cowes yacht haven

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You are here > Home > Things To Do > Cowes Yacht Haven Ltd

Cowes Yacht Haven Ltd

Tel: +44 (0)1983 299975

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Cowes Yacht Haven is a world-class marina based in the heart of Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Its town centre location allows for easy access to a high street full of pubs, restaurants and shops within seconds.   The Yacht Haven offers 260 fully-serviced berths, free wireless broadband, on-site engineers, electricians and boat repairers, should anything go wrong. The boatyard has a 30-ton hoist and a 15-ton mobile crane to make easy work of lifting and launching any of the boats in our 3000 sq/m dry sail space. Our friendly team will be on-hand to make your stay special from start to finish – from welcoming you at the pontoons, to helping you explore the Island.                                                                                            Often regarded as the sailing capital of the world, Cowes plays host to the annual Cowes Week and many other international regattas. Cowes Yacht Haven becomes the hub of these regattas, treating visitors to entertainment, bars and more.    Cowes Yacht Haven is your gateway to the Solent and the Isle of Wight – the perfect destination for any time of year. Known for its amazing beaches and beautiful scenery, this unique Island offers fun for all the family, with festivals and events every month of the year.    With a wealth of berthing space, excellent facilities and a large capacity events centre, Cowes Yacht Haven is the ideal base for any regatta. We have years of experience in holding world-class regattas and on-water events, and our highly experienced events team will work with you to tailor the perfect events package.

Prices for the many Cowes Yacht Haven services are available on request.       

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Road Directions

From East Cowes ferry, second exit at roundabout onto Well Road, turn right onto York Avenue and straight onto ferry road to the floating bridge to West Cowes.

From Fishbourne ferry, B3339 (Fishbourne lane), A3054 to Newport, A3020 to West Cowes.

From Yarmouth ferry, A3054 to Newport, A3020 to West Cowes.

Public Transport Directions

For bus information please visit the Southern Vectis website - www.islandbuses.info/  

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Cowes Yacht Haven Ltd , Cowes

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Cowes Yacht Haven

Cowes Yacht Haven is a world-class marina based in the heart of Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Its town centre location allows for easy access to a high street full of pubs, restaurants and shops within seconds.

The Yacht Haven offers 260 fully-serviced berths, free wireless broadband, on-site engineers, electricians and boat repairers, should anything go wrong. The boatyard has a 50-ton hoist, 25-ton boat mover and a 15-ton mobile crane to make easy work of lifting and launching any of the boats in our 3000 sq/m dry sail space. Our friendly team will be on-hand to make your stay special from start to finish – from welcoming you at the pontoons, to helping you explore the Island.

Often regarded as the sailing capital of the world, Cowes plays host to the annual Cowes Week and many other international regattas. Cowes Yacht Haven becomes the hub of these regattas, treating visitors to entertainment, bars and more.

Cowes Yacht Haven is your gateway to the Solent and the Isle of Wight – the perfect destination for any time of year. Known for its amazing beaches and beautiful scenery, this unique Island offers fun for all the family, with festivals and events every month of the year.

With a wealth of berthing space, excellent facilities and a large capacity events centre, Cowes Yacht Haven is the ideal base for any regatta. We have years of experience in holding world-class regattas and on-water events, and our highly experienced events team will work with you to tailor the perfect events package.

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Address: Cowes Yacht Haven Ltd, Vectis Yard, High Street, Cowes Isle of Wight, PO31 7BD

Time: Summer: Sunday-Tuesday 0600hrs-2200hrs / Wednesday-Saturday: 0600hrs-0130hrs

Phone: Tel: +44 (0) 1983 299975 Fax: +44 (0) 1983 200332

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Cowes Yacht Haven

The perfect location for your business and leisure activities.

Centrally located, visitors have instant access to Cowes town centre, the Parade, with its range of Yacht Clubs, including the historic Royal Yacht Squadron, and beautiful Northwood Park, with its tennis courts, and pleasant walks.

Home to regattas such as Cowes Week, The Little Britain Challenge Cup, Commodore's Cup and the Swan Regatta, Cowes Yacht Haven remains one of the most popular sailing destinations in the Solent and along the South Coast.

What is it?

It's a yacht marina with lots of facilities. Not so much of a tourist destination but somewhere for visiting sailors to moor up and use as a gateway into the Island.

Where is it?

It's in Cowes on the northern tip of the Island.

Telephone: +44 (0)1983 299975

For your Sat Nav: Cowes Yacht Haven, Vectis Yard, High Street, Cowes PO31 7BD

Is it free?

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Cowes Yacht Haven

Specifications

Berthing facilities.

