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10:15 Friday 4 Aug 2017 Sue Pelling/LCWDay 7 preview – penultimate day set to deliver good racing conditions

Good racing expected on penultimate day of racing – photo Paul Wyeth/LCW

Following yesterday’s forced lay day due to wind gusting up to 35kts plus, competitors on the penultimate day of Lendy Cowes Week are looking forward to classic Cowes Week conditions – sunshine and a good working.

With some classes, including the RS Elite, Sunbeam, J/80 and Victory concluding their series, and the overall winner of Black Group (big boats) decided today, competition is likely to be intense. 

Weather

With high pressure building over the English Channel today will be another dry one, with a return to fresh west south-westerly breezes over the racing area. Yesterday’s strong winds moderated overnight and to a westerly of 16-17 knots, which is expected to swing to a west-south-westerly with maximum gusts of 22-24 knots. The early morning cloud is expected to start breaking up soon, with unbroken sun expected by midday.

Courses

Black Group Royal Yacht Squadron line and Committee boat starters will both finish on the outer Bramble line. The Black Group RYS line starters will race a windward/leeward course, while the Bramble line starters will race in the Western Solent. The White Group starting on the Bramble and the fleets using the RYS line will all finish from the east on the RYS line. The XODs will start from a committe vessel at Ryde Middle and finish on the RYS line. 

Elsewhere in Cowes today, onshore entertainment gets underway at Northwood House at 1100 with a whole range of activities planned including a Tree Climbing Adventure, afternoon tea, Falconry display, and the daily Mermaids Gin and Fever-Tree Master Class. Music on Cowes Parade and Cowes Yacht Haven kicks off at 1400 and concludes at Shepards Wharf Sugar Store Nightclub at 0200.

Prepare for blast off at 1930 this evening when the RAF Red Arrows Display Team (brought to the regatta by Artemis Investment Management)  fly in and perform breathtaking manoeuvres overhead. Then, as the sunsets it is time to prepare for blast off for the traditional Lendy Cowes Week Fireworks Display.

This legendary pyrotechnic extravaganza, this year generously sponsored by Lendy, starts at 2130 and is likely to attract thousands of spectators. The best places to view the display ashore are Cowes Parade, Castle Hill, Princes' Green as far as Egypt Point, and East Cowes Parade.

This year's Lendy-sponsored event will be extra special with its spectacular blue theme, the company's prime brand colour.

Those watching the fireworks from the water are encouraged to mark the start of the display by responding to a ship’s horn blasts.