Cowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is situated on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina, dealing with the smaller town of East Cowes on the east bank. The 2 towns are linked by the Cowes Floating Bridge, a chain ferry. It is one of a couple of remaining chain ferries not replaced by a physical bridge. Leland's 19th century verses described the towns poetically as 'The two great Cowes that in loud thunder roar, This on the eastern, that the western shore'. Cowes has actually been viewed as a home for international private yacht racing since the founding of the Royal Yacht Squadron in 1815. The town gives its name to the world's earliest regular regatta, Cowes Week, which happens each year in the very first week of August. Later in the summer season, powerboat races are held. The population was 9663 in the 2001 census, a figure that doubles through the regatta in early August. More recently, the population at the 2011 Census was 10405. Much of the town's architecture is still profoundly influenced by the style of elaborate building which Prince Albert popularised. Business in both Cowes and East Cowes has actually constantly centred on the construction and design of marine craft and materials related to boat-making, including the early flying boats, and sail-making. Cowes is a gateway town for the Isle of Wight. Tourists to Southampton are served by a high speed catamaran passenger ferryboat from Cowes called the Red Jet. It is the place where the first hovercraft was tried out. For all your home upgrades, be sure to recognize dependable specialists in Cowes to make sure of quality.