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 If there is one thing that is synonymous with the
Island it is sailing! Cowes, on the northern tip
of the Island, is the global home of sailing and
the location for the World's premier regatta; Cowes
Week. The Island is also home to numerous World and
Olympic champions, our local hero Ellen MacArthur,
some of the world's leading sailing teams and Green
Island's very own 2005 Business of the Year, the United
Kingdom Sailing Academy.
Cowes
Week, with over 1000 yachts and 8000 competitors,
is a sight not to be missed. It's been running
since 1826 so there's no question of its pedigree!
It has a huge amount to offer both sailors and
visitors alike, with an exciting racing schedule
afloat and a packed entertainment itinerary on
shore throughout the week. A visit to Cowes during
the regatta is a must, with its great selection
of specialist shops, excellent line-up of live
bands and superb choice of cuisine, all helping
to create a festival atmosphere - plus one of the
best sailing spectacles in the entire world. One
of the highlights of the Regatta each year is undoubtedly
the fireworks display, taking place on the final
Friday of the week.
For those looking to expand their range of water-based
skills, then the UKSA's headquarters in Cowes provides
the ultimate base. UKSA are the world leaders offering
a huge range of watersport and marine training for
everyone, at every level, from beginner courses to
commercial training to MCA Deck Officer and beyond.
Whatever your age or experience, they have a training
programme that can challenge you and improve your
skills and ability. UKSA scooped the 2005 Green Island
Business of the Year for their efforts and achievements
in the field of environmental management, for further
info see UKSA's full
pages.
 Further
down the River Medina you will find the Medina
Valley Centre, similarly to UKSA they offer
a range of training courses although are much more
focused on dingy sailing. They are a certified Royal
Yachting Association training school and offer courses
for all ages and abilities from beginner to instructor.
The sailing fraternity seem to have become a beacon
for environmental management on the Island with MVC
picking up the Innovation Award at the 2005 Green
Island Awards for their use of solar PV, solar thermal,
wind turbines, LGP mini buses to name a few, for
full details see their respective Green Island pages
(here).
For those after something a little more laid back
then Yarmouth offers an alternative to the hustle
and bustle of Cowes, a quiet harbour west of Cowes
with excellent facilities and a great selection of
bars, pubs and eateries. Yarmouth is host to the Old
Gaffers Festival (3rd-5th June) where the picturesque
harbour will be filled with life and colour with
more than 100 visiting traditional sailing, steam
and motor vessels, including the cream of the Old
Gaffers fleet. On shore there is a huge range of
attractions keeping the thousands of visitors entertained
from morning till night all weekend.
Other locations to check out while aboard are Bembridge
Harbour on the east coast, Ventnor Harbour on the
southern most point and for the best locations with
a Mediterranean feel check out Scratchelles Bay,
next door to the needles, with its crystal clear
water and shelving beach it's a great location for
a secluded BBQ - only access is
by sea! Finally Totland Bay is one of the most beautiful
locations to moor during the summer; the Waterfront
Pub is up on the beach and sunsets over the bay spectacularly
every evening!
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Medina
Valley Centre
Medina Valley Centre is a centrally located residential activity centre.
You can try sailing and dinghy courses, curriculum based fieldwork, take
part in marine surveys, look at renewable energy systems or use the centre... |
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UKSA
The United Kingdom Sailing Academy offers watersports and marine training
for everyone, at every level, from beginner courses to professional training.
They specialise in introducing all ages to the great outdoors... |
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Yarmouth
Harbour
Yarmouth Harbour has over 100 visitor
moorings and around 20 thousand visitors
to the site annually. The Harbour Commission
has an active role in supporting the Estuaries
Project and backing local wildlife and community
initiatives... |
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Island Sailing Links:
www.uksa.org
www.medinavalleycentre.org.uk
www.cowes.co.uk
www.ecowes.co.uk
www.cowesweek.co.uk
www.cowesyachthaven.com
www.ccyc.org.uk
www.cowesyachting.co.uk
www.yarmouth-harbour.co.uk
www.yarmoutholdgaffersfestival.co.uk
www.sesi.co.uk/ysc/
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