As I write this month’s introduction to our newsletter, we are just six weeks into the new year, but with the amount of activity going on in and around the harbour, it feels more like six months.
Everyone at CHC is working on projects in preparation for the year ahead. The team at Kingston are busy supporting boat owners that want to get those essential maintenance tasks completed before the spring. The Cowes Harbour Services afloat team are working on several external contracts around the island including the refurbishment of the SCRA race marks so they can go back in the water next month, and the remainder of the CHC team are cleaning, repairing and replacing all the pontoons from Trinity Landing to the Folly Inn as part of our long-term maintenance programme.
The Commission is currently seeking to appoint a new Commissioner to join the Board of Cowes Harbour Commission. The role is for an initial three-year term starting on 1st May 2022 and candidates should be familiar with local issues and have a financial background. Preferably someone with a recognised accountancy qualification but this is not essential.
This is a non-executive voluntary role that offers an exciting opportunity to make a valuable contribution to the future of Cowes Harbour, a leading Trust Port, key economic driver, and the Isle of Wight’s principal maritime gateway. More information about the role of a Commissioner can be found here https://www.cowesharbourcommission.co.uk/news
Finally, you may be interested to know that CHC has an exciting range of branding and advertising opportunities at various locations along the River Medina, so if you would like to promote your company to over 2.5 million people during 2022, then please email chc@cowes.co.uk for further information. |
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Gary Hall
Chief Executive - Cowes Harbour Commission
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Harbour Masters
Safety Briefing
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In the waters around the Isle of Wight, the average sea temperature in the winter is 8°C and it will take over 30 minutes of immersion for a person wearing normal clothes to become hypothermic. Hypothermia is when the body’s core temperature falls below 35°C. Normal body temperature is around 37°C.
You don’t have to have fallen in the water to suffer hypothermia. A person can become hypothermic whether they are in the water, on a yacht or on dry land and in any part of the year, not just winter. It is important to recognise and act when someone starts showing signs of hypothermia, as if left untreated, hypothermia can become potentially life-threatening.
The first sign of someone starting to become hypothermic is they will complain about being cold and will start shivering. At this stage hypothermia hasn’t set it, and they will be aware of their surroundings. At this stage you can give them a warm drink. If their temperature continues to drop, they might become confused, lose co-ordination, and even stop shivering. These are signs that hypothermia has set in. Any wet clothes should be removed and replaced with dry clothes or blankets. It is important that medical assistance should be sought when caring for a person experiencing hypothermia. Once a person becomes hypothermic, don’t offer warm drinks, or place them in a warm shower, this could be very painful for them and potentially put them in shock. Also, don’t offer whiskey or similar drinks, as alcohol will lower their core body temperature.
To help avoid hypothermia, don’t just wear one big coat, instead wear multiple layers. The different layers of clothing trap air in between them and this acts as extra insulation. On a similar note, ensure that you are wearing the appropriate clothing for the time of year. Additionally, check the weather forecast and plan your day accordingly. It is important to remember that the wind chill factor will affect a person’s body temperature more than any other factor whilst being on the water, especially when travelling at speed. If you are out sailing for the day, ensure you have extra clothing and blankets, and have a method of contacting medical help in case someone does become hypothermic.
Ed Walker
Harbour Master
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A little Piece of History
Celebrating the Life of
Uffa Fox
(1898-1972)
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"Wherever there is water, whether it is a canal, a gravel pit, lake or river inland, there you will find people sailing" Uffa Fox.
Today Uffa Fox is a name that comes to mind when one thinks of Cowes and its yachting history, a legend, an innovator, and a creative person with a character that people remember and love. A passionate sailor and boat designer, he contributed to Cowes history with his love for sailing. Many sailors and islanders hold treasured memories of experiences and interactions with the man himself.
In this newsletter, we will reflect upon the life of Uffa Fox (1898 – 1972). Although many antidotes and pioneering moments of Uffas life deserve to be told, we shall highlight just a few. 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the death of this sailing icon, his creativity in boat design was ahead of its time. Uffa was a contributor to the boats that glide over the water with such ease to this very day.
