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Moorings – Marinas, moorings, landings
Visiting Cowes by boat
Paul Wyeth
All the information you need for mooring in Cowes and the River Medina
Cowes is renowned across the world for sailing and is busy throughout the year with racing yachts and regattas, but it also offers much for cruising sailors. As one of the south’s most sheltered locations, it provides access to fine cruising grounds east and west, and of course is a gateway to all the beautiful Isle of Wight has to offer. Cowes is home to many high quality modern marinas, but visitors can also find more tranquil and secluded spots up the River Medina.
MOORINGS There are a large number of visitor swinging moorings and river pontoons both in Cowes Harbour and upstream on the River Medina. The main marina facilities for visiting craft are at Cowes Harbour Shepards Marina, Cowes Yacht Haven, East Cowes Marina, and Island Harbour Marina. Visitor mooring charges appear in this section, but often special rates apply during major events such as Cowes Week and the Round the Island Race, so enquiring in advance is recommended.
For river pontoons and swinging moorings, call ‘HM1’ on VHF Ch 69. During busy periods you may need to ‘raft up’. When possible, you should always, as a courtesy, hail the vessel you intend to moor alongside and request permission. For marinas, call on VHF Ch80.
A N C H O R I N G Leisure craft: Do not anchor in the Cowes fairway, Eastern Channel, and small craft mooring areas due to obstructions such as ground chain, other than in emergencies. Osborne Bay, 2nm east of the Shrape Breakwater, has excellent holding ground and is reasonably well protected from prevalent winds. Commercial vessels up to 150m may anchor in the dedicated anchorages in Cowes Roads by prior arrangement with the Harbour Master.
TRINITY LANDING Trinity Landing, located just inside the entrance to Cowes Harbour, provides walk-ashore access to this bustling town. The outside, fairway side of Trinity Landing is for pick up and drop off only, except by prior arrangement with the Harbour Master. Leisure craft can moor on the inside of the pontoon under direction and control of the Harbour Master.
C O W E S R O A D S S W I N G I N G MOORINGS All swinging moorings require prior arrangements with Cowes Harbour before use. From May to October, M row is laid to the west of the harbour entrance between Egypt Point and the Royal Yacht Squadron. The heavy duty yellow/orange swinging moorings provide deep water moorings for vessels up to 25m in length.
to the east of the harbour entrance and south of the Snowden buoy, for vessels between 10-35m in length.
In July approximately 150 additional swinging moorings for small day class vessels will be laid to the northeast and south of the Cowes Breakwater in preparation for Cowes Classics Week and Cowes Week. All other buoys south of the breakwater are licensed to residents.
VHF Ch 69 call sign ‘HM1’ Bookings for events to be made via your class secretary. Outside of events overnight mooring: £1.55 per metre, short stays less than 4hrs from £9.00. cowesharbourservices.co.uk
COWES YACHT HAVEN Cowes Yacht Haven is a world-class marina based in the heart of Cowes, providing access to Cowes High Street’s busy pubs, restaurants and shops within seconds. The Yacht Haven offers 260 fully serviced berths, 24/7 access, a 50 ton hoist, 25 ton boat mover and 15 ton mobile crane to make easy work of lifting and launching of boats in the 3000sq/m dry sail space. Facilities include Wi-Fi, showers, toilets and a launderette as well as on-site engineers, electricians and boat repairers. The pontoon numbering system was recently revised, with the north basin pontoons using ‘N’ followed by the pontoon number and indicated by blue-coloured tops to the piles. South basin ‘S’ pontoons are now indicated by white tops and red tops for resident pontoons. Undercover winter storage is also available, subject to terms.
TOWN QUAY Step ashore at Town Quay for direct access to Cowes High Street. Lying adjacent to the Red Jet terminal and in front of the Harbour Office, it provides mooring for RIBs under 9m, and a free scrubbing berth for vessels up to 10.6m long. Cowes water taxis also operate from Town Quay.
