A Personal Guide to The Ports of the Channel

Nicholas Hill

Updated May 2010

Cowes

Cowes is one of the main centres for British yachting. It is heaving during Cowes Week and best avoided then. It can still 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 unless you go down the river a little way. Cowes High Street is quaint, full of 'yachtie' shops, but less good for chandlery.

View across to Cowes with the West Bramble buoy in the foreground.

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 in the form of high speed catamarans and car ferries. Also some very 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, the Folly Inn, Island Harbour or Newport, beware of chain ferry [flashing blue light when crossing].

Left: the chain ferry. If the blue light is flashing, it's on the move! And keep clear of the stern - the chain stretches some way behind.
Right: the iconic crane, once part of White's shipyard. The fuel berth is foreground left.
Click on the picture for a larger version.

berthing

There are some new pontoons by the entrance [see photo further down], but these are for short stay only, and rather exposed in rough weather.

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.

There are two basins with separate entrances, and specific moorings are not that obvious once inside. It really is a good idea to call them up on Ch 80 before you enter the harbour (one time when a handheld VHF comes in useful). Often there is a RIB waiting around outside who will guide you in. Be prepared to raft up if it is at all busy.

Cowes Yacht Haven. Entrance to the northern basin on the left.
Click on the picture for a larger version.

Further down is the Town Quay: cheaper, fewer facilities, although it has been much upgraded in recent years. Often rafted out. Depending on where you tie up, it may suffer from wash and ferries.

Beyond the chain ferry [beware!] is East Cowes Marina, operated by Dean and Reddihof: much quieter but further from civilisation. There is a water taxi to West Cowes (and also a water taxi from the Folly, if you go that far down).

Beyond that is the Folly Inn, Island Harbour Marina, and Newport.

The Folly is well worth a visit (it is also popular with the charter brigade!). Island Harbour has a lock, and is only accessible at certain states of the tide. There is not a lot on offer once inside. You can go up to the quay in Newport, but you need a boat which can take the ground.

Left: new pontoons near the entrance. Short stay only - and rather exposed in bad weather.
Right: pontoon at the Folly Inn. There are three places, but more can fit in if you raft out. The Folly does excellent food and drink.
Click on the picture for a larger version.

facilities

Good showers/loos at the marinas, although they can become distinctly crowded at times. Cowes itself is good for 'boaty' shopping, and there is a good supermarket in the High Street close to the Yacht Haven. Lots of pubs with food, plus other restaurants.

Webcam

Supposed to be for Cowes harbour - but it's mounted at Calshot and shows most of the Solent: webcam

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