RALLY INFORMATION
Shepards Wharf Marina is a Cowes 
Harbour Commission family-friendly facility with capacity for 130 visiting boats. It offers a full range of services and amenities suitable for events and rallies, catering for the cruising sailor and powerboater.
High Water is at 1103 BST on Friday 8 August and is building towards Spring tides, so it is probably best to target berthing soon after HW to avoid any current challenges. Shepards Wharf marina will provide berthing instructions on Ch 80 - you will be told if we are in the North or South visitors basin and where to berth. NOTE: You may be expected to raft next to another vessel..
The pontoons and wide water access channels make life very straightforward for manoeuvring your vessel within the marina.
All pontoon berths are serviced with 240v power and fresh water points, access to a holding tank pump-out facility and waste & recycling facilities. Boaters are encouraged to use the free pump-out at Shepards Marina. The pump out berth is located on the south pontoon at Shepards. Call the marina in advance on VHF Ch80 and Berthing Master will be glad to help.
Facilities at Shepards Marina include high-quality shower and toilet facilities at no extra charge plus onsite businesses including a restaurant.
Payment:
We will submit your details to Shepard's who will send your berthing invoice direct to your email address. Berthing must be paid 48 hours in advance.
Harbour Contact Information: Calling Channel 80, Phone: 01983293952
Website: https://www.cowesharbourcommission.co.uk/index
Arrival time: from mid-day onwards
Navigation:
Cowes has a busy entrance with ferries, fast catamarans and visiting boats. Beware of the busy harbour. It is suggested to enter using small craft channel (good for arrivals from the Eastern Solent – Portsmouth etc), see Map of Cowes & Cowes Eastern Channel.
Friday 8th August 2025 will be the last day of the famous Cowes Week Regatta. Skippers are advised to keep extra special look out for distracted and highly competitive racers when approaching and entering the harbour.
Social Programme:
Friday 8th August - Pontoon Party adjacent to, or on board AEOLUS (berth TBA via WhatsApp) - at 6pm. BYO drinks - nibbles will be provided. Dinner will be at the nearby Duke of York pub and restaurant at 19:00 (sample menu to follow). The end of regatta Cowes Fireworks display is scheduled to start at 21:30, with the Shepards Wharf marina or nearby Cowes Yacht Haven as good vantage points for the display which is launched from the Waverley Park Holiday Centre at East Cowes.
Saturday 9th August - Subject to weather, we plan to lead a gentle circular walk to explore the West Cowes sea front to Egypt Point with a coffee / snack break en route. The return will be via the Zig Zag foot path to Northwood Park and the High Street back to the marina.
The Rally dinner is booked at The Island Sailing Club with choices to be pre-ordered from the menu which will be sent to all registrants. We should muster at ISC for Pre dinner drinks at 19:00 with Dinner scheduled for 7.30pm – The Island Sailing Club, 70 High Street, Cowes - PO31 7RE - 12 minutes walk from Shepards Wharf Marina. We are required to pre-order. Please reply to Jan & Paul with menu choices no later than Friday 25th July. Payment is on the night at The Island Sailing Club.
Sunday 10th August - All vessels must vacate their berths by mid-day.
Harbour Contact Information:
VHF Ch 80
Phone 01983293952
Website https://www.cowesharbourcommission.co.uk
Arrival time: from mid-day onwards
Useful links:
Sheperd's Marina Plan
Cowes Eastern Channel
Things to do in Cowes
N.A.B. The guide to ‘Good Rally Etiquette’
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Noise
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Arrival
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Berthing
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No unnecessary noise
between 2330 – 0700hrs
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Do NOT arrive before the stated “earliest arrival time”
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Expect to Raft, Berthing
Masters have the final say
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See www.psyc.uk.com/PSYC-Rally-Etiquette for full etiquette details