It’s heartening to see that Spring appears to have finally arrived, at least on the Isle of Wight, and amazingly there are only 89 days to go to one amazing day – Race Day, Saturday 19th June.
We thought you might appreciate some prompters at this stage in your Countdown to Race Day Calendar, whether you have already entered or are considering entering, we bring you important news about Entry fees and deadlines, our Race website, Berthing news, FREE Water Taxis and Your Forums/Your Stories.
The Race Website http://www.roundtheisland.org.uk
We are really proud of our Race website and the team works hard to keep it populated with fresh material. We try hard to ensure that visitors are well informed and kept interested in the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island race throughout the build up to Race Day. Do please keep checking the site as it is a most useful and practical resource for keeping everyone up to date, whether racing or not. Remember also to let friends and family members know about the website so that they don’t miss out on, for example, the launch of our new mobile phone Tracking System that will allow anyone logging on to follow the fleet as well as specific boats as they circumnavigate the Island on Race Day.
We are delighted and excited to report that excellent progress is being made in the development and fine-tuning of the Tracking System and we will be bringing you further details in our April edition.
Berthing – organise it now!
Berthing in Cowes during the Round the Island Race weekend is always in high demand so we recommend that you make it a priority to get your berthing arrangements organised as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
All of the marinas have allocated visitor spaces for the Race weekend, either through advanced booking or on a first-come, first-served, basis. The marinas generally try to accommodate as many boats as possible by friendly rafting up. Below is everything you need to now to help you on your way:
Marina Berths
East Cowes Marina: +44 0 1983 293983 and VHF Channel 80 – East Cowes Marina offers a pre-bookable two-night package for the Friday and Saturday nights of the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. The cost of this package is £9 per metre for the two nights, including water and electricity (where available). Showers are free to visiting yacht crews, and although some queuing is inevitable with such a popular event, there is plenty of hot water and lots of showers and toilets. They can only accommodate around 120 booked boats, so early booking is essential. Please expect to be rafted, so that as many crews as possible can enjoy a berth in Cowes for the night. Please note that payment is requested at the time of booking. They always have a number of additional berths that become available on the night (charged at £4.50/metre), so it is well worth a call to the Marina Office.
Cowes Yacht Haven: +44 0 1983 299975 and VHF Channel 80 – Cowes Yacht Haven is taking advance bookings for berths for this year’s event, on the day of the race they will try and squeeze in as many vessels as possible once all the pre booked berth holders have returned, please call as you approach Cowes and they will do their best to help you. Cowes Yacht Haven will be working with the other marinas to co-ordinate berth availability in the river so do give them a call as you arrive if you have not pre booked.
Island Harbour Marina: 07929 797780 and VHF Channel 80 – Island Harbour has 160 berths available for the 2010 J.P. Morgan Round the Island Race at £4.50 per metre per night, with 10% discount for group bookings of over 5 boats, they also offer electric at £2.85 a night. With favourable morning and evening tides this year and an eager lock-keeping team waiting to wish you luck in the race and to give you a warm welcome as you arrive home. With their on-site restaurant, chandlery and camping facilities coupled with the excellent water taxi service on the Medina, Island Harbour is the perfect venue for the event. To avoid disappointment please make an early booking. ISC members receive a 10% discount.
Shepards Wharf Marina: +44 0 1983 297821 – First come basis at £3 per metre, approx 130 berths in rafts. Email: shepards.chc@cowes.co.uk
Pontoon and swinging moorings
Cowes Roads Swinging Moorings +44 0 1983 297821 VHF Channel 80 Pre bookings only and for a minimum of 2 nights, at £1.80 per metre. Approx 40 swinging moorings.
Folly Reach 07884 400046 VHF Channel 69 Folly Visitor Pontoon at £1.20 per metre, approx 80 berths in rafts on CHC Pontoon.
Venture Quay +44 0 1983 297821 VHF Channel 80 Pre bookable at £1.80 per metre, approx 35 berths usually allocated to the Sigma fleet and ISC Committee boats. Minimum of 2 nights.
Whitegates (mid-stream pontoon) +44 0 1983 297821 VHF Channel 80 £1.20 per metre, approx 100 berths in rafts, allocated on arrival (not pre bookable).
Anchoring
Visitors can anchor off The Green in Cowes and in the area where temporary moorings are laid during Cowes Week, off The Shrape. An anchorage is also available beyond The Folly Inn.
Water Taxis
J.P. Morgan Asset Management and the Island Sailing Club have teamed up to put on the following free water taxi service for this year’s competitors. Free services will be running between 3pm – midnight on Friday 18th June and between 2pm on Saturday 19th June – 1am on Sunday 20th June. Please note that all other water taxis will charge as normal.
Folly Water Buses – There will be 3 Folly Water Buses running a 20-minute service between The Folly and Cowes Yacht Haven if there is room to berth, otherwise Town Quay.
Jenny Boats – There will be 2 Jenny boats operating a half hourly service between East Cowes Marina, ‘E’ Pontoon, ‘W’ Pontoon and either Cowes Yacht Haven or Town Quay.
ISC Launches – The ISC launches will run a service between the moorings in Cowes Roads and the ISC and also Venture Quays and the ISC.
All the free water taxis will carry a Race flag. The pick-up points will also be denoted by a Race flag. Further information on this service will be available on the website leading up to the race.
Peta Stuart-Hunt can be contacted direct via email at: peta@prworksuk.com
