewels
of the South Coast. The deepwater harbour retains
its old world aura while visiting yachtsmen will find
a range of amenities which are very much up to date
and accepted as being among the best in the South.
Yarmouth Town is well stocked for provisioning and
chandlery, and visitors will find no shortage of hostelries,
cafes and restaurants for inner refreshment. With
the advantage of accessibility at all states of the
tide, Yarmouth has much to offer the yachtsman and
makes an ideal transit point for passage-making across
the Channel.
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The
Needles are the western most point of the
Isle of Wight and are a series of chalk stacks produced
by the decomposition and wearing away of the rock
in the direction of the joints or fissures with which
the strata are traversed. Nearby is Alum Bay, which
is home of the famous coloured sand. The sea around
the Needles was notorious for shipwrecks so the first
lighthouse was built in 1785 on top of the downs.
The current one dates from the 1850's. A helicopter
pad was added in the 1990's when the lighthouse became
automated. It is called the ‘Needles’
because there used to be numerous ‘pinnacles’
jutting out of the water, one of these was a lofty
conical rock, 120 feet high, known as " Lot's
Wife: which fell into the sea, in 1764, with a crash
and a roar audible at Portsmouth harbour 10 miles
away!
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Cowes
is a renowned yachting centre on the Isle of Wight and
the Home of World Yachting. It has played host to some
of the greatest international sailing events and has
a sailing history second to none. It has witnessed some
of the most magnificent and traditional yachts ever
seen and been the focal point for Royalty from all over
the world to come sailing. It is home to some of the
most famous Yacht Clubs with the most famous being The
Royal Yacht Squadron which was founded in 1815 and the
first Club to establish organised yacht racing in the
UK and becoming the principal authority for devising
racing rules and handicapping. From early April until
the end of October there are an enormous number of events,
which attract a wide range of classes of racing yachts,
dinghies and powerboats to Cowes. The town becomes a
hubbub of activity, the pubs, restaurants, shops and
accommodation all do roaring business and there is a
great social friendly ambience for everyone to enjoy.
The Solent is awash with colour of sails and brightly
coloured spinnakers |
The
River Hamble at the heart of the sheltered
waters of the Solent, protected from the open sea by
the Isle of Wight, and benefiting from a two hour stand
at high water, is an ideal base for cruising whether
one's horizons are limited to the Solent and Isle of
Wight, or extend further afield on the South Coast,
the Channel Islands or France. The River Hamble Authority,
Yacht Clubs, Marinas and Boatyards extend a welcome
to all visiting yachts and craft. Whilst being recognised
as the home of British Yachting, the River Hamble has
a wide variety of leisure and commercial activities
including three sites of Special Scientific Interest,
a Nature Reserve Country Park and a 3km public right
of way. |
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The
Beaulieu River and the 18th century shipbuilding
village of Buckler's Hard occupy a superb location surrounded
by oak woodland within the Beaulieu Estate. Buckler's
Hard has been in the private ownership of the Montague
family since it was founded in 1724. It was here that
wooden ships for the English Fleet were built and the
village today retains much of the atmosphere of its
shipbuilding origins. The uniquely situated Yacht Harbour
offers 110 berths in a beautiful and sheltered reach
of the Beaulieu River. Full Marina facilities include
toilets and showers and launderette, fuel, yacht valet
service and boat builders, to name but a few. Visitor
attractions nearby include the National Motor Museum,
Palace House, Beaulieu Abbey and Monastic Life Exhibition
plus additional Rides and Drives which combine to form
one of the country's most enjoyable visitor attractions.
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