News - 2017

10:01 Saturday 29 Jul 2017 Sue Pelling/LCWDay 1 preview High spirits on opening day of Lendy Cowes Week

Sun and glimpses of blue sky and a westerly breeze of around 10-15 knots greeted competitors on the opening day of Lendy Cowes Week. With final preparations to the first race underway, spirits are high as competitors look forward to one of the best ever Cowes Weeks.

With up to 800 boats on the water there’ll be no shortage of exciting racing and, with some great new features, including the three-day Sevenstar Triple Crown big boat series, which starts on Tuesday, the level of competition will be exceptionally high.

Competitors however, will have to make the most of the early morning sun because the forecast for later shows that a warm front will move north over the race area around midday, with the wind reducing to only 6-10 knots and swinging to the south-south east. As well as creating a headache for course setters, this will bring a band of rain that will settle over the area for much of the rest of the day.

First class off today is the J/70 class (White Group) from the Royal Yacht Squadron line at 1005, followed five minutes later by the Fast40+ class (Black Group) from the Bramble line. Black Group, which will generally race in the western Solent, will be split with some finishing on the Bramble line and the rest finishing from the east on the RYS line.

Elsewhere in Cowes there has never been so many activities planned. Take a stroll along the High Street or Cowes Parade, do a spot of shopping, and enjoy the music, which kicks off at 1400 on Cowes Parade and Cowes Yacht Haven. Alternatively, take a walk up the hill to Northwood House for Afternoon Tea or a Gin Masterclass with Mermaids Gin and Fever-Tree.