• Max draught 4 m
• Max length 48 m
• Electricity
• Fresh Water

Superyacht Marinas

Cowes yacht haven.

Vectis Yard, High Street Cowes PO31 7BD United Kingdom

Contact Information

• Telephone : +44 1983 299975
• Email : [email protected]

Emergency Numbers

Photo credit: marina website

Latitude & Longitude:

50.7614072 -1.2981502

Berth Sizes

• Max Draft :

Berths Available

• Berths (Under 24m) : Total Berths: 250
• Berths (24-30m) :
• Berths (Over 30m) :

View Marina Plan »

Water Electricity Fuel Dock & Truck Delivery WiFi Showers Laundry Facilities Shipyard/Hauling Chandlery

Airport : 55km includes a Ferry/boat to Bournemouth Airport Airfield : - Helipad : -

General Information & Marina Services

Cowes Yacht Haven represents the heart of the sailing world in Cowes. Whether you are looking to berth your boat or entertain corporate clients in a unique setting, Cowes Yacht Haven has it all.Centrally located, visitors have instant access to Cowes town centre, the Parade, with its range of Yacht Clubs, including the historic Royal Yacht Squadron, and beautiful Northwood Park, with its tennis courts, and pleasant walks.

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Cowes Yacht Haven

Cowes is the most famous keelboat destination in the uk, if not the world. so, in the summer months, it bristles with carbon-fibre speedsters a-yelling and a-hollering. but it also offers cruising sailors one of the south’s best-sheltered marinas..

Cowes allows exceedingly easy access to a whole array of wonderful south-coast cruising. Not to mention fine sightseeing on the island itself – from the jagged Needles in the west to the splendours of Osborne House, golden beaches and tranquil waterside eating, drinking and walking. The Yacht Haven boasts a very efficient staff who endeavour to make space for every visitor, no matter the time of year, or how busy it may be. Rather uniquely in marina terms, though, early booking requires a deposit and it is best to book in advance, but the Haven offers a full refund of this deposit, provided you cancel before midday of your booking.

Gull’s Eye guide – Sailing Today: Cowes Yacht Haven from Classic Yacht TV on Vimeo .

Cowes entrance / The Medina

There is plenty of room in the Medina close to the western side, but beware that the Red Jet, fast cat races along at 20 knots, so consider holding station outside the river if it is approaching

The set-up here could not be more visitor friendly. Early booking requires a deposit and it is best to book in advance, but the Haven offers a full refund of this deposit, provided you cancel before midday of your booking

Regatta central

The odd thing about Cowes is, for all the revelry taking place during the summer months on the High St, walk two roads away and there is barely a soul around

Cruising the Island

There are fantastic cruising grounds on offer throughout the Solent and round the Island itself (see our cruising guide to the Isle of Wight in July 2014's Sailing Today) including the natural surroundings of West Wight, where Alum Bay and the Needles are two iconic spots

During the regatta season a great spot to watch the racing action is from the green to the east of Cowes, where racing yachts skim close to the sure, making the most of the tidal relief by the shore

Stepping ashore

Cowes offers a range of restaurants, pubs and eateries that belies its size. During regattas, the High Street is full of sailors having spilled from the pubs enthusiastically chatting about some recent racing success

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hammer and sickle

I was invited to sail on board Fazisi for the first leg of the race from England to Uruguay and arrived in Southampton on the eve of the start to see the Soviet crew still bolting down bits of deck hardware. A few days earlier they installed a new keel and things were in a bit of a shambles. The following morning we left the dock; Skip Novak and myself the two veterans, along with 14 Soviets with little sailing experience and even less grasp on the english language. The London bookmakers had given us 100:1 odds we wouldn’t make the start line let alone the finish line, but we proved them wrong by crossing the start in second place.

Fazisi was unlike any of the other boats in our class. Where Steinlager, the eventual winner, piled massive amounts of sail area onto a huge, heavy boat, Fazisi was narrow, easily driven with a low freeboard, low wetted surface and minimal sail area. The two boats side by side could not have been any more different, but despite the low budget, inexperienced crew and a barely tested boat Fazisi performed extraordinarily well. We finished 6th in Uruguay beating out 9 other well funded experienced teams.

Fast forward two-plus decades and Vlad is back with an equally revolutionary boat; SpeedDream. This time there is no Soviet flag, but the boat is sure to turn heads and draw a crowd next week when it makes it’s European debut during Cowes Week. “When we arrived all those years ago with Fazisi we were thrilled and excited by the response of the western world to our ‘behind the iron curtain’ project,” said Vlad. “The support was overwhelming and we really made a huge impact with the boat. Yandex-SpeedDream is nowhere near as big as Fazisi, but the boat is so unique, innovative, and sexy looking that I think she will make as big an impact, capturing just as many hearts as Fazisi did.”

