January 2017 News from Cowes Harbour Commission

Cowes Harbour Commission

Harbour Authority & Marine Services Provider

Newsletter 25th January 2017

All the latest Cowes Harbour news

Welcome to our first newsletter of 2017 - and I hope that the year ahead will be a good one for all.

I would like to congratulate British sailor Alex Thomson who claimed second place in the Vendée Globe on 20th January; an achievement hailed by the French as “magnificent”. Alex reportedly had three objectives going into the race: first to finish; second to podium; and third to win. “I’m happy we got two of those,” he said, and has confirmed he will be back in 2020 to win!

A vacancy has arisen on our Board of Commissioners so we are recruiting to fill the position, and are keen to receive applications from across the local community to ensure that a balance is maintained in respect of the skills and interests of our Board members. If you might be interested, do please see our article below or contact the Harbour Office to find out more.

Captain Stuart McIntosh - Cowes Harbour Master

How the Harbour Advisory Committee works for you

John Corby has been Chairman of the Cowes Harbour Advisory Committee (CHAC) since last May and here he talks about the CHAC and its relevance to all who live and work in our harbour.

“I’m John Corby, I’ve lived in Cowes since 1982 and spent almost all that time designing and building yachts. I’m absolutely passionate about Cowes, the harbour, and the whole lifestyle here.

“The Harbour Advisory Committee is made up of representatives from many groups associated with the harbour and represents these groups to Cowes Harbour Commission.

“The really key thing that we do is to facilitate the communication between Commissioners and harbour users. Harbour users include people who make a living out of the harbour and those living by the harbour, and there are hundreds of people whose livelihoods depend on this harbour."

Read the full interview online and find out what the Advisory Committee is doing for harbour users

Make a difference to Cowes!

Become a Cowes Harbour Commissioner

One of our Cowes Harbour Commissioners, Ben Board, has taken the decision to resign due to family and work commitments. In his resignation letter, he commented: “I think the work the Commission do is extremely important and you have a team of people on the Board that care passionately about what happens to the harbour, as do I, and I feel that it is in safe hands for the future.” CHC is seeking a new Board member to fill the vacancy and has commenced an open recruitment process for the position.

Applications to the Board of Cowes Harbour Commissioners are encouraged from capable individuals of varied backgrounds and experience to help increase diversity on the Board. Candidates should demonstrate enthusiasm, commitment and local knowledge, and have an interest in public service.

Click for more information and how to apply

KMS helps Portsmouth prepare for new aircraft carriers

Our Kingston Marine Services (KMS) team from East Cowes has recently been involved in preparations at Portsmouth ahead of the arrival of Britain’s new aircraft carriers, the largest and most powerful warships ever built for the Royal Navy.

KMS was contracted by Island company MMC Diving Services to work alongside technical and dive teams on the new navigation lights that will guide the aircraft carriers Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales safely into Portsmouth Harbour.

Barney Sollars, KMS Manager said: “The capabilities of our vessels were really highlighted during this project in Portsmouth Harbour, and this along with the skills and flexibility of our team made it possible to deliver in the busy commercial and Naval environment of Portsmouth Harbour.”

Read the full story with photos and video online

Harbour maintenance dredging

The maintenance dredge at Shepards Wharf Marina and its fairway approaches is taking place in February as part of a programme of harbour maintenance dredging, including Thetis Wharf, Kingston Marine Services hoist dock, and the Town Quay and Royal Yacht Squadron basins.

Please read Cowes Local Notice to Mariners No. 05(T) of 2017 for further details.

See the full article on the CHC website

Annual moorings in Cowes Harbour: If you would like to have an annual mooring in Cowes Harbour for 2017, now is a good time to contact our Cowes Harbour Moorings team as we process renewals and mooring changes to determine availability.

May we also remind you that if you still need to pay your annual mooring licence renewal, please contact us as soon as possible.

For all enquiries, and to update us about any changes to your boat, do get in touch with Cowes Harbour Moorings by phone on 01983 297821 or send an email.

RTI 2017 entries open on 27th January: Entries for the iconic one-day yacht racing extravaganza, the Round the Island Race, organised by the Island Sailing Club in Cowes, will open at 00.00 on Friday, 27th January. Race Day in 2017 is on Saturday, 1st July with the first start at 0530.

The 2017 event marks the 81st actual Round the Island Race and the 86th anniversary of the first-ever Round the Island Race held in 1931; no races were held during the two world wars.

Read the full story on the CHC website