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09:20 Friday 14 Aug 2015 Sue Pelling/CWLDay 7 preview – competition intensifies as regatta reaches penultimate day

Sunsail Match F40s glide down The Solent in light airs – photo Rick Tomlinson

The penultimate day (day 7) of Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week looks set to be another wet/light wind affair as a band of rain approaches from the west.

The competition has really intensified in the closing stages with both Black and White Group winners being decided after today’s racing.

Adam Gosling’s 1996-built Corby 36, Yes!, in IRC Class 2, is currently leading Black Group, but with Jo Richards’ H-Boat Woof, in IRC Class 7, just three points astern, racing is expected to remain full-on.

Giles Peckham and team on Dauntless, the Daring, seem to have control of White Group with a string of results that includes four first places. Those also in contention are Shaun Frohlich on the Etchells, Exabyte V, and Graham Bailey on Aimee the Dragon.

The east coast-based team Malcolm Hutchings and Andy Ramsey on Lady Penelope, the Squib, who won their class, White Group and the overall Cowes Week title for the last two years, is currently lying in fourth place in White Group overall.

Elsewhere in Cowes today, watch out for this evening's RAF Typhoon display. The team will fly in at 1930 and demonstrate breathtaking manoeuvres including the inverted half Cuban Eight – a 'dirty' – barrel roll, all at speeds of around 690mph.

Then prepare for blast off with the the traditional Cowes Week firework extravaganza at 2130. The best places to view the  display ashore  are Cowes Parade, Castle Hill, Princes' Green as far as Egypt Point, and East Cowes Parade.

Weather and courses

There is currently a decent breeze of 10-14 knots, although an active weather front is forecast to move across the area during the day.

Stuart Quarrie – Sailing Director – commenting on the conditions said: “It’s quite a tricky day weather wise today but at the moment the front has stalled around 25 miles to the west of The Solent, and may not be with us for some time. So the plan is to start on time in the south-south-westerly wind we have now.”

White Group dayboats, including the XODs, will start on the Royal Yacht Squadron line, with the majority of the fleets heading east. However, the XOD fleet may be given a start to the west. Black Group yachts scheduled to start on a fixed line will do so from the Bramble line.