December 2016 News from Cowes Harbour Commission

Cowes Harbour Commission

Harbour Authority & Marine Services Provider

Newsletter 20th December 2016

Season's Greetings!

Welcome to our final newsletter of 2016, after another fantastic year of events in Cowes on and off the water. It is always difficult to pick out just a few highlights but Cowes Week merits a special mention for the champagne sailing conditions enjoyed by competitors, and also the Etchells Worlds for the best competitor feedback: "I love coming to Cowes, it is one of my favourite places to sail anywhere in the world."

Meanwhile, Rod Hodgson, Deputy Harbour Master, Pilot and “my right-hand man” has taken a career decision and new position with our neighbours over at ABP Southampton. Rod has provided over 10 years' excellent service to Cowes Harbour and there will be some “big shoes to fill”. On behalf of CHC, and myself, I would like to take this opportunity to note our sincere appreciation and best wishes for his new role.

As 2016 draws to an end, my thanks also go to the whole CHC team, our Commissioners and the Harbour Advisory Committee for their support and valuable contributions throughout the year. Wishing you all a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.

Captain Stuart McIntosh - Cowes Harbour Master

Outer Harbour Project update

Negotiations continue towards finalising the 'Harbour Infrastructure Funding Agreement' (HIFA) between Cowes Harbour Commission (CHC), the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), and the developer of the HCA’s Victoria Quay marina in East Cowes, which will enable delivery of Phases 2 and 3 of the Outer Harbour Project, the Eastern Channel dredge and Shrape extension.

Despite the best efforts of all parties, and with CHC having met its commitments to the HCA and being ready to deliver Phases 2 and 3 in spring 2017, the HIFA is not yet in a form whereby it can be approved by the respective parties' Boards.

This means that it will not be possible to start the Eastern Channel dredge works in time to complete them by the environmental and operational closed season commencing in April 2017. The intention is to re-schedule the Eastern Channel dredging and construction of the Shrape extension to start after the 2017 summer season, subject to finalisation of the terms and conditions of the HIFA and the HCA and the marina developers being in all other respects ready to proceed with the new marina and East Cowes project.

Read the full article on the CHC website

Changes to advertised tidal predictions for Cowes

Please note that there have been some changes to how the tide tables are compiled for Cowes. From 1 st January 2017, the Admiralty Tide Tables will give the time of High Water Cowes that corresponds to the beginning of the High Water period, rather than the peak High Water time. The timing difference between the beginning of the High Water period and the peak High Water time is generally small on spring tides, but can be significant on neap tides.

See Local Notice to Mariners No 61 of 2016

Harbour maintenance dredging

Harbour maintenance dredging will be carried out in early 2017 at Shepards Wharf Marina and approaches, the Town Quay mooring basin , and the Royal Yacht Squadron basin . These maintenance dredge works were originally planned to take place in 2016 but have been re-scheduled for 2017 due to delays in completing the Marine Management Organisation consents process. The maintenance dredging has been contracted to Jenkins Marine, who will return the areas specified above to the original design depths as charted on Admiralty Chart 2793 .

Read more online

Christmas and New Year

The Harbour Office will close for the Christmas break at 1200 on Friday, 23rd December 2016 and re-open at 0900 on Tuesday, 3rd January 2017.

Over the Christmas break, all phone calls will be redirected to CHC staff at Shepards Wharf Marina who can be contacted on 01983 297821 for visitor bookings, general enquiries, and payment of annual mooring licences.

Full details, dates and opening times online

Annual mooring licences

All Cowes Harbour licenced annual mooring holders should have received their renewal forms by now; please ensure that these are completed and returned promptly. The deadline for payment of annual mooring licences is Friday, 6th January 2017. If you are planning to give up your mooring for 2017, it would be helpful if you could you let us know before the end of December.

For all enquiries, and to update your contact information, do get in touch with the Cowes Harbour Moorings team based at Shepards Wharf Marina by phone on 01983 297821 or email to [email protected].

Read more on the CHC website

The Marine Management Organisation recently announced that a consultation would take place on the Draft South Marine Plan; this is now underway and will close on 27th January 2017. The South Marine Plan covers the inshore and offshore waters from MHWS to 12nm between Folkestone and the River Dart. The Plan aims to enable sustainable growth across the region, whilst respecting local communities and protecting the marine environment.

Find out more online

Have you read the December issue of the popular All At Sea newspaper? If not, then pop in to Shepards Wharf Marina in Cowes to pick up your free copy or view the paper online.

There’s fantastic news on Sir Ben Ainslie’s Land Rover BAR team who have been crowned America’s Cup World Series Champions, plus an update on Alex Thomson’s attempt to become the first British sailor to win the Vendée Globe, and a Q&A with our own Cowes Harbour Master Capt. Stuart McIntosh in the ‘Boating People’ feature.

View the story on the CHC website

Spring sailing escapes: The Cowes tide tables for 2017 are now available to view online, for those who may wish to plan their 2017 sailing calendar over the Christmas and New Year holidays - and remember - the Isle of Wight is a year-round destination for sailors and boaters, not just for summer time!

See more on the CHC website