Island Harbour Yacht Club (IHYC)
Club information
- Country: United Kingdom
- Town/City: Island Harbour
Island Harbour Yacht Club (IHYC), situated at Island Harbour Marina on the Isle of Wight, is a vibrant community hub for sailors and boating enthusiasts. Founded in 2013, the club fosters inclusivity and camaraderie among residents, berth holders, and visitors through social events, boat jumbles, and charity fundraisers. Located along the picturesque River Medina, about one mile upstream from Cowes, it offers a serene yet strategic base for exploring the Solent. Its welcoming atmosphere and diverse membership—open to sailing boat, motorboat owners, or those without vessels—make it ideal for visiting sailors.
IHYC is managed by a dedicated committee, including Commodore Roger Bowley and Heather Bowley, ensuring a rich program of activities. The club supports a dinghy compound and Ryde Sea Cadets, providing training and facilities for young mariners. For visitors, the marina offers over 200 berths, including short-term options, a 50-ton hoist, slip crane, and hard standing for maintenance. Richardsons Yacht Services provides a chandlery and workshop, while amenities like luxury showers, laundry, free Wi-Fi, and car parking enhance comfort. A new cycle track to Newport and riverside walks add recreational appeal, with easy access via Island bus routes.
Social facilities include a stunning riverside setting, partnerships with local yacht brokers (Boatshed IOW, Waypoint, Cowes Yacht Agency), and discounts from Richardson’s Yacht Services, Bob Holt’s sailing courses, M2M fenders, and Boatshed Isle of Wight. Safety and skill development are prioritised through RYA-aligned training. Visitors can join with an application form signed by two members, gaining access to this supportive community.
A new gathering place at Island Harbour Marina
Island Harbour Marina has gained a welcome new heartbeat with the opening of The Cockle, a restaurant and bar that quietly launched in February 2026 and has already begun to establish itself as a genuine community hub for locals and visiting sailors alike.
The Cockle is run by Sam Shaw, well known for his work at the much-loved The Fighting Cocks in Arreton, and brings the same unpretentious, people-first approach to food and hospitality down to the water’s edge. This is not a glossy marina bar chasing trends, but a place designed to feel welcoming from the moment you step ashore.
At its heart, The Cockle is about good, honest food, cooked properly and served generously. The menu focuses on home-style dishes made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients wherever possible, with thoughtful vegan and vegetarian options sitting naturally alongside classic comfort food. It’s the kind of place where sailors can come off a long passage, warm up, and feel properly looked after — without fuss or formality.
The space itself has been carefully refurbished to suit both everyday dining and larger gatherings. Inside, a spacious function room makes The Cockle well suited for club dinners, celebrations, and private events, while outside, the heated veranda and open-air seating overlook the marina, creating a relaxed setting that works just as well for a casual lunch as it does for an evening drink watching the boats come and go.
For Island Harbour Marina, the arrival of The Cockle is more than just a new restaurant — it’s a meaningful upgrade to the marina experience. For cruising sailors, it adds another compelling reason to stop, stay, and linger. For the local community, it offers a friendly, familiar place to meet, eat, and reconnect.
In a world where marina developments can sometimes feel anonymous, The Cockle stands out for doing the opposite: creating a place with warmth, character, and a strong sense of belonging — exactly what you hope to find when you step ashore after a day on the water.
