Cowes Week class preview 2

Andy Rice takes a look at the form book for the bigger boats in IRC Classes 0-3

Class 1 will also field a fleet of around ten 12-Metres, so it will be a busy start line. Especially when you consider these boats will be sharing the same start as Class 0. The top division boasts a stunning array of big boats such as Fiat boss Gianni Agnelli's 80-foot black racing yacht, Stealth, and Mike Slade's Leopard which smashed the monohull record for sailing round the Isle of Wight earlier this summer. The top two divisions will also be racing it out for the big trophies like the Britannia Cup on Wednesday and the New York Yacht Club Challenge Cup on Thursday.

The new Farr 52s are looking pacy, and Kit Hobday's Bear of Britain in particular can expect to do well in this regatta. Peter Harrison's Chernikeeff has struggled so far, but with Ian Walker and Andy Beadsworth and some other America's Cup luminaries stepping aboard for a corporate week out with United Airlines, it might be a happier story this time around. Peter Morton's 50-footer Mandrakewill also make a strong bid for honours. Her win in the Round the Island Race earlier this summer proves she has the pedigree to perform during Skandia Life Cowes Week.

Further down the scale, Class 2 is set to witness a tough battle between the Reflex 38s and the increasingly well sailed Prima 38s. But the longer boats in the division could enjoy an adverse tide, so expect to see Beneteau 40.7 Fandango turn in a good performance along with Harry Evans' Swan 44 Alvine VII.

With the X-332s racing off their own start line this year, the HOD 35s look set to star in Class 3, particularly Peter Schofield's Zarafa. But don't discount Jim McGregor and his daughters on their Elan 333 Flair III, as the family have finished inside the top three over the past two years and look perfectly capable of doing the same again.