Solent News

We’ve had a rough start to the year for events but if all goes to plan with the Government’s ‘roadmap out of lockdown’ then we should be on track for a busy summer with plenty going on across the Solent! Round the Island Race will be the first major event in our diary and isContinue reading "Round the Island Race 2021"

Just over a year ago the UK entered its first national lock down, back then it would be hard to imagine that we’d still be bound to our homes today. However, the end is now in sight with Boris’s roadmap out and promises of any restrictions lifted being irreversible. British Marine met with the DepartmentContinue reading "Lifting restrictions on marine leisure"

A 26 year old postman from Airdrie Scotland, Nathan Evans, captured global attention this month by posting a rendition of a New Zealand 19th-century sea shanty ‘Wellerman’. The tune has since had renditions created by a range of people from Queen’s Brian May to Elon Musk! Being part of nautical history, we’ve decided to doContinue reading "The Origin of Sea Shanties"

You’re stuck indoors. With lockdown once more. As dull as it is, you must stick to the law. What you do is so special. We’ll protect the NHS. But when it’ll be over is anyone’s guess. Springtime is hopeful, and vaccines are out. It’s time to prepare, you’re bursting to get out! To mingle again.Continue reading "Ow The Places You’ll Go…"

In a year that seems to be full of negatives we look hopefully towards 2021. Last week a potential vaccine was announced that could help control Covid19 and with it comes hope that next year will bring more normality. With brighter days ahead, we also have some exciting news of our own, in November 2020Continue reading "Welcome Lymington Boat Club!"

As we move further into the autumn months and slowly work our way to winter, most of our clients put boating out of their minds till warmer days return. However there is much to be said for a day out on the water in autumn or even winter, you may have to add a fewContinue reading "Boating in the Autumn"

Little Britain Challenge Cup – 11th September 2020 The Little Britain Challenge Cup is the largest industry regatta for construction and property related business. The event usually includes four races across two days from Shepards Wharf Marina, Cowes, however due to Covid-19, the 2020 Little Britain Challenge Cup will now be a smaller, one-day regattaContinue reading "Little Britain Challenge Cup 2020"

One of the sectors hardest hit be COVID-19 has been the events industry as, for obvious reasons, it’s difficult to bring large numbers of people from different households together whilst maintaining social distancing. However, things are beginning to change as the UK slowly works its way out of lock down, Downing Street announced on theContinue reading "Events Industry Re-start"

Last month we welcomed back our Bareboat Rib Charters and now we get to share the exciting news that our Skippered Rib Charters are back up and running! Private Rib Charter Spend the day blasting around the Solent with your friends and family on a private skippered Rib. Here at Solent Rib Charter, we haveContinue reading "Return of the Skippers"

With government restrictions starting to lift on the current Covid-19 nationwide lock down, and nothing but blue skies and sunshine on the horizon, we are pleased to announce that our Bareboat charters are back up and running! We have implemented new measures to ensure that our charters are provided at little to no risk toContinue reading "Return of the Bareboat!"

Canadian company ‘Bombardier Recreational Products’ announced last week that it will stop production of their Evinrude outboard boat engine ‘a brand that helped drive boating into the modern era’ (International Boat Industry, 2020). The ‘Evinrude’ engine was named after Ole Evinrude who created the first commercially viable, detachable rowing boat motor in 1909. It isContinue reading "Origins of the Outboard Motor"

Our Bareboat charters are a hugely popular section of our business and we are constantly dealing with new customers who, understandably, have a list of questions for us. So we’ve decided to put together a short FAQ to try and cover some of the key questions we get. Do I need any qualifications? Yes, youContinue reading "FAQ about our Bareboat Rib Charters"

We are now 4 weeks into the Covid-19 lockdown here in the UK… or is it 5? Who knows anymore?! The days are starting to blend together in a ‘Groundhogesque’ fashion but our team here at SRC are finding all sorts of ways to keep ourselves occupied until we’re able to get back to theContinue reading "Keeping sane during Covid lock down!"

For many of our clients it’s the first time they’ve been out on a Rib or to explore the Solent, either way, one of the first questions we often get is ‘what is there to do on the Solent?’. Our team will always take the time to talk clients through the many options available, howeverContinue reading "What to do on the Solent"

In the Solent there is an extensive of places to visit and explore, we sometimes want to anchor up in a bay somewhere to go for a swim or have a bite to eat… however, have you checked that you have considered suitable anchorage for your day?  What type of boat are you anchoring? WhatContinue reading "Dropping the Hook and Staying Put"

Over the winter months it’s no secret that there aren’t many people wanting to charter in the cold and rain, that said you can have a pretty spectacular charter on a crisp and still winter’s day. What this quiet period does provide us with is some much needed time to re-group and review our productsContinue reading "Treasure Hunt Updates"

Another exciting year on the Solent coming up for 2020!  Last month, SailGP announced that Series 2 is coming back to Cowes and today it was confirmed that the America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) will be returning to Portsmouth between the 4th-7th June 2020!    The ACWS will be kicking off in Cagliari, Sardinia betweenContinue reading "America’s Cup World Series – 2020 Announcement"

With our final week in the office before we close for Christmas, we turn to Simon Hedley, Solent Events Manager for his favourite charter of 2019! For me, welcoming back repeat clients is always a highlight of what we do! In July, 100 guests arrived in Swanwick Marina for a Rib Treasure Hunt day onContinue reading "2019 Skippers’ Highlights – Simon Hedley"

Following Steve’s blog last week, we move on to another one of our skippers, this time one of our ops team!  Since joining our operations team in May 2019, Kieran has been one of our core skippers, working on a range of charters from private family events to cable pulls with our sister company CommercialContinue reading "2019 Skippers’ Highlights – Kieran James"

Established in 2018, with Season 1 debuting in Sydney 2019, SailGP is an annual, global sports championship featuring bold, cutting-edge technology and awe-inspiring athleticism. The exhilarating inshore racing takes place in some of the most iconic harbours around the globe and is coming back to Cowes in August 2020 for Season 2! Cowes will beContinue reading "SailGP is returning to Cowes 2020!"

After 7 years, our bookkeeper Sue is sadly going to be leaving us as she will be retiring this year…(not jealous at all).  This does however leave us with an exciting new opportunity for someone to join our team! The job requirement will be 2-4 hours per day on either a Tuesday or Thursday eachContinue reading "Freelance Bookkeeper Required!"

Seafarers are renowned for being superstitious, from the age of antiquity up to recent history, as sailors faced many uncertainties and dangers when embarking on a voyage. Over the years, mariners have put their faith in superstitions to protect and guide them safely along their journeys across the seven seas. In today’s world, boating isContinue reading "Red Sky in the Morning, Sailors Take Warning!"

It’s sad to say but the season of 2019 is pretty much over as we begin to creep into the autumn and then winter months. It’s always difficult to say goodbye to the summer, however it gives our operations team the much needed time to take all of our boats out for refurbishment so thatContinue reading "We’re off to Le Havre!"

With Cowes Week and SailGP now behind us the office is starting to become a calmer environment, however there’s still one last event in August to help fill our diary. The Cowes – Torquay powerboat race will be held on Sunday 25th August 2019 which coincides with the bank holiday weekend, the perfect excuse toContinue reading "Cowes – Torquay Powerboat Race 2019"