A Personal Guide to The Ports of the Channel
Nicholas Hill
Cowes
Cowes is one of the main centres for British yachting. It is heaving during Cowes Week and best avoided. Even so, it can be very busy at the weekends even in the autumn, but relatively quiet during the week. Shelter is good except in strong northerlies or northeasterlies. Cowes High Street is quaint, full of 'yachtie' shops, but less good for chandlery.
finding it
The harbour entrance channel is marked by red and green buoys: you need to find the two at the entrance, which are quite close to the Royal Yacht Squadron. BEWARE: much ferry traffic; high speed catamarans and car ferries. Also strong tidal cross currents.
From the east:
Straight around Castle Point; but beware of all the moorings; keep going until you meet the red entrance buoy.
From the west:
Straight round Egypt Point to the entrance buoys.
From the north:
Straight in via Prince Consort buoy. WARNING: beware of the Bramble Bank if going to/from Southampton Water. Find the WEST KNOLL small yellow (was green) buoy.
getting in
The fairway is very busy with high speed catamarans and car ferries as well as assorted other small vessels. There are lots of mooring buoys either side of the fairway. In the winter they are usually empty, in the summer they are filled mainly with keelboats.
hazards
Ferries and moorings!
If proceeding downriver to East Cowes Marina, Island Harbour or Newport, beware of chain ferry [flashing blue light when crossing].
berthing
To starboard is Cowes Yacht Haven: expensive, good facilities, in the middle of the town. Suffers from wash, and uncomfortable in NE winds. Ferries pass close most of the night. Can fill up on busy weekends.
Further down is the Town Quay: cheaper, fewer facilities. Often rafted out. Suffers from wash and ferries.
Beyond the chain ferry [beware!] is East Cowes Marina, operated by Dean and Reddihof: much quieter but further from civilisation.
Beyond that is the Folly Inn, Island Harbour Marina, and Newport.
facilities
Good at the marinas; Cowes itself is good for 'boaty' shopping.
charts and waypoints
Chart 2036: The Solent and Southampton Water.
The best waypoint is Prince Consort Buoy (N cardinal).
Google Earth
Webcam
Supposed to be for Cowes harbour - but it's mounted at Calshot and shows most of the Solent: webcam
