760
(1 vote, average 5.00 out of 5)
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Monday, 11 July 2011 14:46 |
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 A DISUSED part of the Port of Poole has been transformed into a new marina housing 60 metre super-yachts and smaller vessels.
The Port of Poole Marina is up and running and almost all of its berths have been snapped up.
The marina, which occupies the old Ro-Ro Brittany Ferries berth, is in a peaceful spot within easy reach of the vibrant Poole Quay and will provide a base for sailing enthusiasts visiting the 2012 Games along the coast at Weymouth and Portland.
Henry Cobley, Bosun at the marina, said: “This is a really exciting time for us as we welcome new guests from all over the UK. A limited number of berths are still available.
“There’s a wonderful diversity about the boats which have taken up permanent moorings here... from yachts and superyachts to smaller boats and jet skis and even a barge.”
John Binder of Poole Quay Boat Haven, the company behind the project, said: “We’re delighted with the quality of our new marina. Local labour and materials have been used as much as possible; the floating breakwater was constructed in Southampton and we’ve been able to re-use a top quality pontoon which was used at the Southampton Boat Show.
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Tuesday, 14 June 2011 15:28 |
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 OverBoard is famous for making waterproof gear in all kinds of forms, from small phone cases to large sports bags - and here in the form of the excellent Overboard Backpack, it might just be having its finest hour. This Premium Waterproof Backpack comes in either 20 or 25-litre capacity. You get heat-welded seams, a two-way roll-top closure system and plenty of adjustable padded straps to keep you well supported and comfortable. There is useful back venting to help keep sweat at bay and an attention to the small details you rarely find on a dry bag. It’s astonishingly good value and, as a means of keeping your gear free of water, dust and sand, it’s about as good as we’ve ever seen.
Price: from £34.99
www.over-board.co.uk
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Tuesday, 14 June 2011 15:21 |
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 OverBoard, the official kit supplier to the RNLI, has launched the Waterproof Zoom Lens Camera Case. The 0.42mm matt TPU material case allows you to go down to a depth of 19 feet and still take pictures with your regular digital camera. The case is largely transparent so the photographer can see the subject clearly and it will also float safely to the surface should you drop it overboard or let go when diving. The ‘Slide Seal System’ is easy to use and provides reliable watertight protection and the TPU material is resistant to oil and grease (as well as water) and allows excellent flexibility. It’s even environmentally friendly to produce compared to PVC. Great value and top kit.
Price: £19.99
www.over-board.co.uk
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Tuesday, 14 June 2011 15:11 |
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 How do you fancy a seat on the bow that makes you feel like you’re flying? Well apparently, the Flying Seat started out as a stepladder that attached to the bow of a boat to make it safe and easy for people on the beach to get on and off. Then it was adapted as a seat to become two products in one. It fits on most boats, including bow-riders, and it is held on with suction cups and a ratchet strap that will carry as much as a thousand pounds in weight. The straps hook to the bow ring and, for safety and comfort, the seat has a seatbelt and a padded railing, much like the safety bar on roller coasters. Options include fishing pole holders, cup holders and tandem seats, so two people can sit together, as well as a joystick fly-by-wire control on the seat’s armrest that will even give you control of the boat. Simple and quick to fit, whether you want it for the thrill of the ride or for its practical application as a fishing accessory, it looks like a very ingenious leisure accessory indeed.
Price: various
www.flyingseats.com
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Monday, 13 June 2011 14:59 |
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 Cowes is undoubtedly one of the international homes of sailing. With several marinas, hundreds of businesses, a multitude of events and being home to the largest annual boating regatta in England, what Cowes needs is a huge guide.
And that is exactly what Island Holiday Media has produced. A 160 page, full colour guide to help you into Cowes’ marinas, find your way around both on and off the water, and to help you time your visit to either coincide or completely avoid one of the many events.
It’s packed with loads of visitor information for both the causal boater and sightseer, and also has generous sections devoted to racing, events and wildlife, plus some handy pull out maps at the back. This will make a fantastic addition to your onboard library and is quite frankly the most thorough port guide I’ve ever seen.
The only slight drawback is that you have to go to Cowes to get your hands on one, from one of the many dispensers around the marinas. Being a free publication it undoubtedly would cost too much to mail these out, but luckily all the information in the book is also on their website (www.cowes.co.uk). They also have an iPhone application coming out later this year, due to be released prior to Cowes week, with the app being translated to different smart phone formats after that.
Tim Addison, Editor of the book told All at Sea, “this is about Cowes, Cowes and Cowes. It’s new for this year, and one important asset is that we’ve included a comprehensive guide to all the businesses in Cowes – not just those who advertise, so you’ll be able to find what you need, when you need it. All the information is also on the website. We also have a Facebook page and twitter account to encourage feedback. We want to be publishing this in ten years time, so we want it to be as comprehensive and as useful as it possibly can be”.
Personally we find this port guide easy to digest, extremely relevant and stuffed full with more information than one boater could possibly need. This is essential reading for all Solent sailors.
Price: free
Info: www.cowes.co.uk
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