Cowes Port Handbook 2014-2015 April 2014 | Page 33

COWES PORT HANDBOOK 2014 - 2015

Permanent Moorings

............................

The River Medina has a large number of permanent berths controlled by
either Cowes Harbour Commission or various yacht clubs. If you plan
to extend your stay, or would like a permanent mooring, Cowes offers
exceptionally competitive rates on a seasonal or annual basis. Contact the
CHC moorings team at Shepards Wharf Marina on Tel: [phone].

Anchoring

..............

One of the few types of mooring not available in Cowes is anchoring.
There are simply too many obstructions, such as ground chains, so it is for
all practical purposes forbidden. Osborne Bay, 2 miles east of the Shrape
Breakwater has excellent holding ground, and the bay is reasonably well
protected. Vessels up to 150m in length (usually visiting passenger vessels)
may anchor in one of the dedicated anchorages in Cowes Roads by prior
arrangement with the Cowes Harbour Master.

Navigating the River Medina

......................................

Once past the Chain Ferry, boatyards and commercial wharves, the
Kingston Power Station comes into view. The red can buoys Nos. 8 and 10
mark the eastern side of the channel, thereafter the fairway is bounded by
the swinging moorings to the east and pontoons to the west.
Vessels must stay below 6 knots through the water and should proceed
with caution either side of Low Water between the power station and the
Folly Inn, where the depth in places is only 0.6m below chart datum.
The River Medina dries out upstream of the Folly, although vessels with 2m
draft should have no difficulty getting to either Island Harbour or Newport
Quay 2 hours before and up to 3 hours after High Water, dependent on
the height of the tide. South of the Folly the channel is buoyed but not lit.
Once south of the Folly, the management of the River Medina passes from
Cowes Harbour Commission to the Isle of Wight Council.

The Folly Inn

COWES.co.uk

33