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Attractions
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With its rich naval history, steady winds and excellent sailing conditions, the Island is one of the premier sailing destinations in the world, with lots to offer for all abilities. Events include Cowes Week and the Round the Island Race.
Sailing schools
The charity UKSA, based in Cowes, provides a fun and safe outdoor environment for young people to learn to sail, windsurf, kayak and anything in between. If you want to get started on the water, improve your existing skills, or gain RYA qualifications, including Yachtmaster, you’re in the right place.
In Cowes there’s also Cowes Race School, Global Yacht Racing and Flying Fish. Salty Sailing offers a complete range of courses from beginner through to Yachtmaster – or they’ll skipper the boat for you, if you prefer. Both organisations are based in Cowes, the centre of the sailing universe.
Tackt-Isle Adventures is an outdoor activity centre based at the picturesque St Helens Duver. Try sailing, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding and windsurfing. ¬ uksa.org ¬ vmeracing.co.uk ¬ globalyachtracing.com ¬ flyingfishonline.com ¬ saltysailing.co.uk ¬ tackt-isle.co.uk
'The Isle of Wight is such a special place with a host of absolutely magical harbours and havens for every type of sailor’ Sailing experiences and charters
Charter your own boat and then enjoy sailing with expert tuition, if you need it. With the Contessa 32 Experience, you have the pleasure of sailing a world-renowned classic yacht.
Or try Island Charters, one of the UK’s leading yacht charter companies, for cruiser and racer yachts. Sunsail offers bareboat yacht charters (where they won’t provide a skipper or crew) or skippered charter holidays (where you’ll go out with their team). Whatever your abilities, you can enjoy the windswept waters of the Solent. For corporate groups, they have a unique Insights Discovery programme, incorporating psychometric profiling with water and land-based activities. First Contact Boat Charters provide variety of yachts for charter ranging from easy cruisers to 60ft racing yachts. Yachts can be chartered by the day, weekend or week, bareboat or with skipper and crew. Motorboats and RIBs are also available.
Solent & Wightline Cruises has an extensive fleet of vessels which can hold from 75 to 500 passengers. All vessels are available for private charter.
Crystal Spray offers exclusive charters aboard a Cheetah catamaran. Alternatively, take to the water on a RIB or chartered boat with Griffin Marine and Rebel Marine. Travel around the Island or explore the sea forts with their experienced skippers. Venture Sailing offers relaxed and fun hands-on day sails from Cowes on 40ft and 50ft yachts.
LYC Events is based at Lymington Yacht Haven, just across the Solent from Yarmouth – you can learn the ropes at their Sea School or have private tuition on your own boat. Oceanique is also in Lymington and can offer bespoke events for small groups (10 max). Escape Yachting provides a relaxing sailing experience with the opportunity to see around the Island and the south coast while learning how to sail. One of their packages is a gin and wine tasting sailing experience!
You can go choose to go on an adrenaline fuelled sail or a relaxing cruise with Promocean – you can charter a yacht and then travel along the beautiful south coast, stopping off for lunch on the way.
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¬ contessa32experience.com ¬ islandcharters.co.uk ¬ sunsail.co.uk/corporate ¬ boat-charters.uk.com ¬ solentcruises.co.uk ¬ isleofwightcharters.co.uk ¬ griffmarineservices.co.uk ¬ rebelmarine.co.uk ¬ venturesailing.co.uk ¬ lycevents.co.uk ¬ escapeyachting.com ¬ oceaniqueboatcharter.co.uk ¬ promocean.co.uk
Sailing clubs
You may have to be a member, but some of the sailing clubs do offer training and sailing experiences for groups.
Cowes
Founded in 1815, the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) is one of the oldest and most prestigious yacht clubs in the world. The home of the RYS is the iconic Cowes Castle, which was built in 1539 as part of Henry VIII’s chain of coastal defences. The cannons in front of the Castle signal the start of races on the Solent. This private yacht club is not open to the public. ¬ Royal Yacht Squadron: rys.org.uk ¬ The Royal Ocean Racing Club: rorc.org ¬ The Royal London YC (RLYC): rlyc.org.uk ¬ Island Sailing Club: islandsc.org.uk ¬ Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club (CCYC): ccyc.org.uk ¬ Royal Thames Yacht Club (RTYC): royalthames.com ¬ East Cowes Sailing Club (ECSC): eastcowessc.co.uk
Other Island clubs
¬ Bembridge Sailing Club: bembridgesailingclub.org ¬ Brading Haven Yacht Club: bhyc.org.uk ¬ Gurnard Sailing Club: gurnardsc.org.uk ¬ Royal Victoria Yacht Club: rvyc.org.uk ¬ Shanklin Sailing Club shanklinsailingclub.com ¬ Yarmouth Sailing Club: yarmouthsailingclub.org.uk ¬ Yaverland Sailing Club: ysbc.co.uk
Marinas, havens & harbours
¬ Bembridge Harbour: bembridgeharbour.co.uk ¬ Cowes Harbour Commission: cowesharbourcommission.co.uk ¬ Cowes Yacht Haven: cowesyachthaven.com ¬ East Cowes Marina: deanreddyhoff.co.uk/east-cowesmarina ¬ Island Harbour: island-harbour.co.uk ¬ Newport Harbour: iow.gov.uk/Visitors/Where-to-go/
Harbours1/Newport-Harbour/Newport-Harbour1 ¬ Newtown River: visitmyharbour.com/harbours/solent/ newtown/ ¬ Newtown River: nationaltrust.org.uk/newtownnational-nature-reserve-and-old-town-hall ¬ Ryde Harbour: iow.gov.uk/Residents/Leisure-and-
Sport/Harbours/RydeHarbour/Ryde-Harbour1 ¬ Shepards Marina: cowesharbourshepardsmarina.co.uk ¬ Ventnor Haven: iow.gov.uk/council/OtherServices/
Ventnor-Haven/Ventnor-Haven ¬ Yarmouth Harbour: yarmouth-harbour.co.uk
Cruise lines ahoy!