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As a young man loaded with energy and a strong sense of self-belief, when his school days were over he began an internship in East Cowes building rescue boats. Looking back at his time with the boat builders, perhaps this was the kindle that slowly grew to spark the creation of the British air-dropped lifeboat designed by Uffa Fox in 1943. The RAF Air Sea Rescue Service previously operated high-speed boat launches. Until the 32 ft wooden canoe-shaped boat designed by Uffa could save time and lives by being dropped as high as 700ft by plane; the drop was slowed by 6 parachutes. Uffa had even considered the design so precise that it would right itself if overturned. This was no bare wooden boat. It weighed 770kg once attached with 3 KW motors and carried emergency equipment, a radio, rations, and medical supplies. The boat successfully saved many downed aircrews in WW2 and glider infantrymen during Operation Market-Garden in September 1944. |
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After his experience building rescue boats, at the age of 21 he was ready to go out on his own. With salt steadily running in his veins, this was just the beginning of Uffa Fox's stamp on the yachting world. A creative mind growing into a Master boat designer and a brilliant helmsman. Uffas boat of choice and passion was racing dinghies; he gained early success in the 14-foot class. A class of boat in which he soon became dominant as a key designer, boatbuilder and competitor. |
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Uffas success developed rapidly, and he became more in demand, sailing as crew twice across the Atlantic and earning himself a reputation as a great teacher. Uffa lectured at sailing clubs and earned status with clients of title and wealth. In the 1949 Cowes Week Party, he was introduced to HRH Prince Philip, who had asked if there was "someone interesting to talk to." This introduction developed into a lifelong friendship, and they sailed together for many years. They frequently raced a Flying Fifteen boat because Prince Philip found it exhilarating and lively. As a result, Uffa gifted the boat to Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Phillip as a wedding gift in 1949. It was a lifelong friendship brought together by the love of the sea and gliding upon it. |
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Uffa Fox Regatta
18 - 21 August 2022
Hosted by
The Royal London Yacht Club
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Celebrating the life of Uffa Fox this year, the Royal London Yacht Club will host and organise a regatta for all the Uffa crafts – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Uffa designed boats to come together. It is only appropriate that the Royal London Yacht Club be chosen to organise such an exciting and thrilling event because he was a stalwart of the RLYC and a chairman of the sailing committee. Racing will be for 100% Uffa Fox designed dinghies, keelboats, and classic boats, with some of the classes racing along the shore for spectators to enjoy.
A programme of exciting events and tours is also planned, some of which will occur at the Classic Boat Museum in East Cowes, including an exhibition of his various dinghies and seminars about the man himself. You can click the link below to see the provisional programme.
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The sailing Legend lived life as he liked to sail, fast and exhilarating. Leaving lasting impressions with all the encounters he had. A man who has left his legacy to
the sailing community worldwide. Some of the few Uffa Fox boat designs we still
sail to this very day, are the Flying Fifteen, the Flying Ten, the National 12, The
National 18, the Albacore, the Firefly, the Javelin, just to name a few. All that we hope to see hoisting their sails and sailing at the Regatta in August this year!
He was a man of character, cheekiness, and creativity who had a passion for design and engineering that enabled him to further his love for sailing so that others may also enjoy it.
As Uffa once said,
"you must at all times remember that the power of the sea is greater than anything else on this earth; and that although many fleets have sailed over it, not one has conquered or harnessed it, and no one ever will."
Laurianne Jackson
PR & Marketing
Resources & Images:
East Cowes Heritage Society
Royal London Yacht Club
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Charlotte Jones
New Account Administrator
C.H.C
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This month’s spotlight brings attention to Charlotte Jones, our new Accounts Administrator for CHC. For most of us, when we think back to school and those math day classes, it is unlikely we have a thrilling or joyous memory that is linked. Yet, for Charlotte from a very young age, she found more ease than frustration when attempting mathematical equations or learning the meaning of pie.
Charlotte moved back to the Isle of Wight in 2019 after spending her 20’s traveling in Australia and building on her account qualifications and experience. She gained her NVQ Level 2 in accounting while working for Lloyds Bank. Before this, she enjoyed an apprenticeship with a distribution company in business administration, the list of Business and Accounts qualifications from looking at her resume could take up a rather large portion of this story. All which have been the foundation blocks of calculus and years of experience which have brought her to her new position as Accounts Administrator for Cowes Harbour Commission today.
