Pilot the Isle of Wight: The Needles to St Catherine’s Point

Navigational tips and beauty spots around the south-west coast of the Isle of Wight.

The Needs to St Catherines Point

Rocken End

A lighthouse won’t keep you safe here. Photo: Peter Bruce

A lighthouse won’t protect you from Jeremy, Shark and Shag Rocks off Rocken End though. To avoid Shark Rock, keep the cliffs east of Freshwater Bay visible to the left of Shag Rock, and the outermost of Jeremy Rocks bears 316M from Shag Rock and St Cat’s light, 084M. Once round St Cat’s watch for East St Cat’s Rock, which lies 400m off St Cat’s when the light bears 325M and the right hand edge of Binnel Bay bears 080M. Stay outside these rocks but inside the Race as the overfalls can be vicious, particularly with wind over spring tide. The other option is to stay offshore, outside any overfalls and butt the tide.

If you’re using a mobile please click here to see the next leg: Puckaster Cover to Bembridge.

  1. 1. Introduction
  2. 2. The Needles
  3. 3. Rounding the Needles
  4. 4. Scratchell's Bay
  5. 5. Scratchell's Bay to Freshwater
  6. 6. Sir Robert Holmes
  7. 7. Frenchman's Hole
  8. 8. Watcombe Bay
  9. 9. War Knight
  10. 10. Freshwater Bay
  11. 11. Back of the Wight
  12. 12. Sirenia
  13. 13. Landslips
  14. 14. St Catherine's Point
  15. 15. Pepper Pot
  16. 16. Rocken End
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