THREE new members have joined the Cowes Harbour Commission Board.

Volunteers, Clive Blount and Phil Hagen have recently been appointed to the board for a three year term, with Jason Losty co-opted for 12 months, following a competitive recruitment process earlier in the year.

David Riley, chairman of Cowes Harbour Commission, said: “We are delighted to welcome our new commissioners and to add their considerable expertise to the existing professional skills and experience of the current board.

"It is extremely important Cowes Harbour Commission has all the experience requirements necessary to meet the particular challenges of these unprecedented times as well as the changing demands of the Commission.”

A fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation, Clive Blount joins the commission board after 37 years as an aircrew officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF) before retirement in 2017.

Since retirement, Clive has been instructing RYA courses and MCA Boat Master candidates, having been a powerboat instructor since 2004.

A keen yacht racer and an RYA national race officer, Phil Hagen, had a long career running companies in the global telecom and technology sector, and is the founder and cheif executive of a company specialising in behavioural assessments to the sales profession and contact centre industry.

Serving on oil tankers and ferries, Jason Losty, started his Merchant Navy Career in 1998. He subsequently moved to the oil and gas industry, fulfilling a variety of roles at sea and in shoreside management. He changed career path in 2017 to become a Southampton Pilot, making Cowes his home. Jason grew up in Cork, Ireland and enjoys racing small keelboats and cruising.

Meanwhile, commissioners Andrew Cooper and Nick Elderfield have stood down from the Board after serving two three-year terms and one three-year term respectively.

At a board meeting in April, David Riley and Harbour Master Capt. Stuart McIntosh thanked the retiring commissioners for their valuable contribution to the commision and the harbour’s strategic management and sustainable development.