Henry Wrigley on Harbours
The moorings, control of movement of them, especially in Cowes, something which is vital. Vital to our High Street, vital to the Isle of Wight economic infrastructure, and that is yacht racing brings Corporate work. They bring down, you know, all sorts of people and all the rest of it. These people, we are blessed with wonderful Yacht Clubs. Each Yacht Club is different in Cowes. Each Yacht Club has something special to offer, but collectively they offer the finest race sailing I think in the United Kingdom.
That would be disputed by Poole, Falmouth and everybody else, but we’ve got to stand up for ourselves. But, the most important thing is it brings with it the baggage of the Corporate entity and that brings in vast income which helps in the Town and indeed on the Isle of Wight. Oh, the other thing which we started in my time, I was trying to encourage the smaller cruising liners to come to Cowes. This is very good news for the Island.
A little reluctant but got one or two and started to build up. Then in my time, we did a Harbour Development Plan because I could see there was so much needed to be done in the Harbour to catch up.
Simple one. Yachts from Marinas on the Mainland come to visit the Isle of Wight and expect the similar sort of facilities here and quite rightly so. So, we needed to get a move on.
I’m glad to say we did and I’m very glad to say my successor was absolutely brilliant because although we had the Development Plans made, he and the Harbour Commissioners, my bosses were the Harbour Commissioners, they made it work and I think all credit to them all for what they have achieved.
They’ve made a new channel for small boats, they were able to build a breakwater, but the most important thing is, they achieved with the help of other organisations, to put a good landing stage off the Parade and this enables the cruise liners to anchor here in Cowes Roads and I was seven years on cruise passenger ships myself so I know what is required, and a lot of lovely places in the world you go to, you have to use your launches to get your passengers ashore.
Lots of big places of course you just put the ship alongside, and it’s perfect here on that landing stage and I’m pleased to say, I think I read an article in the County Press this last week saying that they’ve got several coming here this year.
Terrific, ‘cos that’s good for the Island.
