THE PROPOSED RYS YACHT HAVEN

Download the PDF here The Royal Yacht Squadron – A new haven... A new voyage of opportunity... The Royal Yacht Squadron has announced plans for a small, yet exciting project that will not only enhance and protect the existing RYS frontage, but include proposals to build a new public landing within the shelter of a diminutive new haven. The RYS proposes to apply for planning consent shortly and, if granted, will fund the haven development, which could be in place by May 2005. A breakwater to protect the Squadron steps will create suffi cient sheltered water to allow the installation of three pontoons capable of accommodating about a dozen 40ft boats. Strictly a short-term berthing facility for Squadron members, permanent or semi-permanent mooring will not be permitted. Accessed from the north east of the former Victoria pier, the new public landing will provide invaluable additional berthing for the masses of yachting visitors to Cowes throughout the year. The development would also be very advantageous to adjacent yacht clubs, in particular the Royal Corinthian and the Royal London. Shelter would be provided for their landings and use of the public landing or breakwater pontoons would undoubtedly be benefi cial. Racing start lines would also be improved by putting the outer posts of their line transits on the outside of the RYS harbour wall. This would create a letter and safer visible transit for competitors and a more clearly defi ned and better inner limit. The haven itself brings huge potential for Cowes to host an international small boat regatta since a fl eet of Dragons, Sonars or similar sized vessels could virtually all be accommodated within the breakwater. This places the development alongside only a handful of other comparable venues around the world and offers scope for Cowes to bid for the organisation of numerous large-scale regattas, for which there is increasing competition from many prestigious contenders. The potential for such a dramatic rise in the number of yachting events held at Cowes brings numerous opportunities for local commerce. Businesses will undoubtedly be keen to exploit the exciting prospects that an increase in nautical tourism would bring to the town and would go a long way to offset the funding for the public landing which would be under the control of the Harbour Commissioners.When plans, designs and photographic montages were presented to a large meeting in July, there was strong support for the project. Planning Officers, Council members, Mayors, representatives from all Cowes yacht clubs, Harbour Commissioners, Yacht Haven managers and many other interested parties recognised the importance of the project not only in terms of benefits to the marina site, but to Cowes as a whole.