Bramble Bank
Encyclopedia
The Bramble Bank, otherwise known simply as "The Brambles" is an arrowhead-shaped sandbar
in the central Solent
which is uncovered at low water spring tides
. At other times it presents either a significant navigational hazard or a useful escape from the strong Solent tides. The bank is moving very slowly westward. It is marked at its southeastern limit by the Brambles post sea mark
and on its western limit by the West Knoll buoy
.
The Brambles post has comprehensive weather and sea state
monitoring equipment which is relayed in realtime to a website. http://www.bramblemet.co.uk
The Bramble Bank is renowned as being the location of an annual cricket
match between the Royal Southern Yacht Club
and the Island Sailing Club. The match takes place when the bank is exposed but never lasts very long before the tide returns. The undulating surface with large puddles ensures it is more a social occasion than a serious cricket match. The ultimate example of this is the scoring - the victor of the game is pre-determined as the two clubs simply take it in turns to "win" the match, regardless of how the match progresses. The event was last held at about 0630 hrs on 14 August 2010. An interesting reference to this practice is found in Hansard
, the British parliamentary record, during the debate on the Licensing Bill (Lords) in Standing Committee D, on 8 May 2003. In this debate the Island's MP, Andrew Turner
, is discussing the problems of licensing when the event to be licensed falls between two authorities, and in a light-hearted way cites the example of the Bramble Bank cricket match.
On Tuesday 11th November 2008, on approaching Southampton Docks for her last visit prior to retirement, the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2 ran aground on the Bramble Bank at approximately 0530 hrs. She required 4 tugs to pull her clear on the rising tide and arrived in Southampton approximately 90 minutes latehttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/3437990/QE2-runs-aground-near-Southampton-before-final-voyage.html.
Bar (landform)
A shoal, sandbar , or gravelbar is a somewhat linear landform within or extending into a body of water, typically composed of sand, silt or small pebbles. A spit or sandspit is a type of shoal...
in the central Solent
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
which is uncovered at low water spring tides
Tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....
. At other times it presents either a significant navigational hazard or a useful escape from the strong Solent tides. The bank is moving very slowly westward. It is marked at its southeastern limit by the Brambles post sea mark
Sea mark
A sea mark, also seamark and navigation mark, is a form of aid to navigation and pilotage aid which identifies the approximate position of a maritime channel, hazard and administrative area to allow boats, ships and seaplanes to navigate safely....
and on its western limit by the West Knoll buoy
Buoy
A buoy is a floating device that can have many different purposes. It can be anchored or allowed to drift. The word, of Old French or Middle Dutch origin, is now most commonly in UK English, although some orthoepists have traditionally prescribed the pronunciation...
.
The Brambles post has comprehensive weather and sea state
Sea state
In oceanography, a sea state is the general condition of the free surface on a large body of water—with respect to wind waves and swell—at a certain location and moment. A sea state is characterized by statistics, including the wave height, period, and power spectrum. The sea state varies with...
monitoring equipment which is relayed in realtime to a website. http://www.bramblemet.co.uk
The Bramble Bank is renowned as being the location of an annual cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
match between the Royal Southern Yacht Club
Royal Southern Yacht Club
The Royal Southern Yacht Club is a yacht club in Hamble, Hampshire, United Kingdom. It was established in 1837 in Southampton as the Royal Southampton Yacht Club and was given Royal patronage by HRH Queen Victoria....
and the Island Sailing Club. The match takes place when the bank is exposed but never lasts very long before the tide returns. The undulating surface with large puddles ensures it is more a social occasion than a serious cricket match. The ultimate example of this is the scoring - the victor of the game is pre-determined as the two clubs simply take it in turns to "win" the match, regardless of how the match progresses. The event was last held at about 0630 hrs on 14 August 2010. An interesting reference to this practice is found in Hansard
Hansard
Hansard is the name of the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the Westminster system of government. It is named after Thomas Curson Hansard, an early printer and publisher of these transcripts.-Origins:...
, the British parliamentary record, during the debate on the Licensing Bill (Lords) in Standing Committee D, on 8 May 2003. In this debate the Island's MP, Andrew Turner
Andrew Turner
Andrew John Turner is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He is currently the Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight, a post he has held since the 2001 general election.-Education:...
, is discussing the problems of licensing when the event to be licensed falls between two authorities, and in a light-hearted way cites the example of the Bramble Bank cricket match.
On Tuesday 11th November 2008, on approaching Southampton Docks for her last visit prior to retirement, the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2 ran aground on the Bramble Bank at approximately 0530 hrs. She required 4 tugs to pull her clear on the rising tide and arrived in Southampton approximately 90 minutes latehttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/3437990/QE2-runs-aground-near-Southampton-before-final-voyage.html.