The Isle of Wight is an island off the south coast of England. It is around 35 kilometers long, up to 20 kilometers wide and has around 140,000 inhabitants. The capital is Newport. The Isle of
Wight is separated from mainland Britain by the Solent, an arm of the English Channel. Until 6000 BC By 400 BC it was part of the mainland and the Solent was a river. Geologically speaking, the island belongs to the southern English chalk formation. The landscape feature is the chalk hills that stretch across the entire island in the center and drop steeply into the sea at the western end of the Isle of Wight. The small port town of Cowes, located on the north coast of the island and at the mouth of the Medina River, is the third largest city on the island with around 14,000 inhabitants. Cowes is the ferry port for all connections to mainland England. Cowes is all about sailing. The place is best known for the Cowes Week sailing regatta, which has taken place every August since 1826. It was initiated by the venerable Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS). In addition, the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) has been organizing the Admiral’s Cup with the Fastnet Race every two years since 1957. Shipbuilding and sailmaking are the largest industries in Cowes. In East Cowes, an independent town with around 6,000 inhabitants on the opposite bank of the River Medina, Queen Victoria owned the summer residence Osborne House. The Isle of Wight can be explored on designated hiking trails. The coastal paths offer fantastic views of chalk cliffs and cliffs.