News - 2014

13:13 Friday 9 Aug 2013 Rupert Holmes/CWLAnother great sailing day at Cowes

The bigger IRC yachts are scheduled to enjoy a spectacular downwind finish close to shore at the end of today's race. Photo: Rick Tomlinson/CWL

We have another day of racing in glorious sun and a breeze that has been increasing from around 10 knots mid morning to 15-20 knots at lunchtime, with some stronger gusts. However, the direction is oscillating through more than 45 degrees, creating a challenge both for course setters and for tacticians.

The larger Black Group classes that started today on the Black Group Committee Boat, near Lee on Solent on the north shore of the eastern Solent, will finish on the Royal Yacht Squadron line, in a classic Cowes Week finish under spinnaker and as close to the shore as they dare to keep out of the adverse tidal stream. The first boats are expected sometime between 1400-1500. Meanwhile, the first of the White Group finishers have already crossed the Shrape line and will be followed by other classes over the next few hours.