Long-term moorings in Cowes

Cowes stands on the west bank of the River Medina where it meets the Solent, on the Isle of Wight. Moorings in Cowes are a mix of marina berths in the town and harbour authority moorings that run up the river as far as the Folly Inn. East Cowes, on the opposite bank, has its own page.

Moorings in Cowes

• Cowes Yacht Haven: 260 fully serviced berths in the town, owned by Cowes Town Waterfront Trust. It takes visiting boats, which may be rafted at peak times, and offers winter berthing.
• Shepards Marina: run by Cowes Harbour Commission, on the west side just before the chain ferry. Walk-ashore annual, winter and visitor berths, with a waiting list for annual berths.
• Cowes Harbour Commission moorings: more than 650 annual licences on pontoons, 276 swinging moorings and 40 pile moorings, from the main harbour to the Folly Inn. Most have a waiting list.
• Main harbour swinging moorings: for boats up to 12m, licensed for 12 months for cruisers and seven months for day classes such as XODs and Dragons.
• Whitegates and Folly Reach river pontoons: mid-stream annual moorings reached only by tender or water taxi, with no electricity or water.
• Across the river: East Cowes Marina has been run by Premier Marinas since it bought boatfolk in September 2025. The commission's 145-berth Cowes Harbour Marina is expected to open in East Cowes in early 2027.

On the water

Cowes Harbour Commission is the harbour authority and runs its annual moorings from Shepards Marina. The harbour can be entered by day or night and at all states of tide by boats drawing up to about 3m, depending on the height of tide.

• Entrance: the main fairway is shared with the ferries. Small craft up to 20m may use the Eastern Channel, which is dredged to 2.25m below chart datum.
• Speed: the limit in the inner harbour is 6 knots, with no wash.
• Chain ferry: the floating bridge to East Cowes crosses the river just above Shepards Marina. It and Cowes Harbour Radio work on VHF channel 69.
• Tides: Cowes has a double high water at springs and a stand of about two hours at neaps. The ebb can reach 4 knots at springs.
• Fuel: the commission's fuel berth is about 200m south of the chain ferry.