News - 2013

10:16 Friday 9 Aug 2013 Sue Pelling/CWLBig plans for penultimate day of Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week

Victory class concludes White Group series today

Day 7, the penultimate day of Aberdeen Asset Cowes Week is expected to get off to a bang today with conditions looking good for an excellent day’s racing, and competitors and spectators – over 50,000 people – in for a treat this evening for the ‘extra special’ grand fireworks extravaganza.

On the racecourse, the competition is likely to produce extremely close racing today with the concluding Black Group races taking place.

Adam Gosling’s Corby 36, Yes!, in IRC Class 4 is currently leading Black Group overall, but Dussere Louis-Marie’s French team on Raging Bee in IRC Class 5, is just over one point adrift. Charles Ivill in his J/97 – ETB Tyres Jiggery Pokery in IRC Class 6 has also notched up an impressive scoreline of three first places and a second in class.

The J/80s, RS Elites, Victory class and Solent Sunbeams in White Group also conclude their series today, but the overall winner of White Group will only be decided once the remainder of the White Group fleet finish tomorrow.

The leader of the Under 25 Trophy, and the Young Skipper’s Trophy is Chris Taylor and his young team on the J/80 J.A.T have sailed impressively all week with four wins and a second in class. His nearest rival for the Under 25 Trophy is Team Curlew on the Swallow who has also had some consistent results throughout the week.

Back on shore this evening, competitors and visitors are in for a treat with a fantastic programme of entertainment lined up, including the return of the Red Arrows (supported by local letterbox) at 1930, Sea Vixen fly past at approximately 2000 and, of course, the Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week Pains fireworks extravaganza, which blasts off at 2130.

Audience participation is key tonight with those on the water encouraged to mark the start of the display by responding with horn/claxon, to a single maroon and a short blast of the firework barge horn. This will be followed by two maroons, and two short blasts, and finally three maroons and one long blast. Yacht crews are invited to respond to each set with horn/claxon.

Shoreside spectators can join in the audience participation element too with the return of the popular ‘counting fireworks’, with the help of a little prompting from the PA.