Sailing on the Isle of Wight

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The Isle of Wight is world-famous for sailing and yachting. It is steeped in history and was one of the originating locations for the sport of Yacht Racing. The Yacht Club was founded in 1815 and now more famously known as The Royal Yacht Squadron. Between the Isle of Wight and the mainland of England lie the waters of the Solent. This area of varied coastline and fierce tidal streams has been the breeding ground for world-beating sailors and is the home for many cruising yachtsmen. The Solent is about 20 miles from end to end, varying in width from about 3 miles to less than half a mile by Hurst Castle.This wonderful playground is sheltered from the swells of the English Channel by the Isle of Wight and it is populated by all sorts of pleasurecraft during the summer months - from sleek ocean racing yachts, to pocket cruisers, from canoes to the world's fastest powerboats. When these are added to the commercial shipping, tankers, containers ships and ferries from Southampton and the might of the British Navy from Portsmouth, it is a truly remarkable spectacle.

Whether you want to potter up the lovely quiet rivers, or thrash around the buoys in racing yachts or just want to sit with an ice cream and watch the action, the Isle of Wight is the place to be.