Sailing and Water Sports

Sports

The Isle of Wight is one of the world's great sailing destinations. Cowes, on the north coast at the mouth of the River Medina, is the spiritual home of British sailing. The Royal Yacht Squadron, founded in 1815, is based at Cowes Castle. Cowes Week, held in late July and early August, is the oldest and largest annual sailing regatta in the world, attracting over 8,000 competitors.

Beyond Cowes Week, the island hosts dozens of sailing events throughout the year. The Round the Island Race in June sees over 1,500 yachts circumnavigate the island in a single day, making it one of the largest yacht races in the world. Sailing clubs are found around the coast, including at Yarmouth, Bembridge, Seaview, Ryde and Sandown.

Water sports beyond sailing are increasingly popular. Stand-up paddleboarding has grown rapidly, with flat water sessions available in sheltered harbours and coastal SUP tours along the cliffs. Kayaking and coasteering are offered by several operators. Surfing is possible at Compton Bay on the south-west coast, which gets the best swells. Windsurfing and kitesurfing are popular at several beaches.

Dinghy sailing courses for beginners are offered at UKSA (UK Sailing Academy) in Cowes and at various sailing clubs. Yacht charter and skippered sailing experiences are available from Cowes and other harbours. The island's waters are used for powerboating, jet skiing and waterskiing, though restrictions apply in busy harbour areas.