News

09:29 Tuesday 30 Jul 2024 Rupert Holmes/CWL1410 update: Day 4 morning update

Today dawned bright and sunny with a northerly breeze that’s expected to fade quickly ahead of a sea breeze developing from the south west. All classes are currently postponed waiting for the new breeze to fill in, the timing of which is uncertain. 

Classes scheduled to start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line will head to the west and race in the western Solent, before finishing back on the RYS line. 

The Black Group committee boat will be stationed in the western Solent, where the best wind is expected to be found. They will also finish at a committee boat in the west, to avoid conflict with competitors starting and finishing at the RYS.

At the end of the day the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth sail past Cowes and hold off for a ceremonial and salute exchange with the Royal Yacht Squadron. The giant ship is scheduled to approach from the east, passing Prince Consort buoy north of Cowes at 1815, before turning around with the aid of tugs. She will hold off from around 1830 to 1850 for the salute, before heading away to dock in Portsmouth harbour.

1410 update: A reliable sea breeze has failed to establish in the Solent today, forcing all racing to be abandoned this afternoon.