News - 2017

08:57 Saturday 5 Aug 2017 Sue Pelling/LCWDay 8 Preview – summer sun returns for closing day of Lendy Cowes Week

Thousands turned up to see the spectacular Lendy fireworks display last night – photo Tom Gruitt/LCW

Following a spectacular display of both the RAF Red Arrows Display Team (brought to the regatta by Artemis Investment Management) and the Lendy fireworks display last night, crews are preparing for the final day of racing.

Although many classes have completed their series, and Black Group winners announced, racing continues in earnest for the remaining classes, which includes IRC 0-7, Cruiser Divsions A, B and C, and J/80, J/70 plus those yet to complete their series –  Sportsboats, SB20s, Etchells, Darings, Dragon, Sonar, Swallow, Redwing, Flying 15, Squib, Seaview Mermaid and XODs.

Weather

The final day of Lendy Cowes Week dawned bright and sunny, with a west-north westerly breeze of 7-10 knots. This is expected to build to 10-15 knots by early afternoon. Frontal troughs over the mainland, which may include thundery showers, mean patches of cloud could move over the race area. If so, this would result in the wind becoming more shifty, and more variable in strength, around the clouds.

Courses

All fleets will start and finish on the Royal Yacht Squadron line today. The Black Group yachts will be first to start, heading east. All White Group starts will follow with the first start – J/70s, racing for the CTR Beken Trophy – at 1115. White Group dayboats will race in the west Solent for the first time this week.

Entertainment continues round town with music at all main regatta venues including Cowes Parade, Cowes Yacht Haven and Shepards Wharf. Given the glorious weather, the High Street is expected to be busy once again. The concluding big social event of the day is the Lendy Cowes Week overall prizegiving in the Cowes Yacht Haven Events Centre. The event starts at 1900 and everyone is welcome.