After receiving tenders from shipyards around the world, Red Funnel has placed an order for a 40m high-speed catamaran with Shemara Refit LLP for delivery in summer 2016. Costing £6m, Red Jet 6 will be the first vessel of her kind to be built in the UK for 15 years.

Kevin George, Red Funnel's CEO commented: "From the outset, Shemara Refit shared our vision to bring fast ferry construction back to the UK and particularly to the Isle of Wight where the specialist aluminium fabrication skills and yard facilities still exist. The Red Jet 6 contract will bring significant inward investment to underpin the Island's marine manufacturing sector and help to further grow the Isle of Wight economy.

"Red Jet 6 will serve the Isle of Wight for many years and we believe that it is important for as many young Islanders to be involved as possible. We will be inviting local schools to participate in mini projects and will be seeking to develop our existing support with the Royal Yacht Squadron Isle of Wight Foundation to ensure apprenticeship opportunities are open to young Islanders. In the competitive world of shipbuilding, it is fantastic news that Red Jet 6 will be built for the Isle of Wight, on the Isle of Wight, by the Isle of Wight."

Capt. McIntosh delivered a short presentation of the Annual Report and highlighted the following areas:

* CHC is well on the way to delivering the strategic objectives as set out in the 2010-2015 Strategic Framework Document.

* Key achievements for 2014 to 2015 included completion of phase 1 of the new Cowes Breakwater construction, major repair projects at Kingston Wharf and also for the Trinity Landing pontoons, and investment at Shepards Wharf Marina with a new crane and refurbished events centre.

* CHC invested almost £4.7 million into stakeholder dividend projects during 2014, with a significant proportion funded from returns from CHC's marine service operations which are reinvested back into the port.

The second half of the presentation focused on the major harbour projects currently in progress, namely the Cowes Breakwater Project, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) East Cowes development, the Solent Gateways project, and CHC's strategic policy review and plans for 2015-2020.

A lively debate followed the Harbour Master's presentation, with questions posed regarding the new Cowes Breakwater, tidal flows and sedimentation, race start lines and safety management in the harbour. CHC will issue a full update in June regarding safety and navigational information for this year's breakwater construction programme, along with the latest information on tidal flows and sedimentation monitoring.

Questions from the audience also covered encouraging a wider representation of the public on the Board of Commissioners, especially by way of age and gender, water quality and pump out facilities, issues surrounding the potential loss of swinging moorings in the harbour, waterfront employment sites, launch ramp facilities, and the Destination Cowes initiative, all of which are being fully considered by CHC as the Commission moves into the final stages of developing the new Cowes Harbour Strategic Policy Document for 2015-2020.

Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes. Photo: Olek Creations.

On Friday, 5th June starting at 1400 the Duke of Edinburgh, as Admiral of the Royal Yacht Squadron, will be conducting a Review of the yachts belonging to members of the RYS who are commemorating their bicentenary. The Duke will be joined by other members of the British Royal Family and overseas Royal guests. In excess of 180 private sailing and motor boats will be moored in the Solent at the mouth of the Medina River in Cowes, from 1200 on the 5th June.

Prior to and during the RYS Fleet Review, in the interests of navigational safety and for security reasons, Cowes Harbour Commission will introduce and enforce a number of Exclusion Zones, as well as a temporary speed limit of 6 knots in the Outer Harbour, under CHC's Powers of General Directions (Cowes Harbour Revision Order 2012, Section 12, para 7b).

At approximately 1400 the Review flotilla, consisting of two P2000 Naval Patrol vessels, will depart the Royal Yacht Squadron Haven and proceed south along the Inner Fairway and make a turn at No. 6 buoy before proceeding north. At No. 2A buoy the flotilla will leave the fairway and proceed east, passing south of the new Cowes Breakwater, and enter the Small Craft Channel before reviewing the small craft fleet moored in the area of small craft moorings to the north and east of the new breakwater. The flotilla will then proceed in an anti-clockwise direction reviewing the larger vessels at anchor in Cowes Roads before reviewing the vessels moored on M Row to the west of the Outer Fairway off Prince's Green.

Local Notice to Mariners No 15(T) of 2015 has been issued outlining the area and all restrictions.

At present, in accordance with the Commission's policy, CHC is tendering for the engagement of a new publishing and marketing partner for the annual Cowes Port Handbook.

Companies with relevant experience within the marine industry are invited to tender and the successful company will be expected to produce the next edition of the Cowes Port Handbook in time for Easter 2016. Management and delivery of the affiliated cowes.co.uk website is an option within the tender.

Submissions of interest to be received by Friday, 19th June.

Members were able to see the exciting developments at Shepards Wharf including the new Events Centre that is nearing completion and the new RTYC workshop/container. After a briefing during breakfast at Amabi, the excellent restaurant in the marina, Ruairidh walked members through the finer points of sail set-up and trimming to maximise boat speed.

The rest of the day was spent sailing a windward/leeward training course with Ruaridh and Josh Downer, the new RTYC bosun at Shepards, swapping around the boats to give everyone the benefit of their wisdom. Conditions were close to ideal with a breeze varying between 12 and 16 knots and blue skies.

The unanimous view of the members is that the Shepards base provides an ideal 'race base' for RTYC in Cowes and that the boats are a fantastic asset that members can enjoy for both competitive inter-club racing and also against other J/70s in the Solent.

However, the Chain Ferry is located at the narrowest point of the River Medina and impacts on the navigable depth and therefore the size and draught of ships that can use the river south of the 'floating bridge'. The Chain Ferry also has significant safety and navigation impacts which require careful management and consideration during the design process for the new 'floating bridge'. As a result, Harbour Master Capt. Stuart McIntosh has been invited by the Isle of Wight Council to sit on the steering board for the procurement of the new Chain Ferry for the harbour.

As reported in the Isle of Wight County Press last week, a public consultancy is due to take place with residents and businesses from the Isle of Wight being encouraged to have their say on the multi-million pound Solent Gateways plans to create a new look for East Cowes. 'East Cowes Regeneration,' part of the Solent Gateways development project, is holding a public consultation event today (Thursday, 28th May) and local people are invited to come along. The event will be held at East Cowes Town Hall from 1000-1900.