Sailing on the Isle of Wight

If you ask anyone with a keen interest in sailing, you can bet they have heard of the Solent and the Isle of Wight. Separating the Island from the mainland, the Solent stretches 20 miles long and is one of the busiest stretches of water in the world, serving as a major shipping lane, as well as a hub for water sports

Many people choose to head over using the excellent ferry connections but equally, many people like to make their own way over, sailing in by wind or the power of their motoryacht. If you have the nautical know-how, the Isle of Wight is one of the best places to sail to, offering a warm welcome all year round.

Cowes

The most famous nautical town, Cowes is the mecca for all things sailing and is home to the Royal Yacht Squadron, founded in 1815. Known the world over for it’s racing heritage, the very first America’s Cup was held here in 1851 and is still the biggest race of the international nautical calendar to this day. The annual Round the Island Race attracts over 1600 boats in June, from amateurs to famous faces and Cowes Week itself is one of the UK’s most successful sporting events and has been held here in early August since 1826