Shepards Wharf is located off the south coast of England within The Solent and in the centre of the Isle of Wight’s principal port of Cowes. It is a medium sized marina with the vast majority of its berths made available to cater for the thousands of visitors that come to the town which is the centre of UK sailing.

The marina now offers complete protection after the installation of a new breakwater that protects the inner harbour from northerly swell. However berths on the outer pontoon are subject to the wash from the constant comings and goings of the busy fairway. Safe access may be had in all reasonable conditions, day or night and at all stages of the tide.

Being a couple of minutes’ walk from the town centre the marina gets overrun during events when advance booking is essential.

Keyfacts for Shepards Wharf

Position and approaches

Haven position

50° 45.582' N, 001° 17.564' W

This is at the southern end of the outer river side pontoon, by the entrance.

What are the key points of the approach?

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How to get in?

Shepards Wharf is located in the middle of the Isle of Wight’s principal port of Cowes. The town stands on both sides of the entrance to the River Medina and Cowes is located on the west bank facing the much smaller town of East Cowes on the east bank. Shepards Wharf is the second and smaller of the two marinas fronting the town of Cowes. As the town experiences 30,000 boat visitors a year 90 of its 130 possible berths are made available to visitors.

Shepards Wharf Marina is situated within the inner fairway close south of Cowes Yacht Haven and just over a ½ mile within the No. 1 and No. 2 buoys. At night the marina exhibits lights on columns, both 2 F.G (vert), at either end of its outer and long northern pontoon and on the southern end of its shorter southern pontoon. Positioned on the starboard side of the river the marina comprises a single basin with depths of 2.0 metres available throughout, within as well as off the riverside face of the southern pontoon. Depths of 3.0 metres are available off the riverside face of the long northern pontoon. At busy times vessels should expect to raft up. This is especially the case on the river facing pontoons. These are the least desirable berths being subject to wash from the very busy Inner Fairway. At night there is also the continuous berthing / exiting, loading / unloading of the Ro-Ro Ferry immediately opposite.


It is advisable to contact the marina in advance and make arrangements regarding an intended stay P: +44 1983 297821 VHF: Ch. 80 call sign [Shepards Wharf]. During large scale sailing events, such as Cowes Week, Round the Island Race and various other regattas, visitors should expect tariffs to increase as the marina tends to become overrun with demand. During these times it is essential to book well in advance to secure a berth.


The approaches to Cowes and run the up the River Medina fairway are detailed in the Folly Inn entry.


Berth as directed by the Cowes Yacht Haven marina office.

Why visit here?

The town of Cowes is fully introduced in the Cowes Harbour entry. Its two marinas of Shepards Wharf and Cowes Yacht Haven, situated in the heart of the sailing location that receives 30,000 boat visitors a years, are amongst the most visited berths in the UK.


Shepards Wharf is the second marina within the fairway and the smaller of the town’s two marinas. This marina is a more family friendly destination for cruisers rather than the large scale corporate event focused Cowes Yacht Haven. Its short stay visitor berths are more competitively priced, even though it is located only about two minutes’ walk from the town centre and its pleasant walkway. The marina also offers discounts of up to 10% to small organised rallies of six or more vessels and makes space available on the pier for barbecues and picnics. Shepards Wharf yard participates in on-shore events during Cowes Week hosting live entertainments within its premises along with Cowes Yacht Haven. These venues are open to the general public as well as visiting yachtsmen and the racing community.


From a sailing perspective Shepards Wharf, as well as Cowes Yacht Haven, provide walk ashore access to the centre of Cowes and are ideal gateways to the island. They also provide very convenient ‘drop in’ locations should a problem emerge on a vessel that needs to be quickly attended to, or indeed for excellent provisioning.

What facilities are available?

Trinity Landing and Shepards Wharf Marina pontoons are fully serviced with water and power and the marina provides its visitors with showers, toilet and free wireless broadband internet access. Whitegates River Pontoons do not provide any services or walk ashore capability.

Petrol and diesel are available from Lallow's Boatyard, between Cowes Yacht Haven and Shepards Wharf or more conveniently at Cowes Harbour Fuels, +44 1983 200716, south of the chain ferry. The Town Quay has scrubbing berths next to the Harbour Office and there is a slipway between Thetis Wharf and Shepards Wharf Marina. Cowes as a whole offers almost any conceivable marine services or facility a vessel could require. There is little in the marine world that can either be repaired or rebuild from first principals in Cowes. Having a population in excess of 10,000 it is also an excellent location for provisioning.

In transport terms Cowes is a gateway town for the Isle of Wight providing berths to two ferry services. Southern Vectis' route 1 is the main bus service in Cowes. Single decker buses branded Red 1 serve the Red Jet terminal, whilst route 1 double deckers serve the M&S Foodhall at Carvel Lane where the old Cowes railway station was situated. Both run to Newport to take travellers on to other island destinations. The Cowes Chain Ferry, locally known as the Floating Bridge connects the two towns of Cowes and East Cowes throughout the day. The old and discontinued rail link to and from the island's capital of Newport is now maintained as a cycle path.

Any security concerns?

The area has site wide CCTV coverage and there has never been an issue known to have occurred to a vessel moored at Shepards Wharf.

With thanks to:

Michael Harpur S/Y Whistler. Photography Ray Stanton, David Dixon, Michael Harpur and an especial thank you to Ronald Saunders.