On The Water is an admission free event that will be held at Cowes Yacht Haven on Friday, 30th May 2014 between 10am and 4.30pm. A perfect half-term holiday experience that ranges from sailing sessions to high-speed RIB rides plus a BBQ. Although there’s no charge for admission to Cowes Yacht Haven, some of the experiences will make a charge for the training sessions or activities.
It is part of National Watersports Month and is supported by a number of organisations including the British Marine Federation (BMF), Royal Yachting Association and Go Canoeing. It aims to highlight the fantastic opportunities for getting afloat and discovering more about boating, for which the Isle of Wight is justly famous.
This Cowes eventis being organised by the local BMF Isle of Wight branch in conjunction with the UKSA, Bembridge Powerboat Training, Red Funnel and the RNLI. A highlight will be a display of boats built on the Island that will include vessels from South Boats, Seaward, Cheetah Marine and Shearwater. Perhaps the star attraction will be Red Funnel’s Red Jet 3 that was built in Cowes by FBM Marine in 1998. On view will be South Boats brand-new 25m wind farm transfer vessel, a classic Island- built power boat “Prawn Cocktail’ from 1969 and displays of Island-built marine engineering. Many of the boats, including Red Jet 3, will be available for the public to board and some will also be giving tours of the harbour.
Visitors to Cowes Yacht Haven will be able to try out one of the UKSA’s fleet of keelboats with each session lasting a full hour from 10am but spaces will be limited for these sailing experiences. If you like something a little more powerful then get onboard one of the high-speed RIBs, which will be providing trips out into the Solent during the day.
A number of displays will also be on the landward side of the marina including the UKSA’s windsurfing simulator with the chance to try out this exhilarating sport without getting wet. There will also be a display on sea safety from the RNLI and Seasafe and during the afternoon the RNLI will be undertaking a ‘man over-board’ exercise.