News - 2013

09:33 Tuesday 6 Aug 2013 Sue Pelling/CWLDay 4 racing outlook

Rick Tomlinson/CWL

The sun has returned to Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week this morning but there is currently little wind across The Solent. However, there is a chance of a sea breeze becoming established later in the day, which could produce good sailing conditions once again.

Fiona Campbell, Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week meteorologist, predicts that the earliest the sea breeze is likely to arrive is around 1130 and it’s unlikely to settle before 1230. Once formed at around 6-10 knots, the wind speed will increase to around 11-12 knots before becoming quite steady from around 230-240 degrees. Wind speeds in the western Solent are likely to peak at 14-16 knots.

The sea breeze is likely to become established first in the western Solent, so White Group classes, including XODs, starting on the Royal Yacht Squadron line will head to the west, before finishing on the RYS line. If there’s time for a second race for the SB20s and J/70s they will finish and restart from a committee boat near Meon, before finishing on the Shrape line.

Black Group yachts will head west from the Bramble line, with the smaller boats looping round onto Knoll Bank and finish on the Shrape line. The larger boats will head to the far western Solent, before finishing on the Bramble line. The Black Group committee boat will be located near Hamble Yacht Services buoy.