Cowes Town Waterfront Trust
A charitable organisation to rejuvenate Cowes Waterfront
The Cowes Town Waterfront Trust is a charitable organisation whose prime objective is to rejuvenate and improve Cowes Waterfront and recreational facilities across the Isle of Wight.
Cowes Town Waterfront Trust owns the Cowes Yacht Haven boatyard and marina and invests the income generated back into its future, as well as making charitable donations that align with its Objects. Examples of these donations can be seen below.
Since its formation in 1991 over £3.5 million has been put into the construction of new buildings and improvements to the facilities. Cowes Yacht Haven has evolved into a prime event location, not only hosting Cowes Week visitors, but providing year round facilities for other regattas such as Cowes Classic Week, Powerboat Festival and many corporate team building and training events.
Charitable Objects
The charity’s objects are:
4.1 To promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of Cowes and the Isle of Wight the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interest of social welfare and with the object of improving the life of the said inhabitants and to advance sailing and water sports in the waters around Cowes, and in furtherance of this Object to provide facilities for mooring and storage of boats for the benefit of the public at large.
4.2 To promote the culture and heritage of Cowes and support the maritime heritage of the Isle of Wight;
4.3 To promote the protection and improvement of the environment of Cowes Harbour.
Charitable Donations
Charitable gifts in the financial year ending 31st March 2025
The Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO) – Object 1
ASTO’s mission is to “promote Sail Training in the UK and to support the Sail Training Industry”. The Trust helped ASTO by gifting the CYH Events Centre venue hire fee and discounted berthing for their annual Small Ships Race weekend in Cowes.
British Powerboat Racing Club (BPRC) – Objects 1 & 2
The BPRC organises the annual Cowes-Torquay-Cowes International Powerboat Festival hosted from Cowes Yacht Haven. This event brings a unique business and profile to the town, along with a large number of followers who flock into the town to watch the boats preparing for their racing. Cowes Town Waterfront Trust was pleased to support the cost of berthing for the competitors and the provision of the Events Centre for race briefings and for the prizegiving ceremony.
Classic Boat Museum – Object 2
The Classic Boat Museum is a fully accredited independent maritime museum. Its collection of over 90 boats is complemented by a significant archive of film, photographs, ship plans, models and artefacts. Cowes Town Waterfront Trust was able to support the cost of archivist time to digitise material relating to HMS Cavalier and the RNLI Celebrations leading to the digitisation of material leading to a heritage trail on the east and west banks of the River Medina. In addition the Trust was able to cover the berthing costs in Cowes Yacht Haven of a replica Catboat from 1872 to allow them to take guests sailing. The original Catboat was built in Cowes to race against the new American designs.
Cowes Sailability – Object 1
Cowes Sailability is a registered charity that offers sailing and recreational boating opportunities for adults and children with physical disabilities, learning difficulties and debilitating long term conditions. Cowes Town Waterfront Trust supported the charity by providing five months berthing at Cowes Yacht Haven for the Drascombe Longboat La Lunga.
David Franks Etchells Youth Academy – Object 1
The Trust continued its ongoing support of youth sailing initiatives and engagement within the sailing fraternity through the Etchells Youth Academy to encourage and promote sailing to younger people.
The Trust’s involvement included:
- Provision of a substantial donation in the form of a discount for the storage and launching / recovery of four Etchells keelboats used by youth, support ribs and other boats.
- Free of charge storage space for a 20ft container and the equivalent area for a client supplied marquee for the use of storage, repairs and briefings.
- Provision of additional facilities free of charge including sail drying and folding facilities and meeting rooms when available.
Isle of Wight Ladies Football Team – Object 1
The IOW Ladies Football team is made up of players from all over the island and come from a range of economic backgrounds. 14 of the team are still in full time education. In addition to local matches, the Team attend and represent the IOW at the biennial Island Games which is on the Island of Orkney in July 2025.
The Trust supported travel costs to help the team get to Orkney.
Scaramouche Sailing Trust – Object 1
The Scaramouche Sailing Trust provides opportunities for disadvantaged London inner city children to enhance their life chances through sailing.
The CTWT supports The Scaramouche Sailing Trust by providing drysail facilities for two boats (Riot and Cote) as well as a marina berth for their support rib.
The value of all of the gifts in product and cash for the above activities is over £35k.
Requesting a Charitable Donation
How to request a donation
The Trust has created a donation request form to consider eligible requests in a fair and equitable manner. To request a donation please download this form, complete it and send to the email address on the form.
