Cowes RNLI's SOS Day is taking place on Saturday, 1 February from 1000 until 1600; it's free and suitable for all the family. There will be activities for children of all ages, opportunities to meet the RNLI lifeboat crew, take a tour and find out how the lifeboat station works, take the 'get your kit on' challenge, and have tea and cakes whilst enjoying a stunning view of the Solent.

There is also a chance to challenge the RNLI crew to a Tug o' War on The Parade. Watch the Fire Service, HM Coastguard and many more go 'head to head' with the RNLI crew in this exciting test of strength and stamina!

Helping out on the day will be several CHC staff who are regular volunteers at Cowes RNLI lifeboat station.

Cowes Harbour Fuels is due to close for scheduled maintenance for up to 10 days in February, with the exact dates to be confirmed when a window of dry weather is forecast! Please check the CHC website for the latest information. Lallow's Boatyard, 50m south of the Yacht Haven, will remain open during the temporary closure of the CHC fuel berth.

CHC has received an application for a maintenance dredge licence at Cowes Yacht Haven.

The area to be dredged includes the north basin and parts of the south basin. The final dredge level will be between 2m -3m below chart datum as per those shown on SNC 2793. The amount of spoil dredge material to be removed is up to 15,000 cubic metres. The work is aimed to be carried out in late February or early March this year.

View the Yacht Haven dredge plan.

CHC welcomes the news that businesses in the marine, maritime and advanced manufacturing sectors on the Isle of Wight are being urged to apply for grants from a new fund set up by the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), in collaboration with the Isle of Wight Council.

The £2.46m Isle of Wight Expansion Fund, is designed to help companies expand, start up new activities or diversify with the aim of creating or safeguarding jobs.

Read the full story on COWES.co.uk.

This spring, CHC will begin recruiting for two new Commissioners to join the independent board, as both Peter Jackson, Commissioner for Safety, Security & Environment, and Peter Morton, Commissioner for Marine Services, will be coming to the end of their second term, having completed six years of exemplary service to the Harbour Commission.

At a time when the profile of Cowes is being raised through major investment in harbour infrastructure such as the new Cowes breakwater, and the regeneration of East Cowes forges ahead with a new HCA-led marina development, Cowes Harbour Commission will, alongside its statutory duties, continue to facilitate business growth and improve facilities for local residents and visiting sailors and boaters.

There will be more information on the forthcoming Commissioner vacancies in our February newsletter.

Cowes Harbour Master, Capt. Stuart McIntosh was amongst those present at a well attended meeting held at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club on 17 January, which was called with the aim of bringing the Etchells World Championships back to Cowes in 2016.

Etchells racing, 2013. Credit: Rob Goddard.

Organised by Cowes Business Association with the Cowes Etchells Fleet, the meeting focused firstly on the introduction of a new International Etchells Invitational Cup this summer, with Cowes Fleet Captain David Franks expressing his hope that it will prove be a showcase event for Cowes.

Conversation then turned to the type of all inclusive offer that Cowes needs to produce (a single 'price per boat' cost for events), in order to compete with other yachting centres and attract sailing events such as the Etchells Worlds, which is currently destined to be held in Weymouth in 2016. It was agreed by several members of the audience that Cowes Harbour Commission's proposed 'Destination Cowes' partnership venture could provide the perfect model for this kind of enterprise.

Whilst Red Funnel, Cowes Yacht Haven, and UKSA have joined CHC Commissioners in confirming their financial backing for Destination Cowes, and in principal support has been received from East Cowes Town Council, in spite of the personal backing of Cowes Mayor Cllr Geoff Banks, the initiative is still awaiting an indication of support from Cowes Town Council itself.

In addition, CHC is awaiting confirmation as to whether the yacht clubs of Cowes will be on board with the Destination Cowes project. The Commissioners remain hopeful of achieving a unified approach, which is so important for initiatives such as these to be successful.

Anyone interested in supporting the formation of a Destination Cowes partnership, is encouraged to contact Capt. Stuart McIntosh at the Harbour Office by sending an email to chc@cowes.co.uk.

Could the Etchells World Championships return to Cowes? Read our article on the COWES.co.uk website.