How to sail a small boat into Cowes Harbour and up the River Medina

Sailing directions and pilotage tips for leisure boats sailing through Cowes Harbour, on the South coast of the UK.
Starting at the harbour approaches in Cowes Roads, we enter through the main entrance and then transit through the harbour, past the Yacht Haven, Shepards Wharf, the Car ferry termonal, The floating bridge, East Cowes Marina. Then we continue up the River Medina, past the folly moorings and finally finishing upstream as far as Island Harbour
00:00 Entering the harbour
02:07 Red Jet terminal & town quay
02:43 Main Cowes Marinas
03:10 Car ferry terminal
03:27 chain ferry
04:28 East Cowes marina
05:14 Folly Moorings and Inn
06:00 Island Harbour
Link to River Medina Raw & Uncut video.
• RAW and uncut - Sailin...

[@Ezskiel2517]

Simple, straight to the point and very informative. Very good.

[@confidencesailing]

Thanks for the kind comments and thanks for watching

[@ralphjohnson2213]

Another great video guys

[@confidencesailing]

Thanks for watching

[@YorkshireBeaver]

Just been down to the solent for 3 days all the way from Yorkshire to sample life at sea. Compared to the inland waterways its a whole new world and loved it. There is a little bit of snobbery from odd person with a £500k boat and a Lexis but 99% great. Stayed at island harbour and royal victoria yacht club and fishborne and was the only boat that stayed floating at low water.😊. Thanx again for inspiration. !!

[@confidencesailing]

No snobs at Island harbour... But I know what you mean. So glad these videos inspired.

[@sarascott2217]

Great video i love the Isle of Wight was there til I was 12

[@confidencesailing]

Thanks for watching

[@completeoutdoors1]

Recently found your channel and I'm really enjoying it - thanks for creating the content , its excellent.👍

[@confidencesailing]

You are welcome. Thanks for watching

[@WidleyWesident]

Aargh! You missed the best bit. Although we’ve stayed at the Folly loads of times you’ll find Newport is well worth visiting for a day or two. Assuming that you have bilge keels, try to be the boat that is rafted one off the pontoons on the east side of Newport as when it dries your boat might lean over if you are berthed onto the pontoon. (Lifting keeled boats will have no problems, of course.

[@confidencesailing]

I have been up to Newport a few times, but not on Confidence.

[@szymondworski]

Thank you for posting! The Island Harbour marina is on our list but never got to get there. See you soon!

[@confidencesailing]

The pub in Island Harbour is called 'the breeze' and its very good value and the food is excellent - so worth a visit. There's also some really nice walks along the river bank in both directions. However the most important reason to visit Island harbour marina is that it is the home to the Spice Girls original tour bus... The one painted in the union flag from the Spice girls movie... That's worth the visitors charge on its own!!!!!

[@YorkshireBeaver]

@@confidencesailing BTW. The breeze restaurant and shop are now permanently closed along with some half finished in limbo houses possibly due to leases etc from receivers after it went bust. Everything else is ok and Richardson boat repairs & chandlers it great with a well stocked up shop

[@confidencesailing]

It's such a shame to hear that... But thanks for the update.

[@SCARTHYBOY692]

Is east cowes Marina tidal most of the time steam wise or only on the strong flood? Hopefully trying to plan to gone here for lunch when I move my boat from Portsmouth to hamble! Just want to try get my times and arrivals spot on. Great videos

[@confidencesailing]

The flood tide at East Cowes can reach 2.5 knots for the last couple of hours before HW. But the ebb tide is even stronger and can reach 4 knots in the last couple of hours on springs. The marina will always allocate your visitors berth so you are motoring against the tide as you berth, and also the tide is a lot weaker the closer to the bank you are. The visitors berths on the inside have barely any tide running at all... But they have much less depth available. Always check the tide with the marina. Ask for help with lines if you think you'll need it and if it's really banging nip up to the folly and let the worst of it pass through. All that scaremongering done though. If you time your arrival and departure to avoid the strong stuff, you will find a gentle tide running against you and you can ferry glide into the berth like a pro!! Oh and thanks for watching 👍

[@SCARTHYBOY692]

@@confidencesailing you’re a gentleman thank you very Much. Safe sailing! If you end up north Wales/Menai strait end and need advice give us a shout 😂😂

[@AnyFile]

Do you keep right entering and exiting the mouth of the river?

[@confidencesailing]

In theory yes. But because there is often so much traffic coming against you - and not all are sticking to the right - mostly for sensible reasons - you really have to remain flexible and pick your way through each decision as it comes up.