News from 2019

10:23 Sunday 11 Aug 2019 CWL/Sue PellingDay 2 Preview – Family Day

CWL/Paul Wyeth

Family Day, which celebrates the fun side of family sailing is always a popular feature at Cowes Week. Over the years it has proved to be a real inspiration, particularly to young family members who more often than not go on to race their own boats at future events.

Thankfully the huge winds that forced the abandonment of racing on the opening day of Cowes Week yesterday have now abated to a more sensible wind strength although racing for some of the smaller dayboat classes has been cancelled.

For SailGP fans, racing will commence as scheduled with the first start at 1500. SailGP is a feature event of Cowes Week and will take place from the SailGP race village located between Prince’s Green and Egypt Point, featuring six national teams on identical super-fast, wing-sailed F50s foiling catamarans.

Keep an eye out for the flying machines that are expected to wow the crowds with intensely competitive, high-speed racing.

The Cowes leg of this series is the penultimate event in the series so competition is expected to be exceptionally fierce as teams prepare for the grand final in Marseille, France where a $1 million prize is up for grabs in the single match-race final between top two teams.

Although the SailGP Grand Stand tickets have already sold out for today’s racing, there is still plenty of opportunity to watch the multi-national pro teams on these flying machines in action to the west of the Royal Yacht Squadron. Head to the free-to-enter SailGP race village for a close-to-the-action experience, or download the free live |SailGP App that is available for the first time.

Courses and outlook

Sailors are preparing for a fast and furious day in a blustery south-westerly wind of 18-24 knots, with gusts towards 30 knots.

The bulk of Black Group yachts will start heading west from the Royal Yacht Squadron line, with the largest boats first away at 1010. The starting sequence here will continue until 1140. These boats will finish offshore, to the north of the exclusion zone for the SailGP races.

The Black Group Committee boat will be stationed towards Browndown, off the northern shore of the eastern Solent, with these classes finishing on the Shrape line off East Cowes.

Among the dayboats, J/70s and SB20s are scheduled to have three short intense races, all with committee boat starts.

Etchells, Darings and Sportsboats will start from the new Castle Point line off East Cowes, before racing in the lee of the island, in the eastern Solent. Unfortunately, conditions are such that racing for the smaller dayboats has to be cancelled.

Activities

At Shepards Marina’s Sugar Store there is a chance for children to get involved at the Children’s Craft Activities programme that runs from 1200-1500.

There is also a whole host of fun activities to get involved in along Cowes Parade including face painting, the 1851 Trust sailing inspired treasure hunt around Cowes. In Cowes Yacht Haven the popular Land Rover feature has plenty on offer including a chance to navigate a top of the range vehicle round an assault course.

Those out and about around Cowes today should consider a visit to Northwood House with the family. This is a great option for an afternoon tea while the children enjoy the Northwood’s Tree Climbing Adventure with Goodleaf from 1200-1700.

The party atmosphere at Northwood House continues all week a whole host of top artists playing every day. Cowes Week Cool Jazz Night with Jim Thorn and special guests starts at 1400 today.