News - 2017

09:23 Monday 31 Jul 2017 Sue Pelling/LCWDay 3 preview – Charity Day

Photo – Paul Wyeth/LCW

Charity Day at Lendy Cowes Week is always a hugely popular occasion but this year, with the announcement of the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation as the new Official Event Charity, the day is expected to attract plenty of support.

On the water, teams can expect full on racing once again with winds expected to gust up to 22 knots later in the day. In celebration of Andrew Simpson Foundation Charity Day all competitors are automatically entered in the Cowes Bash. Results will be pooled across all fleets to establish an overall winner for the day. The prize will be presented at tonight’s Cowes Big Bash Party and at Cowes Yacht Haven this evening.

Weather

After an early morning rain shower clears, today is predicted to again be predominately dry and bright. Once the cloud moves away the wind will settle into a south-westerly of 12-16 knots by the time of the first starts, gradually increasing to 16-22 knots towards the end of the afternoon.

Courses

Black Group will start from the Bramble line in a westerly direction and race in the Western Solent before finishing on the Royal Yacht Squadron line.  Black Group Committee Boat fleet will race in the Hill Head Plateau and finish on the Bramble line.

White Group dayboats will head off from the Royal Yacht Squadron line to the west but will mainly race in the Hill Head area. One of the most exciting starts today, and worth watching out for, is the XOD fleet, which will be last to start. They will head off downwind (opposite direction to all other classes) and finish on the Shrape line.

In recognition of Charity Day and the official charity – The Andrew Simpson Foundation (ASF) – there are plenty of Andrew Simpson Foundation themed activities running throughout Cowes. Head to Cowes Parade and visit the ASF stand to learn more about this important charity, which was set up in memory of Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson, the Olympic gold medallist who lost his life in 2013 while sailing an America’s Cup AC72 in San Francisco Bay.