Cowes Port Handbook 2014-2015 April 2014 | Page 54

COWES PORT HANDBOOK 2014 - 2015

The Bembridge RNLI lifeboat station operates both offshore and inshore
lifeboats and is usually open to the public for free guided tours during the
summer months.
The nearby villages of Bembridge and St Helens offer a wide choice of
shops, restaurants, and pubs and are well worth exploring. Art, crafts, and
local produce abound and freshly caught seafood is available.
Langstone Harbour lies between Chichester Harbour to the east and
Portsmouth Harbour to the west. The large, undeveloped harbour, with
over 4,500 acres of water space at High Water, is home for charter fishing
boats and commercial fishermen, and hosts two commercial aggregate
wharves. Many recreational activities including yachting, canoeing and
windsurfing are also well established in its sheltered waters.
The speed limit is 10 knots and you are requested not to cause disturbance;
Langstone Harbour is a site of considerable ecological sensitivity. Visit
www.langstoneharbour.org.uk for full navigational information.
The natural tranquillity of the unspoilt harbour environment can be enjoyed
whether under sail or power. There are moorings available for boats up to
12m and public slipways for visitors with trailed boats. Langstone Harbour
is recognised internationally for its importance for nature conservation,
and is a haven for aquatic wildlife and a myriad of bird species.
Chichester Harbour in West Sussex offers visitors a panorama of choice
with six marinas, pretty villages, plenty of visitor moorings, good anchoring,
and a selection of sandy beaches to explore. The harbour is designated a
Site of Special Scientific Interest in recognition of its significance as a
habitat for wildlife.
The low lying entrance to Chichester Harbour is not easily distinguished
against the backdrop of the South Downs and is bordered on both sides

Dell Quay, Chichester Harbour

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COWES.co.uk

Ali Beckett