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Round the Island Race 2015
Cowes Harbour Commission Newsletter
1st July 2016
Annual Public Meeting presentation online
Our Annual Public Meeting was held later than usual this year, following the Outer Harbour Project public presentation in May, but thank you to those who joined us at the RORC Cowes Clubhouse on 29th June, and if you were unable to attend, you can view a PDF of our presentation online.

At the time of writing, the weather forecast for Saturday's J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race is showing a dry start with plenty of sunny spells, a fresh breeze and some showers. CHC would like to wish safe and enjoyable racing to all competitors and do be sure to check the latest Cowes Local Notices to Mariners available on our website.

Best regards,
Captain Stuart McIntosh
Cowes Harbour Master
CHAC 8th July meeting
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Local Notices to Mariners
Cowes Harbour users are advised to regularly check Cowes Local Notices to Mariners (LNTMs).


Links to recent Notices:










No 16 of 2016: Marking of Fishing Gear within Cowes Harbour Limits

No 15 of 2016: Cowes Chain Ferry

No 14 of 2016: VHF Radio Communications within Cowes Harbour

No 13 of 2016: Risk Assessment of Recreational Events

No 12 of 2016: Use of 'Kill Cords' On-Board Powered Craft

No 11 of 2016: Diving at Work Regulations 1997 and Commercial Operations involving 'Swimmers'

No 10 of 2016: Navigation in the Approaches to Cowes: Port of Southampton - Precautionary Area

View all Cowes LNTMs on the CHC website.

The 2016 J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race takes place tomorrow, Saturday, 2nd July, with HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO set to join Race officials on the Squadron platform to commence the starting sequence and fire the cannon for the first start at 0830.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race 2015 - copyright Paul Wyeth

The spectacular Round the Island Race continues to attract an extraordinarily eclectic mix of entries whether it be the boats or their owners (and sometimes both); enthusiastic mariners from all walks of life, and representing all levels of the sport and all age groups.


Entries closed at a very respectable 1,533 and the oldest boat competing in this year's Race is almost certain to be Thalia (Sail #11). Built in 1888, she was one of the last yachts by George Wanhill of Poole who was boatbuilding from the 1850s onwards.


RTI safety and navigation

In order to control the congestion that is likely to arise in the Central Solent during the start period and throughout the day, a number of navigational traffic restrictions will be put in place. Plus, temporary moorings to facilitate the RTI finish line vessels have been laid.


RTI at The Sugar Store

The Sugar Store Events Centre at CHC's Shepards Wharf Marina will be open for the Round the Island Race weekend on Friday, 1st and Saturday, 2nd July. Amabi Restaurant and Eazibar will be serving a selection of food and drinks to visiting sailing teams, friends and family.


RTI event TV

RTI TV coverage of the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race will once again include live streaming of the Race to a worldwide audience. This live coverage will be broadcast on EventTV in Cowes, including at Shepards Wharf in The Sugar Store.


Cowes Harbour Commission's Annual Public Meeting provides interested stakeholders with an update on what CHC has done over the past year, its future plans, and an opportunity to direct questions to the Harbour Master, CHC Chairman and Commissioners.

Annual Public Meeting

At the 2016 Annual Public Meeting on 29th June, Capt. Stuart McIntosh gave a presentation of the Annual Report 2015-16, an update on the Outer Harbour Project and introduced CHC's new Strategic Plan for the next five years and beyond. The presentation, Annual Report and Strategic Plan can all be viewed on the CHC website.

Cowes Classics Week is all about racing traditional yachts on the water and enjoying great social events ashore and there are some exciting newcomers to the Charles Stanley sponsored regatta this year.


Charles Stanley Cowes Classics Week - copyright Tim Jeffereys Photography

The International Tempest Class World Championship will be hosted within the regatta, and around 25 boats from the UK and Europe will compete at Cowes for the first time in class history. A four-strong fleet of vintage Dragons will be entering for the first time and the 8 metres will be joining in after a one-year break. Once again the regular Classics, including Metre boats, Darings, Solent Sunbeams and Swallows will sail varied courses set in the Solent. Flying Fifteens and Bembridge One Designs will be attending the five-day event. In addition, the largest fleet of all, the XODs, has over 50 boats entered. The Squibs from the Royal Victoria YC also race on the Tuesday.

Sally Water Taxi New arrangements are now in place to ensure the provision of a cost-effective 7-day-a-week water taxi service that meets the needs of Cowes Harbour stakeholders during the 2016 sailing season.

Trinity Landing As recently reported in local media and on the CHC website, the passenger ship MV Balmoral was approaching Trinity Landing in Cowes to moor on 11th June when the ship came into contact with and damaged the southernmost pontoon during manoeuvring. Conditions at the time were favourable with very light winds and no tide.

The impact from the MV Balmoral caused considerable damage to one of the five floating Trinity Landing pontoons. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) was informed and an investigation is currently under way. 

Trinity Landing is an important berthing facility in Cowes, particularly during the main sailing season. Therefore, inspections of the damaged pontoon section were promptly carried out by Harbour Master Capt. Stuart McIntosh, with CHC's Marine Services Manager and representatives from ship building company Shemara Refit. The damaged pontoon was removed and towed over to Venture Quays and an early lift-out enabled a full inspection by surveyors and agreement for Shemara Refit to undertake the required repair works. 

CHC would like to thank Shemara Refit for their swift response to this incident and ability to deliver the Trinity Landing repairs in a very short time period by organising additional work shifts. In this way, repairs were prioritised and the deadline met of reinstating the pontoon section in time for the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race on 2nd July, and the Red Jet 6 launch and Royal visit on 4th July.
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