Is pilotage compulsory at Cowes?

Under the Cowes Harbour Commission's 2026 directions, pilotage is compulsory at 48 metres and over in the inner harbour, at 61 metres and over in the outer harbour, and for any vessel over 15 metres beam.

Can a superyacht enter Cowes at any state of tide?

The harbour is open at all states of tide for draughts to about 3 metres, with the Eastern Channel dredged to 2.25 metres below chart datum. Cowes Harbour Radio monitors VHF 69.

Where do large yachts berth at Cowes?

Large yachts lie alongside Trinity Landing on the fairway, at Cowes Yacht Haven to 48 metres, or at anchor in Cowes Roads, and land at the Town Quay.

When is Cowes Week in 2027?

Cowes Week runs from 31 July to 6 August 2027. The Admiral's Cup runs from 13 to 28 July, and the Rolex Fastnet Race starts off Cowes on 24 July.

Cowes

Cowes is a harbour on the River Medina, Isle of Wight, and the base for Cowes Week, the Round the Island Race and the start of the Fastnet.

The Medina entrance and Cowes Roads. Marker at Trinity Landing. Chart by savvy navvy. Not to be used for navigation.

Brief

Cowes lies on the Medina at the northern tip of the island, opposite Southampton Water. High water is prolonged, as at Southampton, and the ebb and flood run strongly across the entrance at springs. Large yachts lie alongside Trinity Landing on the fairway, at Cowes Yacht Haven to 48m, or to anchor in Cowes Roads, and land at the Town Quay.

Approach

The harbour is open at all states of tide for draughts to about 3m, the Eastern Channel dredged to 2.25m below chart datum. Cowes Harbour Radio monitors VHF 69, though not around the clock, and the duty berthing master answers on the same channel as HM1.

The chain ferry crosses the Medina between Cowes and East Cowes. The mainland is reached by Red Jet to Southampton.

Pilotage

Under the Cowes Harbour Commission's 2026 directions, pilotage is compulsory at 48m and over in the inner harbour, at 61m and over in the outer harbour, and for any vessel over 15m beam.

Tides

Reference: Cowes
MHWS: 4.2m
MHWN: 3.5m
MLWN: 1.8m
MLWS: 0.8m

Tide	Height or time
Reference	Cowes
MHWS	4.2m
MHWN	3.5m
MLWN	1.8m
MLWS	0.8m

High water is prolonged, as at Southampton. The ebb and flood run strongly across the entrance at springs. Heights are from published tide tables and are checked against the Admiralty predictions for the day.

Cowes

High water, Thu 24 Sept, 22:15 4.0m
Low water, Fri 25 Sept, 04:18 1.2m
High water, Fri 25 Sept, 10:42 4.2m
Low water, Fri 25 Sept, 16:37 1.2m
High water, Fri 25 Sept, 22:48 4.2m
Low water, Sat 26 Sept, 04:53 0.9m

Admiralty predictions, UK time, refreshed hourly. Planning information, not for navigation.

Berths

Trinity Landing: OperatorCowes Harbour Commission; Maximum LOATall ships and superyachts; DraughtBy tide gauge; NotesFairway side. Fresh water and three phase power. Booked with the duty berthing master, VHF 69, call sign HM1
Cowes Yacht Haven: OperatorCowes Yacht Haven; Maximum LOA48m; Draught4m; Notes260 berths, rafting. Free water. 50 tonne hoist, 22 tonne crane with a 28m reach. VHF 80
Shepards Marina: OperatorCowes Harbour Commission; Maximum LOA40m; Draught3m; NotesDeep water berths. 16 and 32 amp, water, free pump-out. The harbour's visitor page states 25m and 3m; the deep water figure is confirmed with the harbour office
East Cowes Marina: OperatorPremier Marinas; Maximum LOA30m; Draught3m; NotesEast bank of the Medina. 16 amp, free water
Cowes Roads: OperatorCowes Harbour Commission; Maximum LOAAnchorage; NotesTrinity House mooring buoy also available

Berth	Operator	Maximum LOA	Draught	Notes
Trinity Landing	Cowes Harbour Commission	Tall ships and superyachts	By tide gauge	Fairway side. Fresh water and three phase power. Booked with the duty berthing master, VHF 69, call sign HM1
Cowes Yacht Haven	Cowes Yacht Haven	48m	4m	260 berths, rafting. Free water. 50 tonne hoist, 22 tonne crane with a 28m reach. VHF 80
Shepards Marina	Cowes Harbour Commission	40m	3m	Deep water berths. 16 and 32 amp, water, free pump-out. The harbour's visitor page states 25m and 3m; the deep water figure is confirmed with the harbour office
East Cowes Marina	Premier Marinas	30m	3m	East bank of the Medina. 16 amp, free water
Cowes Roads	Cowes Harbour Commission	Anchorage		Trinity House mooring buoy also available

Operators' published figures, checked 23 September 2026, confirmed before quoting. Cowes Yacht Haven's 48m and 4m are from directory listings, not the marina's own page.

