We actually had to step over still wet seaweed at the bottom of the path (the darker bit at the end of the path) to even get onto the beach at this spot, so the normal tidal variations even during a relatively calm summer weekend still got all the way to foot of the walls. I would not particularly like to see the insurance costs or list of things that are not covered for the closest properties. Most of the properties along that stretch are set above fairly sizable seawalls.

Ryde is facing the Solent, the strait between Isle of Wight and "mainland" England, so I guess it's more sheltered than some other parts of the island, but they must still get plenty of nasty weather during the winter.