News - 2012

09:53 Saturday 18 Aug 2012 Sue Pelling/CWLAberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week Day 8 outlook

Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2012 looks set to end on a high with sun and a good breeze forecast, particularly in the western Solent for the remaining Black Group classes still racing today.

The initial south-westerly wind of 6-10 knots will increase to a maximum of 16-18 knots in the western Solent due to thermal enhancement this afternoon. Winds in the eastern Solent may swing towards the south-east, reaching a maximum of 8-12 knots.

Black Group starts will all be off the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) line, with the fleets heading into the western Solent, before finishing on the RYS line from the west. White Group will also start towards the west, but will later loop round onto the shallow waters to the north east of the Bramble bank.

The overall results of the Black Group series have already been decided after the concluding races yesterday, but there are still Black Group Trophy races taking place today for all IRC classes, multihulls, and ISCRS classes. The winner of Black Group is Jonathan Calascione and Jonny Goodwin’s J/109 Harlequin.

The winner of White Group has yet to be decided. Interestingly, a boat also named Harlequin – a Redwing owned by John Raymond and Matt Alexander – is leading the fleet. Competition in this group remains exceptionally close with just over three points between the Redwing and Malcolm Hutchings and Andy Ramsey’s Squib, Lady Penelope.

Once racing has concluded today, competitors will make their way to the Events Centre in Cowes Yacht Haven for the Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week overall prizegiving at 1900.

For those still in party mode after eight days of racing there is still plenty of entertainment scheduled for this evening including live music from Switch and Cornerstone in Cowes Yacht Haven running until 2330. Cowes Parade will also be in full swing with live music from The Savage Kallis, Derek Sandy Trio, and Soul Lounge.