Cowes Harbour Commission
Harbour Authority & Marine Service Provider
Newsletter 18th December 2017
Schooner Atlantic on Trinity Landing - Cowes - photo courtesy of Nick Edwards
Season's Greetings from Cowes Harbour
Cowes Harbour Commission (CHC) is pleased to share with readers news on Destination Cowes achievements from the partnership’s first full year of operation. Our lead article below highlights some of the successes of 2017 and the full Destination Cowes Annual Review can be viewed on our website.

Next year, Destination Cowes will continue to focus on activities designed to attract more visitors and events to Cowes, whilst ideas for the future may include a combined approach to promoting live music in Cowes, even a fine dining week, and exploring the potential for new cultural festivals. 

As 2017 draws to an end, I would especially like to thank our Commissioners, the Advisory Committee representatives, and the CHC team, for their continued hard work and valued contributions over the course of the year. 

To all harbour users and those who have visited Cowes in 2017, we send you our best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year 2018. 

Capt. Stuart McIntosh - Cowes Harbour Master

Photo: Schooner Atlantic on Trinity Landing - Cowes © Nick Edwards
View of Cowes
Destination Cowes reports on a successful first year
Following the launch of “Destination Cowes” last autumn at London’s World Travel Market, the partnership has had a busy first year working to attract increased cruise ship business and new events to Cowes, and has also laid strong foundations for further achievements in 2018.

Destination Cowes brings together some of the key stakeholder organisations in the towns of Cowes and East Cowes and is a collective made up of Cowes Town Council, Visit Isle of Wight, Cowes Harbour Commission, Red Funnel, Cowes Yacht Haven, Northwood House, English Heritage, and both Cowes and East Cowes Business Associations. 

Successes from 2017 include the establishment of a new website and related social media to market Cowes to potential visitors. The new site is kindly hosted and managed by Visit Isle of Wight and can be accessed via www.cowes.co.uk or www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/cowes. 

Also this year, a new visitor leaflet - “Explore Cowes” - was developed with the aim of attracting more mainland visitors to Cowes. The leaflet, with its colourful map highlighting some of the top attractions in and around Cowes and East Cowes, proved extremely popular and there are plans to do a reprint in time for Easter 2018.

Christmas and New Year opening times
Cowes Harbour Office will close for the Christmas break at 1200 on Friday, 22nd December 2017 and re-open at 0900 on Tuesday, 2nd January 2018.

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

Our fuel berth will remain open for business but with reduced hours as shown on the Cowes Harbour Fuels website .

Moorings in Cowes Harbour
Annual mooring licence renewals
All Cowes Harbour annual mooring holders should have received an invitation to renew their mooring for 2018, and we would be grateful if you could please return the annual licence renewal form to us as soon as possible. Please note that annual mooring renewal payments are due by Friday, 5th January 2018.

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

Cowes tide tables 2018
If you wish to plan next year's sailing over the Christmas and New Year break, then the tide tables for 2018 are now on CHC's website. View Cowes tide tables 2017-18
Christmas comes this time each year...
Christmas comes this time each year,
and all those Christmas songs,
remind us of the cheer and fun,
and where the heart belongs.

Families nestled round the tree,
with brightly coloured lights,
please spare a thought for those at sea
suffering long and lonely nights!

Commercial ship on the Solent off Cowes
Birds resting on pontoons - River Medina - Cowes
Visitor and residential marina
Premier dry sailing facilities
Waterfront venue at Shepards Wharf
Annual, visitor and event moorings
Harbour maintenance and commercial marine operations
Deep draught fuel pontoon on the River Medina
Extensive yard facilities with 40t boat hoist, 30t boat mover and commercial premises to lease
Tariffs and special offers for CHC marine services