Anchor Charters

Skippered charters, water taxis and D-Day tours in the Solent

Anchor Charters operates from the UK a fleet of RIB (rigid inflatable boat) vessels with private charter, water taxi and heritage route services in the waters of the Solent, the strait that separates the south coast of England from the Isle of Wight. The company presents itself as an option for sailing with a commercially endorsed skipper and transparent prices, with no hidden costs.

Private skippered charter: the whole boat

The main service consists of renting the entire boat with an RYA (Royal Yachting Association) commercially endorsed skipper. Each charter includes fuel, lifejackets and a full briefing. The maximum capacity is ten people, and the itinerary is decided by the client: from a leisurely cruise to the Isle of Wight to a full day exploring hidden coves of the Solent.

The company structures this offer in two modalities:

• Half day: three and a half hours, with departures in the morning (09:30–13:00) or afternoon (13:00–16:30). The indicated price is £475 for the whole boat, which equates to £47.50 per person if all ten places are occupied. It allows two or three destinations, such as a meal at the Folly Inn, a swim in Osborne Bay or a stop for an ice cream in Cowes.
• Full day: seven hours, from 09:30 to 16:30, for £750 (£75 per person with ten on board). It covers the whole Solent, with possible routes between Yarmouth and Portsmouth, the Beaulieu River and Priory Bay, with a stop for lunch at a waterside pub.

Both rates include skipper, fuel, lifejackets and briefing, with no hidden extras. The company also offers bespoke charters for events such as Cowes Week, festival transfers, marriage proposals or milestone birthdays, with the possibility of organising drinks and canapés on board, restaurant reservations or champagne. In these cases, the booking is secured with a 20% deposit and the balance is paid three weeks before the date.

Private water taxi in the Solent

Anchor Charters provides a private water taxi service with RIB boats and skipper, with capacity for up to ten people. Transfers cover journeys between Hamble, Cowes, the Isle of Wight and the mainland coast, with crossing times that can be as little as 20 minutes. Pick-up points include Hamble, Ocean Village and other locations in the Solent.

The usual routes connect with Gunwharf Quays (Portsmouth), Cowes, Ocean Village and Yarmouth. The service adapts to family groups, sailing crews and corporate groups. During events such as Cowes Week or the Isle of Wight Festival, the company organises bespoke transfers.

D-Day heritage tours

The company offers two tours focused on the history of the Normandy landings:

• Southampton Water D-Day Heritage Tour: a tour of up to two hours that follows the trail of the boats that departed from Southampton Water towards Normandy in June 1944. The skipper narrates the history of the embarkation points, the assembly areas and the docks, on board a fast and comfortable RIB. Places limited to ten people.
• Spithead & D-Day Anchorage Tour: departing from the Isle of Wight, this tour covers the Spithead anchorage area, where the invasion fleet gathered between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. The skipper explains the historical context of that naval concentration point. Also with a maximum of ten passengers.

Both tours include lifejackets, briefing and expert skipper.

Isle of Wight escape with Appley Manor Hotel

In collaboration with Appley Manor Hotel, Anchor Charters offers an escape package that includes the RIB crossing from the mainland to Seaview, coastal transfer to the hotel, dinner, accommodation and the return the next day. The price is fixed and includes both crossings and the stay, although the scanned text does not detail all the services included.

Company profile and business approach

The company targets clients seeking private experiences on the water, whether for leisure, celebrations or transfers. Its proposal is based on the RYA qualification of the skippers, the inclusion of all costs in the advertised rate and the flexibility to adapt each trip to the client's preferences. The fleet includes at least one Ribeye 785 vessel, as shown in the site's images.

Location and contact

Phone: 07852 218093 · Email: booking@anchorcharters.co.uk