Charlotte has decided that she will start her entry-level accounting degree, opening doors to choices she has yet to make, whether it will be the bookkeeper or chartered accountant route. She enjoys the world of calculus and is attracted to the idea of growing her career, knowledge and experience with CHC.
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When asking her why she chose to move into the maritime industry, she explained one of her first jobs when arriving back, was working on the floating bridge that connects the town parted by the Medina River. With this, she attained her VHF Radio & Sea Survival Qualifications, slowly
navigating her C.V towards the yachting industry even more. CHC advertised for a receptionist at Shepards Marina in 2021, and given her recent experience, she decided to apply. Thus, embedding herself further into the world of yachting, gaining experience in helping the accounts departments, and furthering her knowledge of the industry and operations of working at a marina.
Charlotte speaks highly of all the staff and her enjoyment of working in such a great environment, surrounded by the water and the colleagues that make the more challenging days easier. You will now find Charlotte greeting you, always with a big welcoming smile, when walking into the Cowes Harbour Office in Town Quay.
Charlotte loves living on the Island with her ‘’6 going on 17’’ year old son and looks to the future with CHC, furthering her qualifications and making the Island more of a home than it has already become.
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Kingston Boatyard has recently taken delivery of a new crane which has increased the boatyards lifting capacity from 12 to 18 tonnes.
As a result, the Boatyard can now accommodate and service larger and heavier vessels, masts, engines, keels, and much more!
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- Crane Service available with qualified and highly experienced drivers and banksmen
- 18 tonne capacity with an 18.5 m reach
- Ideal for lifting/launching small vessels
- Stepping/unstepping masts
- All rigging requirement
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Workshop Availability & Onsite Businesses |
Kingston is home to a variety of onsite businesses, many offering a wide variety of trades, including boat building and repairs, marine electronics and engineering, RIB building and repair, as well as yacht equipment storage and much more.
The Commercial Marine Services team based at Kingston are a familiar sight up and down the river and have both their working vessels based at there. Their storage and workshop facilities for engineering, welding and painting. The Commercial Marine Services team are often the first choice for many local marine contracts.
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Cowes Harbour Services has a multi-disciplinary team working largely afloat on marine and coastal projects on the River Medina and around the Solent. Our Commercial Marine Services team is the first choice for many local marine contracts and our portfolio is as diverse as the clients that we serve in Cowes Harbour and further afield.
Our team specialises in the design, supply and positioning of complete mooring systems, as well as navigation and race mark buoy management. We also take care of pontoon maintenance, local towage, stores logistics, escort duties and transportation, and berth repair.
Properties at Kingston Wharf include the waterfront storage land and the Gatehouse Building.
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On Site Chandlery
Visit our website today for further information
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Advertise with us and reach
your target audience
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If you are a company offering products and services to the sailing community, water users or even tourists to Cowes, you will want to get your business message in front of the right people. CHC can help you with this. We have a range of outside advertising spaces at Trinity landing, Shepards Marina, Town Quay and even the new Breakwater.
Prices vary depending on location but every package includes the cost of the banner. We can even create the artwork for you to show your business off in its best light.
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Further information from CHC |
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Cowes Harbour Commission (CHC) is constituted under the Cowes Harbour Act and Orders 1897-2012. It is the Statutory Harbour Authority for Cowes Harbour on the Isle of Wight. CHC receives no funding from either central or local government and re-invests surpluses into the organisation for the overall benefit of harbour users and stakeholders.
CHC’s vision is to fulfill the potential of Cowes Harbour and the River Medina in delivering first-class port facilities and leisure services and by acting as the main transport and shipping gateway supporting the Island’s economy and employment.
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Cowes Local Notices to Mariners
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Local information for harbour users
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Harbour Services from CHC |
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Based on a 10-acre site at Kingston Wharf in East Cowes, is the Cowes Harbour Services Boatyard, with a range of boatyard services and boat storage facilities, as well as the Cowes Harbour Storage self-storage facility, and a chandlery. |
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Shepards Marina is one of Cowes Harbour’s main marina facilities offering a full range of services and amenities suitable for yacht racing events, rallies, and catering also to the cruising sailor and powerboater. |
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Cowes Harbour Commission owns and licences the majority of the pontoons, swinging moorings, and pile berths within Cowes Harbour and the River Medina, as far south as the Folly Inn. |
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