News - 2014

08:27 Wednesday 6 Aug 2014 Day 5 preview

Photo – Rick Tomlinson/CWL

The fifth day of Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week looks set to be another classic with good winds and intermittent sunshine, which bodes well for a good day's racing.

After a front passed across The Solent bring rain through the early hours of this morning, the weather has cleared, leaving a weak pressure gradient and some layered cloulds with very little wind beneath them.

Surface winds however, are predicted to build during the day due to thermal enhancement, with the breakfast-time breezes of 5-10 knots slowing increasing to 8-14 knots by midday and 12-18 by early afternoon. There should be plenty of sun, especially this afternoon, although shower clouds that will bring stronger gusts are also possible.

Black Group yachts starting from the Bramble line will head west, while the Black Group Committee Boat will be stationed north of West Lepe buoy in the western Solent. All Black Group yachts with the exception of IRC Class 0 and Multihulls will finish on the Royal Yacht Squadron line from the west. The intention for IRC Class 0 and Multihulls is to have a race around the Isle of Wight, finishing at a mark in the eastern Solent.

Most White Group dayboats will start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line heading towards the east, although the direction of the line will be changed for XODs, who will head to the west after their start. The White Group Committee Boat will be positioned in the vicinity of Fastnet Insurance.

Later this afternoon, at 1730,  the Victory class is racing off the Green in their special 80th anniversary celebratory demonstration race. This One Hour Victory Race is expected to be extremely competitive so it is definitely worth keeping an eye out for.