Yandex-SpeedDream will be based on the Isle of Wight at Cowes Yacht Haven and will be demo-sailing during Cowes Week. The skipper is world-renowned sailor Cam Lewis who was the only American on board Commodore Explorer when they became the first boat in history to circumnavigate the world in less than 80 days. SpeedDream’s co-skipper in Cowes is none other than “Kuli” Kulinichenko, one of the amateur Soviet sailors on board Fazisi for the Whitbread all those years ago. He has since gone on to be recognized as one of the best and most versatile offshore sailors in the world. His English, by the way, is now very good. To return to the Solent along with Vlad and Kuli and an exciting new design is indeed a thrill. It’s going to be fun to rip it up on the Solent knowing that we may all be a little bit older but that does not stop us from innovating and bringing new ideas to sailing. – Brian Hancock.

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Skip Novak: Real life legend

Louay Habib caught up with Skip Novak during the Legends Regatta to discover tales of races past, races present, and life after the Volvo

In 1981, Raiders of the Lost Ark became one of the top-grossing films ever made with a box office success of over $384 million. Four years earlier, a real-life Indiana Jones sailed to England from the United States, looking for adventure. And ever since, Skip Novak has lived a fascinating life, racing in four round the world races and pursuing his passion for exploration in the remotest corners of the earth. Skip travelled over 7,000 miles to get to Alicante for the Volvo Legends Regatta, including hitching a ride on a ship from South Georgia Island to Argentina and then arriving by air just in time to make the reunion. Did you specifically come to Europe in 1977 to take part in the Whitbread Round the World Race?

‘In 1976, we didn’t really know about the race in the States. I was amazed by the forthcoming 1977 Whitbread Round the World Race and over a few beers in Cowes with the skipper, Hans Savimaki, I landed the navigator’s berth on “King’s Legend”. That is how it was done in those days. There was no psychological testing and physical examination, I just got signed  up and we went out to gather the crew in the same fashion. It was very casual and haphazard.’

In 1977, the navigator’s role was very different to the world of hi-tech systems and tactical awareness today.

‘It was all done by celestial navigation. That was the state of the art. We had some basic hyperbole navigation systems inshore, like Decca, but once you went offshore it was all celestial, something that I had grown up with. I did my first transatlantic in 1972 and I feel very privileged to have caught the end of the era of navigating by the sun, the moon and the stars.

But 90 per cent of navigating in those days was finding out where in the hell you were. The tactics about where to go were obviously important but the boats were so slow that the weather passed over you, one front after  another and you had no idea what was coming. Today these Volvo 70s manipulate the weather – they know what is coming and are fast enough to ride a front.

‘I can remember navigating into Cape Horn having had no sight for seven days and getting a bit panicky about where we were. I eventually got a sight and found that we were 60 miles to the north-east of our dead reckoning, and coming into landfall on the Chilean coast. In those days, the excitement of rounding The Horn was amazing, even more so because you had actually found it.’

‘King’s Legend’ had a great race coming a very close second to ‘Flyer’ in the 1977 Whitbread Round the World Race. Novak admits that a blunder in the Southern Ocean cost them the win, however, he was well and truly hooked on the race and returned in 1981 with ‘Alaska Eagle’. But things did not go well, right from the start.

‘The boat was a dog. Three days into the race, we knew we couldn’t win and we realised we would be operating under that psychological pressure for months to come. The whole ambience on board was not good. I  had come into the project late but the preparation had not gone well and I ended up skippering the boat after the first leg. The owner left the boat totally disappointed with the boat’s performance. It was terrible.’

Fame and fortune

The following edition, Skip Novak skippered ‘Drum’ with the world famous rock star, Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran, on board. ‘Drum’ came third in the Maxis, behind ‘UBS’ and ‘Lion’, both revolutionary designs from Bruce Farr.

‘The Farr boats were much faster than us in a straight line but we had a great crew, the likes of Magnus Olsson, Roger Nilson and Phil Wade. I believe at most times we sailed better than them but we had a slower boat. Simon was only interested in racing one of the largest boats and therefore we had to buy an existing Maxi, because it was too late to build one. We found “Colt Cars”, an unfinished Maxi, which was just a shell and a structure and got to work.

