Henry Wrigley on Harbours
As a result of that Pilotage Act, we worked much more closely with Southampton and Portsmouth than we ever did before. Good point, because that helped with the movement of shipping and also with yachting events in the Solent.
You’ve got the movement of a couple of really big tankers. I know they make a lovely fuss about the lovely ‘Queen Liners’ and all this. Actually, the biggest ships in here are the massive tankers.
However, not as glamourous as the other ones, so a lot of cooperation with those Agencies for a start. Comes down to control of the movement of shipping with respect to all events which take place not just in Cowes Harbour but off Cowes Harbour in the Solent, Sea View, you name it, off Yarmouth and all this.
Pilotage ceased to exit in the western Solent, that was a big change, and apparently this was due, not to the Pilots or anything, they were quite happy. The Shingles Bank which you may be familiar with tends to move around a bit. That doesn’t matter as long as these things are monitored.
However, it was decided, I think insurance of shipping might have had something to do with it, so all the larger ships that come round the Island and come in from the east into the Solent waters.
Fine, so Yarmouth, in a way, apart from the White Link Ferry backwards and forwards which is jolly important to link all the Ferries … I forgot to mention the Ferries which of course are vitally important to the Island, and also things got easier in the western Solent for the smaller sailor, jolly good.
But my gosh, things have to be planned in the Solent because there are some mighty movements there which can only manoeuvre as specified within certain waters and so that is all important. That had to be organised and tied in.
Yachting, the Royal Yachting Association, Royal Ocean Racing Club, yacht clubs, one has to confer with all of these people on events, so everybody knows what’s happening ‘cos there’s an awful lot that goes on in the background.
There’s an organisation, actually it was started by Prince Phillip and I think just before I came here, about 1965, ’66, all the Cowes combined clubs. Actually, it does include two or three of the major clubs on the Mainland as well. Wonderful.
So, they work together, all together, everyone knows what’s happening and it works. It works to this day, there’s a … called a Director, used to be a Secretary or whatever and that is a permanent round the year organisation based in Cowes, wonderful.
Police, very much one had to keep in touch.
While I was here, they established the Marine Police Branch, marvellous, and they were so helpful, especially on events, and very sadly I’m sorry to say anywhere, crime does exist and we did find that some of the deterrents to crime were so old fashioned that we had to … another job for the Harbour Master, rewrite and prepare new Harbour Bye Laws to give you the ability to control things a bit better and that sort of thing.
Oh yes, well that’s another story, a subject in itself. But already you’re seeing now the tie up of different Authorities and Agents in running a simple Harbour.
I remember the first job I ever did when I came here, I realised that I had a lot to learn so I literally put my best hat and coat on and I visited every Boatyard, every marine industry and introduced myself, and as a result, we could then all work together and we all knew each other.