Cowes Isle of Wight

Neckender

Full Member
Posts
2,847
Likes
4,305
We loaded our new trailer up and left home on Tuesday for a 2 week holiday in Cowes Isle of Wight, staying at Waverley camp site overlooking the Solent.
A few pictures.

IMG_0770.jpeg
IMG_0771.jpeg
IMG_0772.jpeg
IMG_0773.jpeg
IMG_0774.jpeg
IMG_0775.jpeg
IMG_0776.jpeg



Sorry don't know why the pictures came out that way.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Went there back in June 2006 using a deal with the Caravan Club ( as it was then ) and it cost £105 which included the 1.5m length supplement for the Red Funnel ferry and 5 nights on the Orchards Holiday Park campsite. Just done a trial booking and today it would cost £200.

Had a great time and Carisbrooke Castle was very interesting however even back then parking a 7.5m motorhome was really restrictive :(

Have a good holiday :cool:
 
Yes many years ago (around 2011 I think) we did a week there over Christmas on the same deal. The price for a week included the ferry and was incredibly cheap. Osborne house nearby is worth a look if you are into Royal stuff I guess.
 
Re :- Osborne House .............................................................

i had a word with security and they let us park in the overflow car park which they closed after we went in and was the only vehicle in there.

They said chose your place so i found a great level spot right next to the footpath, hekis went on the vents, fridge on gas and we spent the day there.

Went back to the motorhome for dinner so as we didn't have to pay the exhorbitant prices in the cafe there and had tea there before we left, security let us out.
 
I really like the IOW and have been for a week the last couple of years renting a house in Ventnor as we went on the bike. If you can't do hills it's a no go.
Back then wifey wasn't keen on going down or coming back up Zig Zag Road to and from the large car park off the Esplanade in the motorhome :eek:

Now i've initiated her on proper roads she's more than happy doing the Pyrenean or Rhone Alps cols :cool:
 
'What's brown and comes out of Cowes, steaming?' - The Isle of Wight Ferry ... :ROFLMAO:

Started work in Bitterne, Southampton in late December 1986, and my [sadistic] Boss arranged a 2 weeks induction programme starting in mid-January 1987 at Cowes which required taking the 0730 [IIRC] Red Funnel Hydrofoil from Southampton. That was bad enough, but, when we returned to the Terminal for the evening Hydrofoil from Cowes, the vessel was in darkness; Skipper explained that the Hydrofoil had lost power to the cabin and navigation lights, but still had engine power; our choice was to either wait for an extra slot the final sailing of the evening, or, we could just go for it, and rely upon the Coastguard to warn other vessels that we we would be bouncing up Southampton Water in darkness, so to watch out for us ... We chose the latter; quite exciting, if a little disorientating :ROFLMAO:

During my 2 weeks, I met more Brummies and Black Country ex-pats than I encountered when working in the Black Country ... 'Aynuk & Ayli Go Large' Visit ...

Steve
 
Fun fact

I actually swam to the Isle of Wight the first time I went there. I was taking part in the Cowes week racing in the Sigma 38 class in 1995. bobbing about 100 metres off shore waiting for the start I suddenly realised I had run out of fags. So armed with a Tupperware box with some cash in it I dived overboard (Milk tray advert style of course), swam to shore and bought some fags.

There is more to the story but people are probably sick of me mentioning ending up on Catherine Zeta Jones's boat on the way back :D
 
Back then wifey wasn't keen on going down or coming back up Zig Zag Road to and from the large car park off the Esplanade in the motorhome :eek:

Now i've initiated her on proper roads she's more than happy doing the Pyrenean or Rhone Alps cols :cool:
Last year that part of the island had loads of closed roads and was a bit of a mare to get around.
 
Fun fact

I actually swam to the Isle of Wight the first time I went there. I was taking part in the Cowes week racing in the Sigma 38 class in 1995. bobbing about 100 metres off shore waiting for the start I suddenly realised I had run out of fags. So armed with a Tupperware box with some cash in it I dived overboard (Milk tray advert style of course), swam to shore and bought some fags.

There is more to the story but people are probably sick of me mentioning ending up on Catherine Zeta Jones's boat on the way back :D

Was there in '88 (and several other years).

Didn't swim ashore though! :oops: 😄

We came 4th in our class on this occasion. Not a bad result as the race had one of the biggest number of yachts in attendance that year.
Tiddly little 30 foot H boat with a very experienced captain. Happy days... 👌🌞😉

Cowes 1988.jpeg


Cowes 1988-2.jpg
 
Was there in '88 (and several other years).

Didn't swim ashore though! :oops: 😄

We came 4th in our class on this occasion. Not a bad result as the race had one of the biggest number of yachts in attendance that year.
Tiddly little 30 foot H boat with a very experienced captain. Happy days... 👌🌞😉

View attachment 206929

View attachment 206930

Brilliant.

I haven't been sailing for years. I think the last time would be St Croix lake in Provence and a couple of others in 2017/18. Hobie Cats. I used to love them as they are so fast. I could have gone last summer but I chickened out mainly because I was concerned about my dodgy knees.
 
Fun fact

I actually swam to the Isle of Wight the first time I went there. I was taking part in the Cowes week racing in the Sigma 38 class in 1995. bobbing about 100 metres off shore waiting for the start I suddenly realised I had run out of fags. So armed with a Tupperware box with some cash in it I dived overboard (Milk tray advert style of course), swam to shore and bought some fags.

There is more to the story but people are probably sick of me mentioning ending up on Catherine Zeta Jones's boat on the way back :D
Which Sigma 38?
 
Back
Top