News - 2014

09:00 Monday 28 Jul 2014 Pulling Out All the Stops for an Action-Packed Family Day

Family Day at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week was first introduced in 2011 to raise the profile of all the family-friendly aspects of the world’s best-known sailing regatta. Since then, the initiative has gained in momentum and this year, organisers are delighted to announce a jam-packed schedule of family-friendly activities on Family Day which takes place in just under a week on Sunday 3 August.

Many of the boats competing at the regatta are crews of family enjoying the racing as part of their summer holiday. Family Day represents an opportunity to celebrate this with a range of goodies up-for-grabs, courtesy of clothing partner, Gill, Liz Earle and Bainbridge International. Prizes will be distributed out on the water to those families flying the Family Day flag.

Adventurous families that aren’t racing but are keen to get out on the water together can enjoy an exhilarating RIB ride with Solent RIB Charters for a special family price. For a slower-paced spectator experience, the spectator boat service provides a significantly discounted family ticket price, exclusively for Family Day.

Ashore, a fabulous line-up has been secured across all the main venues to ensure that this year, Family Day at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week is the best yet.

Overlooking Cowes, Northwood House is offering panoramic views across the Solent from a giant wheel situated in its grounds. The price of a trip on the wheel is just £6 per person and it will be open from 10am until late into the evening each day (a height restriction of 1.4m applies). In addition, Northwood House will also play host to an outdoor cinema screening of the 80’s epic “The Goonies” in the evening. A special family ticket is available at £27 and bookings can be made in advance at www.travellingfilmshow.co.uk, or in person during the event at the Regatta Centre on Bath Road.

In celebration of the Jurassic heritage of the Isle of Wight, the organisers of Cowes Parade Village, Taylor Events, have invited Andy Day (as seen on CBeebies) to take part in two interactive performances featuring 'Shadow' the mischievous Tyrannosaurus Rex from Blackgang Chine.  The performances will demonstrate dinosaur behaviour such as hunting and feeding and will take place at 12.30pm and 2.30pm. There will be opportunities for some photos too!

The Cowes Cardboard Boat Race, organised by The Southern Co-operative as part of the Society’s wider community focus to involve local people, will take place from 3pm, just off Cowes Parade and will provide a fundraising opportunity for UKSA – the official charity of Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week.  People and groups of all ages are invited to ‘build a cardboard boat' which, in return for sponsorship, will be raced on a course off Cowes Parade by teams of one or more competitors – there are some great prizes on offer too.

Along with all day live music, air guitar competitions courtesy of Jack FM, and Punch & Judy shows throughout the afternoon, the Spinnaker Bar on Cowes Parade will also be providing Under 13 year-olds with free soft drinks in celebration of Family Day (terms & conditions apply).

In the centre of town, Cowes Yacht Haven is geared-up to entertain on Family Day too. After last year’s success, Wight Stars will be back from 10am hosting many activities including circus and theatre workshops, culminating in a special performance on the Gill Stage from all those taking part through the day. In addition, the event’s official charity, UKSA, will be running popular 'open to all' sailing sessions, offering an hour’s sailing tuition with their instructors between 9.30am and 6pm for a donation of just £5. Visit UKSA on their stand at Cowes Yacht Haven to book up! These sessions will also run throughout the rest of the Week.

Solent Events are once again working in partnership with Cowes Primary School to run a series of children’s flag-making, colouring and painting competitions at the Britannia Bar in Cowes Yacht Haven between 11am and 2.30pm.

At the other end of Cowes, near to the floating bridge, Shepards Wharf Marina is also embracing the spirit of the day with space-hopper racing, kids volleyball and beanbag races throughout the day.

Commenting on the line-up of activities, Michelle Warner, Sales and Marketing Director for Cowes Week Limited, said: “It’s brilliant to see that the whole town has really got behind Family Day and the bar has been raised considerably this year! We look forward to welcoming families to Cowes from across the Island and further afield both on Family Day and throughout the rest of the Week – there’s certainly plenty going on to keep everyone entertained.”

Full details of the entertainments schedule each day throughout the Week can be found at: http://aamcw.co/entertainment with more information on Family Day here.

This year’s event takes place 2-9 August and Family Day will be held on day 2 (Sunday 3 August).