News - 2012

10:13 Thursday 16 Aug 2012 Sue Pelling/CWLAberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week Day 6 outlook

The weather conditions are still relatively unstable but the wind has dropped significantly for some great racing on Ladies Day at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week.

There will be an unstable south-south-westerly to south-westerly airflow, with mean windspeeds of 13-19 knots, and gusts to 25 knots possible near showers. But it will be nothing like yesterday’s squalls of 35 and 42 knots that swept across The Solent and caused the White Group classes and several of the Black Group classes to have their racing abandoned for the day.

Today White Group classes will start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line heading west, returning to finish on the same line, while Black Group will race in the eastern Solent, finishing on the Shrape line, off East Cowes.

As well as celebrating Ladies day, it is the Artemis Challenge. This 50-mile sprint saw two IMOCA 60 monohulls and two giant MOD70 one design trimarans engage in battle off the start line and head off in an anti-clockwise course around the Isle of Wight. After finishing, the MOD70s will continue into the western Solent, before returning to Cowes, to meet the IMOCA 60s as they finish.

Ladies Day, which is now in its seventh year, is held in association with UK charity the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF). To mark the occasion of Ladies Day there will be a host of celebrations taking place throughout the day including a special Ladies Day lunch at Northwood House, and the presentation of the Ladies Day Trophy at the Talisker Boathouse. This award recognises the outstanding contribution, commitment or achievement of women in sailing.

Other Ladies Day activities include on the water spot prizes courtesy of Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare, and Champagne Lanson and there will also be ladies discounts on offer with the event’s clothing partner Gill.

The music on Cowes Parade starts at 1200, and runs throughout the day until 2300, while in Cowes Yacht Haven there's a chance to take part in free whisky mentoring sessions starting from 1200 in The Talisker Boathouse on the hour, every hour. The Gill Stage in Cowes Yacht Haven has a full programme of music scheduled from 1430, with live performances from JC & Angeline, the Hot Shots and Soul Lounge Party. The Events Centre at Cowes Yacht Haven will also host a comedy night this evening.