| Cowes Harbour Commission’s visitor moorings are now open for daytime and short stay visitors as of Tuesday, 2nd June 2020. The CHC Board of Commissioners held a meeting and have agreed to allow both daytime visiting boats and short stay visiting boats at Cowes Harbour Commission visitor moorings. CHC has been consulting regularly with local stakeholder groups and businesses and has been working towards a coordinated approach to easing COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in Cowes Harbour, but recognises that individual marinas and mooring facilities will be making their own decisions about when and how to reopen. CHC’s initial policy on a ‘safe return to family local boating in Cowes’ was based on balancing a cautious approach to safeguard the Isle of Wight, against the need to stay in line with the opening up of other harbours and marinas, and following UK Government guidance. CHC continues to value positive communications and support from the Cowes Harbour Advisory Committee, which also met yesterday, discussed and supported the new CHC policy on daytime and short stay visitors. Daytime Visitor Moorings New at Shepards Marina is the offer of “daytime visitor moorings”, enabling boat users to come to Cowes and enjoy a whole day out with a pre-booked and pre-paid berth at CHC’s marina. Short Stay Visitor Moorings Short stay visitors are welcome on a first-come first-served basis at Shepards Marina, Town Quay, Whitegates Visitor River Pontoons, and the Folly Visitors Pontoon. Trinity Landing is undergoing maintenance works that are scheduled to complete this Friday and so the Trinity Landing pontoons will be open for short stay visitors from 0900 on Saturday, 6th June. Note that no rafting of boats is permitted at any CHC visitor moorings until further notice. Please see the CHC Coronavirus information web page for full details of how to pre-book daytime visitor moorings and for more information on short stay visitor moorings. Please also read Local Notice to Mariners No. 17(T) of 2020: Cowes Harbour Daytime & Short Stay Visitors Under COVID-19. No Overnight Moorings The temporary policy on no overnight moorings remains the same at this time and is in accordance with current UK Government Coronavirus guidelines. See Local Notice to Mariners No. 15(T) of 2020: COVID-19 – Government Guidelines for Recreational Boating. For Cowes Yacht Haven and East Cowes Marina, boat users are advised to contact the marina in question for the most up-to-date policy information and details on visitor berthing. Personal Watercraft and Jet Skis Cowes Harbour Commission welcomes and proactively encourages watersports and leisure activities within the harbour, but would like to remind all Personal Watercraft and jet ski users to show respect and consideration for other harbour users on the River Medina and across the full Cowes Harbour jurisdiction. Personal Watercraft, like all other vessels, are expected to be navigated with due regard to safety, in accordance with Cowes Harbour General Directions and the Collision Regulations. In particular, Personal Watercraft are required to observe the speed limit of 6 knots through the water when operating within the Inner Harbour, including the Shrape Watersports Area, and when within 100 metres of the shore, as shown on the diagram below. |
| For full information including boat safety and safe navigation on return to boating please visit www.cowesharbourcommission.co.uk. |