‘Sure, we had girls chasing the boat, newspapers the whole deal. It was great to have such attention but also with Simon in the limelight, a lot of heat was taken off me, leaving me free to run the mechanics of the boat. I had enough girls chasing me to satisfy myself, I am not that greedy! But you know, it was almost like Mbeki and Mandela  in South Africa. Mandela was the figurehead but Mbeki did all the work. ‘“Drum” and also the all-girl crew on “Maiden” launched the 1985 race into the wider press. When we lost the keel on “Drum” in the 1985 Fastnet, it was in the mainstream press. Rick Tomlinson was on board photographing sailing in a way that  it had never been shot before. It was news beyond yachting press and all of these factors combined to ramp up sponsorship for subsequent races.’

In 1989, Skip Novak was the skipper of the first ever Russian entry in the round the world race. The crew of ‘Fazisi’ was made up of five different Soviet nationalities and the team was formed in the year that major changes were afoot in the Soviet Union. Before the start of the race the world witnessed the beginning of the fall of Communism, and by the end of it most of the communist regimes had been overthrown.

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‘In those days just before Perestroika, the source of the funds for “Fazisi” was pretty murky. I never knew where the money came from. All of a sudden it would arrive, sometimes in a brown paper bag. The boat was built in Georgia and initially I was invited out to train the crew. But the boat was still just a shell with nothing inside except the engine – no mast, rudder or keel. It was just six months before the start of the race and I told them that to have any chance of finishing the boat they would need to get it to England. But at the time, I felt it was a lost cause.

‘The next thing I heard was that they were going to fly the boat in using an Antonov 124 the largest cargo airplane in the world and I  headed back out to Georgia. The trip was extraordinary: a barge to the Ukraine then a truck to a local airport. The plane took the 80ft boat and a 20ft container loaded with Russian kit and food. We even had tins of cabbage and sausages hanging up in there! It was all the stuff that the guys would live off in Hamble. On top of that, the 18 crew and myself got in. But there were no proper seats, everyone was sitting around a table, not even strapped in.

‘We flew to Moscow because the crew still needed their passports.

There was a lot of bureaucracy trying to screw things up and we waited in stifling heat until the passports arrived and then we flew into London. We had sponsorship from Pepsi that summer, but before the race started they got too nervous about supporting what was still a “Soviet” project and stopped the sponsorship. But a week before the start, money arrived from an unknown source and we managed to pay off our debts, literally in cash.

‘We struggled for funds all the way around the world and a lot of shit happened. It was a very stressful project but a fascinating cultural experience for me, looking back it was quite tough but a fantastic encounter.’

High latitude exploration

Whilst Skip is best known for his sailing  exploits he has been a keen mountaineer for many years and wishing to combine this passion with sailing he built the expedition yacht ‘Pelagic’ in 1987 and has spent every season since in Antarctic waters. Skip continued to race and became fascinated with multihull racing. In 2001, he was co-skipper with Loick Peyron for  The Race on the 112ft catamaran, ‘Innovation Explorer’, completing a lap of the planet in less than 65 days. But over the past 23 years, Skip has led high latitude sailing expeditions.

‘From very early on, sailing in the Southern Ocean, passing by places and getting glimpses of Cape Horn, I wondered what the land was like and promised myself that I would go there someday. But you need time to visit these places. In the late 80s it was the pioneering days of sailing small boats in high latitudes. It is an amazing environment and I love it every time I do it and there are still places I haven’t seen. It is such a complex area and we have taken a lot of people down  there over the last 23 years – not just tourists but as logistical support for divers, climbers, kayak expeditions and film makers.

‘Nowadays Antarctic tourism has exploded. Last year there were 87 boats on the Antarctic Peninsula; in 1988 there were two. Of course, by publicising our operation I helped  create the problem, or situation, however you judge it. But I like to think that people who come on our boat have really experienced a true expedition.

‘We don’t force the issue but the ethos on board is full participation to your ability and that means sailing the boat, standing watches, cooking and cleaning. A big part of what we do is uncertain: we don’t know if we can follow the planned itinerary. Everybody has to go in with their eyes open, it is all part of the experience, you don’t really know what the next chapter will be.’

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01983 299975

[email protected], contact cowes yacht haven.

Cowes Yacht Haven, Vectis Yard, High Street, Cowes Isle of Wight, PO31 7BD

Phone: +44 (0)1983 299975 VHF: Channel 80 – Call Sign ‘Cowes Yacht Haven’ E:  [email protected]  – All general enquiries E:  [email protected]  – Marina bookings and enquiries E:  [email protected]  – Boatyard work and enquiries E:  [email protected]  – Event Centre bookings and enquiries E:  [email protected]  – Accounts and Finance enquiries

Pontoon View Bar & Food table bookings    Phone 01983 242800

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