Cowes mooring next Saturday

[DoubleEnder]

I’m in a bit of a quandary. I would really like to visit Cowes and stay overnight on Saturday 21st August, next week. I can’t book anything though, everywhere’s very busy.
I can book a berth in Lymington. But really do want to go to Cowes…..
We can get there pretty early, lunchtime ish. What are the chances do you think, of finding a spot for the night? Boat is long keel 10.1 metre.
Thanks very much

 

[neilf39]

Its Cowes Classics Weekend, and also the Wight Proms at Northwood House so I would guess that it will be very busy in the marinas that weekend. (Also the end of the IOW Festival) . You could try the Folly pontoons.

 

[bdh198]

I’m in a bit of a quandary. I would really like to visit Cowes and stay overnight on Saturday 21st August, next week. I can’t book anything though, everywhere’s very busy.
I can book a berth in Lymington. But really do want to go to Cowes…..
We can get there pretty early, lunchtime ish. What are the chances do you think, of finding a spot for the night? Boat is long keel 10.1 metre.
Thanks very much

+1 for the Folly Pontoons. I have frequently found space there even when just turning up during busy Cowes weekends including Cowes Week and Round the Island. They can accommodate draft to 2 meters quite comfortably on their pontoons. However, it’s a bit more of a faff to get into Cowes. You could take a tender, but it’s between 1.5 to 2 Nm depending on where you want to land. The water taxi is an option, but is about £10 each way per person.

 

[jonic]

We turned up on this Saturday afternoon just gone - all marinas booked for weeks ahead but were given a 3 deep raft at the folly (14m and 1.6m draft) and dinghied into town. All good and £4 full English at the Folly in the morning.

 

[Gary Fox]

Maybe too far upriver..Newport town quay isn't quite full, Odessa boatyard might have a spot. The Folly pontoons always seem to squeeze people in as said above..

 

[DoubleEnder]

Thanks, useful info

 

[ashtead]

You sometimes find east cowes marina says they have no space for bookings but when asked before say2pm as you approach they fit you in. A lot seems to depend on whose on duty. I guess it also depends on where you are travelling from and time of arrival as you could look at island harbour tides permitting ? Allegedly there are berths at UKISA but I’ve not tried it.

 

[Gary Fox]

You sometimes find east cowes marina says they have no space for bookings but when asked before say2pm as you approach they fit you in. A lot seems to depend on whose on duty. I guess it also depends on where you are travelling from and time of arrival as you could look at island harbour tides permitting ? Allegedly there are berths at UKISA but I’ve not tried it.

Yes I forgot, UKSA have berths. Also, there are some pontoons outside Arctic Rd dry dock, never full, ring Sam at the dry dock to get a number. Both mid river and walk ashore, they are owned by some minor royalty I think. I have stayed there with no issues.

 

[Gary Fox]

Also the Kingston wharf pontoons, by the power station, are usually empty and the rates are low.

 

[Yealm]

Buy a white ensign and slip quietly into the Squadron marina

 

[DJE]

Visitor mooring details. Whitegates or Folly Reach are probably the best bet.