Judges charmed by the Sound of the Sea

The Offshore Model Racing Association (OMRA) is to hold its first ever race at Cowes, on 29th and 30th September 2018, at Trinity Landing by The Parade. OMRA races use powerful offshore race boats 4-6ft long, similar in design to their full-size Deep V and Catamaran counterparts, and often

The great and the good of the construction industry started arriving on Thursday evening, 13th September for the 31st running of the Little Britain Challenge Cup, together with the majestic 32 metre Baltic Trader Queen Galadriel, host ship of The Cirdan Sailing Trust, which berthed on the outer

The Cowes Harbour Landmark Design Competition was launched on Monday, 3rd September 2018 to find an inspirational design idea for an iconic “welcome” landmark to be sited on the detached Cowes Breakwater at the mouth of Cowes Harbour, on the Isle of Wight. Organisers Cowes Harbour Commission

Navigating a path to economic growth and protecting jobs - Harbour Master Capt. Stuart McIntosh talks to Tom Stroud of the Chamber’s Island Business Magazine about how Cowes Harbour Commission balances the views of stakeholders on “the main road into the Island”. Read the interview on the IW

Earlier in the summer, the Isle of Wight Council launched its draft Regeneration Strategy with the aim of ensuring the Island becomes an inspiring place to grow up, live, work and visit. Following July’s Regeneration Conference, the discussion about the new draft strategy continues online with a

Wednesday, 22nd August saw cruise ship MS Europa, operated by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, pay a visit to the Isle of Wight, anchoring off Cowes and tendering her passengers in to Trinity Landing. Visit Isle of Wight’s Travel Ambassadors, along with our own German speaking Moorings Administrator from

The third weekend in September sees the return of the Little Britain Challenge Cup 2018, an annual regatta for the construction industry organised since 1988. This year, therefore, is its 31st running. The event grew from the very modest beginnings of three co-consultants on one particular

The Isle of Wight Classic Buses, Beer and Walks Weekend 2018 is on its way, taking place on 13th and 14th October 2018. Joining the event this year with a brewery artefacts exhibition and local historic displays, is The Sugar Store at Shepards Marina, owned by Cowes Harbour Commission and run

The 2018 Contessa 26 National Championships is taking place in Cowes over this weekend, 1st and 2nd September. The event is hosted by the Island Sailing Club, and is sponsored via the Club by Wight Vodka. Shepards Marina is helpfully providing moorings for visiting boats at Rally

Now in its 58th year, this August Bank Holiday weekend (25th-26th August 2018) sees the return to Cowes of the historic Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Powerboat race, and the smaller Cowes-Poole-Cowes race. With over 30 boats already entered, including boats from the UK, America, Belgium, Bermuda

The cause of many leisure vessel incidents in Cowes Harbour can be traced back to just a couple of key factors, lack of proper preparation and planning. Last year, Cowes Harbour Commission (CHC) Patrol Officers were called to over 70 incidents that could have been avoided through proper

Local Notice to Mariners No. 17(T) has now been issued for Lendy Cowes Week 2018 with details on start and finish lines, racing mark buoys, The Precautionary Area, plus safety and navigation advice. Additionally, skippers taking part in the regatta are advised to familiarise themselves with all

The 2018 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race will start on Sunday, 12th August from the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes. This Race is undoubtedly one of the toughest of all yacht races. First organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) in 1995, the 1,805nm course is reputedly harder

We are pleased to hear that once again the Classic Boat Museum's yachts, motor and lifeboats are now open to view by the public in Cowes. Over 50 yachts and boats have a new home in Cowes in one of the historic boat sheds under the Hammerhead Crane.  The shed required extensive work to ensure

Red Funnel applies for licences for the construction of the new lay-by berth in East Cowes. This application, submitted to Cowes Harbour Commission by Ramboll on behalf of the Red Funnel Group, seeks to secure consent to complete dredging and construction work to establish the new lay-by

It is not just your boat speed but also the wake from your vessel that can have an impact within the harbour. Excessive wake from vessels creates an unsafe environment for all harbour users and too much wake can cause damage. Whilst CHC works hard to ensure effective promulgation of the rules on

Following completion of the statutory consultation process with the Harbour Advisory Committee, Chamber of Shipping and RYA, a revised set of Cowes Harbour General Directions has been ratified and will be introduced on 1st July 2018. General Direction 3.19 “VHF Communications within Cowes Harbour”

Eight days to go (as of 28th June)The countdown is on to the 2018 Round the Island Race in association with Cloudy Bay with 1,186 boats entered as we write. The start times and fleet flags are shown on the event website, with the first start at 0630 on Saturday, 7th July. The Sailing Instructions

Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has opened a public consultation on the third Tranche of the Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs), to seek the public’s views on proposals to designate 41 new MCZs and to add new features for conservation in 12 existing MCZs. Sites

The Board of Cowes Harbour Commissioners (CHC) has recently welcomed James Evans and Steve Cooper as new members. James Evans has practised as a barrister in London since 1993, specialising in commercial law and with experience of international litigation and arbitration of inter-governmental

The Annual Report for 2017-2018 has now been published and is available to view and download from CHC’s website. • View the CHC Annual Report 2017-2018 The Harbour Master and Chief Executive’s Annual Summary of the Report focuses on six key issues that will form the framework for the