solenthandbook.com 78 COWES & RIVER MEDINA COWES & RIVER MEDINA Newport Harbour is a small leisure harbour situated at the navigable head of the River Medina, some 5 miles south from the port of Cowes. Newport Harbour is a 5-minute walk to the centre of Newport. There are a broad range of facilities and activities, including swimming pool, leisure centre, community theatre, cinema, hotel, supermarkets and pubs and restaurants available nearby. Furthermore, due to its central location it makes an ideal destination to explore the Island by the cycle and footpaths. The harbour is also within walking distance of readily available buses that service the whole Island. The visitor pontoons are walk ashore, additionally there is a quay wall for fin keel vessels. At both of these locations, there is power and water available. Throughout the year the quay is used by many events these include food markets, car shows, festivals and various marine events. To reach Newport Harbour from Cowes, a beacon at the Folly displays a rapid flashing green light. This is located 1.5 cables south of the Folly Inn Point at the end of the row of yacht moorings. Moving south, two pairs of fixed green lights are located on the west bank, at the northern and southern ends of the Cement Mills site. At Dodnor, a further pair of fixed green lights mark the end of a small jetty extending from the west bank. Shallow points upstream are marked by red buoys on the port side and green buoys on the starboard. On the east bank, the approach to Newport Harbour is identified by large white beacons with pairs of horizontal red lights showing at night. When lined up, these beacons bear a course of 192º T and show the approach channel to the harbour. HW Spring tides give an average 2.5m depth in the approach channel and at the visitors’ pontoons, but this may increase depending on weather conditions. The Neap high tide depth is 1.8m. The harbour dries out at LW, around 5 hours after HW, revealing a firm level bottom. Newport Harbour has basic showers and toilets, water and electricity, waste facilities and slipways. Contact: Newport Harbour Office, Newport Quay, Newport, PO30 2ED. Tel: 01983 823885. Email: [email protected] iwight.com Visit Isle of Wight