Cowes Fireworks

All I'll say is expect a staggering number of boats of all shapes and sizes to be milling around, some without proper lights, all with at least some of the potential look-outs on board looking at the fireworks, and, I venture to suggest, many having alcoholic beverages being consumed aboard. Getting anchored somewhere a little bit away from the action may be a worthwhile risk reduction strategy, but there again if you are anchored you can't take much avoiding action.....
 
I've seen this posted every year for the short number of years we've been to see the fireworks (4 of them), out of interest, has all the doom and disaster talk ever been borne out with an actual accident following the fireworks? I personally don't recall there being one. We tend to anchor to the west of the Medina estuary it's an AMAZING experience well worth doing.

cheers Gary
 
oGaryo said:
I've seen this posted every year for the short number of years we've been to see the fireworks (4 of them), out of interest, has all the doom and disaster talk ever been borne out with an actual accident following the fireworks? I personally don't recall there being one. We tend to anchor to the west of the Medina estuary it's an AMAZING experience well worth doing.

cheers Gary
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Yes, about 4 or 5 years ago a rib hit an unlit shipping bouy, I recall no death but there was a girl that sustained awful life changing injuries.

It depends on your home port to some extent, we're in Hamble, I pootle about north of the fleet, near to Bramble, soon as the finale fades I run for home ahead of the madness.
 
burgundyben said:
Yes, about 4 or 5 years ago a rib hit an unlit shipping bouy, I recall no death but there was a girl that sustained awful life changing injuries.

It depends on your home port to some extent, we're in Hamble, I pootle about north of the fleet, near to Bramble, soon as the finale fades I run for home ahead of the madness.
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Yup, and believe the skipper spent some time at hm pleasure also although maybe wrong.

I tend to let the traffic calm down for half an hour after the finish and go home slowly.

The majority of boats are very good but the minority I have seen after Cowes fireworks have been shockingly bad!!!
 
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Many years ago I went out on my own boat and it was fairly chaotic, but I believe since the appalling rib incident mentioned above things have improved. Last year I went out with some friends on a big Party boat of a couple of hundred people. I was carefully watching the boats surrounding us. Everybody was well behaved, which was a great contrast to 15 years back. The Harbourmasters and Police were out in numbers, and I saw no dramas. I am therefore thinking about going in my own boat again, but I wont drop the hook in the middle of the group, but would rather just idle at the helm.
Lets hope it is a clear night.
 
You'd be wasting your time in Osborne Bay, if you don't want to get close you would be better off over Beaulieu side. Personally, I'd rather watch it from the shore - too many dickheads out on the water.
 
Bazzer said:
does anybody have any suggestions on good spot to drop the hook and watch the Friday night celebrations, was wondering if the view from Osborne Bay was any good ?
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Off the Squadron. Get there early. Make sure you've got enough depth for the tide to go out. Wait until everyone's gone before moving.
 
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