VHF Ch 80 call sign ‘Cowes Yacht Haven’ Mooring: April-October - Sunday-Thursday overnight £3.00 per metre. Friday-Saturday overnight £3.65 per metre. Weekly £21 per metre. Short stay £1.20 per metre. From November to March overnight mooring is £2.35 per metre, with short stays £1.00 per metre. Tel: 01983 299975 Email: info@cowesyachthaven.com or berthing@cowesyachthaven.com facebook.com/cowesyachthaven cowesyachthaven.com
SHEPARDS MARINA Cowes Harbour Shepards Marina is a welcoming family-friendly marina offering affordable visitor and annual berthing to all sailors. Berths include water and electricity, free Wi-Fi, new shower facilities for 2020, site-wide CCTV, and visitors can book in advance subject to availability. Discounted rates are available for rallies of six or more boats, sailing schools, and winter berthing.
The marina is home to the Isle of Wight’s premier Dry Sailing Centre for day class yachts and RIBs, motorboats and trailered keelboats, with a marina basin exclusively used by Dry Sailing clients.
A state-of-the-art hydraulic marine crane offers maximum launch and lift flexibility to 6 tonnes, with a dedicated Dry Sailing Coordinator providing 7 days a week crane operations and Dry Sailing Basin Management.
Shepards Marina is home to Cowes Harbour Commission’s moorings and berthing team, and also on site are Basque Kitchen Restaurant, Salty Sailing, Island Divers, Rigit, and Solent Sails. Competitively priced fuel can be obtained from Cowes Harbour Fuels, located 200m south of the Chain Ferry.
Sugar Store Events Centre The Sugar Store Events Centre makes a perfect venue for rallies, clubs, prizegivings, receptions, or as a regatta media centre. The Events Centre enjoys a waterside position, stunning views and a convenient, central location.
Sugar Store Events Centre
Paul Wyeth
WHITEGATES PONTOONS The next set of visitor moorings are past the Chain Ferry on the east side, although you will need to use the water taxis or your dinghy to get ashore. These moorings are quiet and ideal for craft wishing to stay overnight in Cowes but outside of a marina. They represent excellent value and many are suitable for deeper draught vessels.
Shepards Marina
VHF Ch 80 call sign ‘Shepards Marina’ Mooring: £2.94 per metre per night Sunday-Thursday, £3.25 Friday-Saturday, 7 nights plus £2.94 per metre per night. Short stay up to 4 hours £1.11 per metre. Lower rates apply November to March. VHF Ch 69 call sign ‘HM1’ Mooring: £1.55 per metre, short stays less than 4hrs from £9.00 cowesharbourservices.co.uk
EAST COWES MARINA East Cowes Marina is accessible at all states of the tide and enjoys a sheltered, sunny location just 500m south of the Chain Ferry. The marina has 360 residents’ and visitors’ walk ashore berths for boats up to 20m, all with electricity, water and Wi-Fi. Amenities include washrooms, laundry, picnic garden, free car park and the popular Lifeboat pub. Also based at East Cowes Marina is the Medina Yacht Club, an RYA-affiliated social and boating club open to everyone. Members organise friendly training, relaxed rallies and enjoyable evenings, and membership is only £40 per boat.
medinayachtclub.co.uk facebook.com/MedinaYachtClub VHF Ch 80 call sign ‘East Cowes Marina’ Tel: 01983 293983 Email: berths@eastcowesmarina.co.uk Mooring: £3.35 per metre (including electricity) daily 1 April to 31 October, contact East Cowes Marina for winter rates. eastcowesmarina.co.uk
F O L L Y R E A C H It can take as little as 20 minutes to motor to the Folly from the harbour entrance. Almost halfway up the River Medina, the Folly is a world away from the hustle and bustle of Cowes and is designated as a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’. Please produce minimum wash in this area, keeping your speed below 6 knots through the water.
Pontoon moorings are available although most require use of a tender or the Folly water taxis to get ashore. New pontoons and piles were installed in 2017 including a new 200 metre visitors’ pontoon in the vicinity of the Folly Inn.
