News - 22/10/26

Cowes Harbour Commission was delighted to welcome another impressive tall ship to Cowes, with the Dutch sailing vessel Wylde Swan arriving at Shepards Marina and adding to the town’s rich maritime atmosphere.

With her distinctive profile, towering masts and traditional rigging, Wylde Swan is a striking sight on the River Medina. Her arrival provided another opportunity to celebrate Cowes’ enduring connection with sailing and its reputation as a welcoming destination for visiting vessels from across the world.

A remarkable vessel with a sailing heritage

Built in 1920, Wylde Swan began life as a motor vessel transporting fresh herring from fishing grounds to markets ashore. Following a major rebuild in 2010, she was transformed into a sailing vessel and is now recognised as the world’s largest two-masted topsail schooner.

Measuring 62 metres in length, with an impressive 43-metre mast height, she carries seven sails with a combined sail area of approximately 1,130 square metres.

Today, the vessel is operated by Swan Expeditions and offers sailing voyages, leadership development experiences and educational programmes for young people. Guests and trainees can experience life at sea first-hand, learning traditional seamanship, teamwork and the skills involved in sailing a tall ship.

A warm welcome at Shepards Marina

The arrival was a team effort, with Cowes Harbour Commission’s marine staff working together to bring the vessel safely alongside Shepards Pontoon. Valerie assisted with positioning the stern, HM1 was on the bow, and the ashore team was ready to take the lines.

Visits from vessels such as Wylde Swan help bring Cowes’ maritime heritage to life, creating memorable sights along the waterfront and reinforcing the town’s longstanding connection with sailing.

Cowes Harbour Commission is pleased to welcome visiting vessels of all kinds to Cowes Harbour and looks forward to seeing more distinctive ships arrive on the River Medina.