The Island welcomes visits from small to medium sized cruise ships. Boutique cruise destination Cowes is ideally located and an economical port-of-call for Northern European itineraries and cruise operators looking to cater to the current demand for experiential, personalised travel.
Zoom around the Island on a Segway – these self-balancing two wheelers are such fun for groups. Ride off-road around a working farm and you will soon be gliding through the countryside, led by an experienced instructor. ¬ mooractive.co.uk
Scooters
What better way to explore the Isle of Wight’s breathtaking scenery, hidden gems, and quaint towns than on a Beryl e-scooter. You’ll find them in Cowes, East Cowes, Newport, Ryde, Sandown and Shanklin. ¬ beryl.cc/scheme/isle-wight
Shooting – air rifle & clay pigeon
Take aim and go air rifle shooting with Warner Leisure Hotels at an all-weather shooting range.
There are lots of fantastic options for clay pigeon shooting. Bowcombe View Shooting Ground is set in 11 acres with rural views.
Shepherds Chine Shooting Ground caters for all standards and offers coaching and equipment. They also host corporate team building events, club shoots, stag and hen experiences, and they can hire out the ground for private shoots.
Tucked away at the edge of Tapnell Farm is a clay pigeon shooting and rifle range, operated by Top Targets. Discounts are available for large groups. ¬ warnerleisurehotels.co.uk/hotels/bembridge-coasthotel ¬ islandclaybreaks.co.uk ¬ tapnellfarm.com/top-targets ¬ redfunnel.co.uk/en/isle-of-wight-guide/activities/claypigeon-shooting
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Steam trains
The Isle of Wight Steam Railway is popular with all age groups. Beautifully restored Victorian and Edwardian carriages take visitors on a leisurely 10 mile journey through the Island’s unspoilt countryside. There are events throughout the year, such as the Santa Specials. For something special, charter your own steam train (from £1,000).
Group discounts are available for pre-booked parties (free entry and refreshments for coach driver/courier). ¬ iwsteamrailway.co.uk/visit/groups
Tractors
Go and see the Ferguson Family Museum, a privatelyowned tractor collection which is only open for prebooked groups. You’ll discover the story of Harry Ferguson, the man behind the machines. The museum is located alongside a working organic farm in Freshwater. ¬ ferguson-museum.co.uk
Tree climbing
Take a trip up a tree with Goodleaf Tree Climbing. They offer fun and confidence-boosting sessions with small groups of climbers. The qualified and experienced instructors will teach you the ropes, enabling your group to reach the canopy of a stunning mature oak tree. ¬ goodleaf.co.uk
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Walking
With over 500 miles of footpaths, the Isle of Wight is one of the most popular walking destinations in Britain. The Isle of Wight Walking Festival offers a vast range of walks catering for all interests, ranging from rock to rockpools. Every year, thousands of walkers cross the Isle of Wight for the iconic Walk the Wight, which raises money for Mountbatten, the Island’s hospice. ¬ visitisleofwight.co.uk/things-to-do/walking ¬ isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk ¬ hfholidays.co.uk/destinations/united-kingdom/ isle-of-wight
Watersports
The Island is the ultimate destination for watersports – it’s sheltered and calm on one side, while the waves are spectacular on the other, so you can take your pick. There are lots of opportunities for groups to try sports including surfing, kayaking, windsurfing, kitesurfing and paddle boarding. Explore the glorious coastline and maybe experience something new, like stand-up paddleboard yoga. You can even paddleboard around the world famous Needles rocks.
¬ visitisleofwight.co.uk/things-to-do/activities/watersports ¬ tapnellfarm.com/play/aqua-park
Wellness
Relax… you’re on the Isle of Wight. Surrounded by beauty and tranquility, this is the perfect destination for promoting wellness, wellbeing and mindfulness. Many organisations will help you find ‘pure Island happiness’. You could stay at Quarr Abbey, which is a working Benedictine monastery, for spiritual relaxation. Or head for The Grange by the Sea in Shanklin for a wellness break focusing on mindfulness and self-transformation.
Why not book into a yoga workshop or residential retreat at Nettlecombe Farm, or relax with a massage or spa break at Lakeside Park Hotel and Spa. ¬ skyros.com/holiday-locations/isle-of-wight ¬ quarrabbey.org ¬ nettlecombefarm.co.uk/yoga.php ¬ www.lakesideparkhotel.com/spa/ ¬ visitisleofwight.co.uk/explore/wellness-breaks/ wellness-pamper
Writing
Many authors have found inspiration here, including the Poet Laureate, Alfred, Lord Tennyson. You can encourage your group to get creative on a residential writing weekend at The Grange by the Sea in Shanklin. Courses are led by published authors and include comedy writing and how to be a ‘dream author’.
¬ skyros.com/holiday-locations/isle-of-wight ¬ thegrangebythesea.com/courses
