News - 2014

12:57 Monday 4 Aug 2014 Rupert Holmes/CWLA quieter start to Day 3 of Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week

The Victory class, celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, had the honour of the first start on the RYS line today. Photo: Rupert Holmes/CWL

Following two days with ideal winds, this morning has been somewhat quieter, starting with a fickle south-westerly breeze of 5-8 knots that’s slowly building as the day heats up. The starting sequence for White Group dayboats, and the classes starting on the Black Group committee boat line, was postponed by 60-90 minutes while race officials waited for a consistent breeze to build.

With any cloud over the race area expected to clear shortly, competitors are looking forward to an afternoon of first-class racing – the wind in the mid Solent is currently 11-14 knots. The first boats to finish, from IRC Class 0 and the Etchells class, are expected on the Royal Yacht Squadron and Shrape finish lines respectively at around 1410. The finishing sequence is likely to continue until late afternoon for classes in later starts.