VHF Ch 72 call sign ‘Folly Launch’ Tel: 07884 400046 Email: follymoorings@hotmail.com Moorings: £1.55 per metre, short stays less than 4hrs from £9.00
ISLAND HARBOUR Island Harbour Marina is set in a beautiful and secluded valley, just under half a mile upstream from the Folly Inn on the east bank of the River Medina. This peaceful marina has over 200 berths for annual moorings and visiting yachts, and offers easy access to Newport, Osborne House and the site of the Isle of Wight Festival in June.
The nearby cycle track into Newport and surrounding fields make this an ideal place to bring children and dogs. Access is via lock gates up to 4 hours either side of high water, depending on draught, with a maximum draft of 2.5m.
The popular Breeze restaurant and Bar has outside seating, a children’s play area, launderette and free WiFi. Full marine services include a well-stocked chandlery and a 50 ton travel hoist, operated by
Island Harbour
Richardsons Yacht Services. There is free car parking and extensive hardstanding for boats ashore.
VHF Ch 80 - Call sign ‘Island Harbour’ Tel: 01983 539994 Email: enquiries@island-harbour.co.uk Contact Island Harbour for mooring charges island-harbour.co.uk
NEWPORT HARBOUR Located at the head of the River Medina, this harbour is close to the centre of Newport and its broad range of shops, pubs, restaurants, cinema and other attractions. The harbour is a great base to explore the whole of the Island easily, by bus or bike.
As Newport Harbour is tidal, all visitor berths are drying. Moor either alongside the visitor pontoon or alongside the visitor quay for fin keel. As the harbour is tidal, all boats will dry out. Due to the tidal access, sailors often enjoy a stay on Newport Harbour’s Folly visitors’ pontoon before following the incoming tide up to Newport.
VHF Ch 69 call sign ‘Newport Harbour’ Summer mooring: (per night) - Under 6 metres £12, 6-9 metres £18, 9-12 metres £24, 12-15 metres £30, 15-18 metres £36. Short stays not exceeding 4 hours, under 7 metres £8.00, over 7 metres £10.00 and £9.50. Winter rates (per night) - Under 6 metres £9, 6-9 metres £13.50, 9-12 metres £18, 12-15 metres £22.50, 15-18 metres £27. Tel: 01983 823885. Mobile: 07964 207441 Email: Newport.harbour@iow.gov.uk iow.gov.uk/Visitors/Where-to-go/Harbours1/ Newport-Harbour/Newport-Harbour1
ANNUAL MOORINGS The River Medina has a large number of annual berths controlled by Cowes Harbour Commission or local yacht clubs. If you plan to extend your stay or would like a permanent mooring, Cowes offers exceptionally competitive rates on a seasonal or annual basis. Contact the Cowes Harbour Moorings team on 01983 297821. cowesharbourservices.co.uk
GETTING ASHORE The most common landing places for getting ashore by RIB, tender, or water taxi are Town Quay in Cowes and Gridiron in East Cowes. Pre-booking of water taxis is recommended outside of the peak summer season.
PUBLIC LANDINGS AND SLIPWAYS
West Cowes Whitegates pontoon, 500m south of the Cowes Chain Ferry on the west bank of the River Medina, is connected to the shore and suitable for tenders only. Thetis Slip, between Thetis Wharf and Shepards Marina, is suitable for small vessels but not at low water due to the short slipway.
Town Quay, on pontoons alongside the Red Jet terminal for vessels under 9m, provides instant access to the High Street and associated amenities.
Paul Wyeth
is not easily accessible. There is a similar slipway at the foot of Market Hill.
Watch House Slip, at the end of Watch House Lane at the south end of The Parade, offers all states of tide access, however, be aware of possible strong cross currents.
East Cowes Folly Slip is situated further up the River Medina towards Newport. Be aware of a possible strong cross-current on the lower end of the slipway on the ebb tide.
The White Hart Slip, immediately south of the Red Funnel terminal should be used with caution during ebb tides and when ferries are manoeuvring. Launching on spring ebb tides is not recommended.
Bells Landing steps (not slipway), north of Venture Quays on the Esplanade, East Cowes is a tidal landing.
Gridiron pontoon, immediately north of the Chain Ferry, is for landing and pick up only, with no mooring.
East Cowes Esplanade provides a number of slipways suitable for launching small craft, generally without the need for a vehicle, at or around high water.