Alongside

The Cowes Harbour fuel berth lies 200m south of the chain ferry on the west side, in 3.9m below chart datum, with sulphur-free diesel, petrol, gas and lubricants. It is open 09:00 to 17:00 from July to September and 10:00 to 16:00 otherwise, and out of hours for 1,000 litres or more by request, on VHF 69.

Pump-out is free at Shepards Marina, and refuse is taken through the harbour.

Ashore

Southampton Airport, with Signature Aviation handling from 06:30 to 22:00, is reached by Red Jet and road. Solent Airport Daedalus at Lee-on-the-Solent is open 09:00 to 18:00 and holds a Border Force Certificate of Agreement for EU and Channel Islands arrivals. Bembridge has an 827m runway, prior permission only and no fuel.

Cowes Yacht Haven lifts 50 tonnes. For larger work, Trafalgar Shipyard in Portsmouth Harbour lifts to 60m and 877 tonnes, Endeavour Quay at Gosport to 40m and 180 tonnes, and Berthon at Lymington works ashore to 45m.

Regattas, 2027

Cowes Classics Week: DateLate May to June, to be confirmed; NotesClassic yachts, Cowes
RORC Cowes to Dinard to St Malo: Date2 July; NotesStart off Cowes
Round the Island Race: Date10 July; NotesIsland Sailing Club
Admiral's Cup: Date13 to 28 July; NotesBased at Cowes Yacht Haven; Solent inshore races, a short offshore, then the Fastnet
British Classic Week: DateJuly, to be confirmed; NotesBritish Classic Yacht Club, Cowes
Rolex Fastnet Race, start: Date24 July; NotesFrom Cowes to Cherbourg
Cowes Week: Date31 July to 6 August; NotesIsland berths are booked well ahead

Event	Date	Notes
Cowes Classics Week	Late May to June, to be confirmed	Classic yachts, Cowes
RORC Cowes to Dinard to St Malo	2 July	Start off Cowes
Round the Island Race	10 July	Island Sailing Club
Admiral's Cup	13 to 28 July	Based at Cowes Yacht Haven; Solent inshore races, a short offshore, then the Fastnet
British Classic Week	July, to be confirmed	British Classic Yacht Club, Cowes
Rolex Fastnet Race, start	24 July	From Cowes to Cherbourg
Cowes Week	31 July to 6 August	Island berths are booked well ahead

Organisers' published dates, checked 22 September 2026. Dates marked to be confirmed follow the organiser's usual timing.

Questions

Is pilotage compulsory at Cowes?: Under the Cowes Harbour Commission's 2026 directions, pilotage is compulsory at 48 metres and over in the inner harbour, at 61 metres and over in the outer harbour, and for any vessel over 15 metres beam.
Can a superyacht enter Cowes at any state of tide?: The harbour is open at all states of tide for draughts to about 3 metres, with the Eastern Channel dredged to 2.25 metres below chart datum. Cowes Harbour Radio monitors VHF 69.
Where do large yachts berth at Cowes?: Large yachts lie alongside Trinity Landing on the fairway, at Cowes Yacht Haven to 48 metres, or at anchor in Cowes Roads, and land at the Town Quay.
When is Cowes Week in 2027?: Cowes Week runs from 31 July to 6 August 2027. The Admiral's Cup runs from 13 to 28 July, and the Rolex Fastnet Race starts off Cowes on 24 July.

Charges are revised each year. This page is a guide, not a quotation.

Sources

Cowes Harbour Commission navigation information and Pilotage Directions, January 2026; Cowes Harbour Services; Cowes Yacht Haven; Premier Marinas; Berthon; Signature Aviation; Solent Airport; Cowes Week; Island Sailing Club; RORC. Checked 22 and 23 September 2026.