That time again...

Skandia Cowes Week kicks off in 10 days time

With just ten days to go to the start of the 180th anniversary of the Worldws oldest, largest and greatest sailing regatta, the organisers and sponsors of Skandia Cowes Week are finalising their shoreside and on-water plans; entries numbers are looking good and stand at 945 and they are coming in at a rate of 8-10 a day. Everyone is looking forward to a superb anniversay regatta. There’s a real buzz in the air as an entire year’s background work finally all comes together for the start of what will be another incredible eight days of competitive racing and shoreside festivities.

The Stars of Sailing are back!

Monday 31 July @ 6pm in aid of The Ellen MacArthur Trust

Six of Britain’s top sailors will compete in Skandia Cowes Week for the coveted ‘Stars of Sailing’ title on Monday 31 July. Those racing will include Athens 470 Silver medallists Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield and Beijing 2008 medal hopefuls Saskia Clark, Christina Bassadone and Steve Mitchell, all looking to be beat their fellow Skandia Team GBR team mates.

This year’s Stars of Sailing will be in aid of the official Skandia Cowes Week Charity, The Ellen MacArthur Trust, who will be offering six lucky 8-18 year olds the chance to come to Skandia Cowes Week and sail with ‘The Stars of Sailing’. Competitions for these places are being run in regional newspapers throughout the UK.

Racing will be in RS Vision dinghies off Cowes Parade at 6pm on Monday 31 July, making it a perfect viewing platform for the public. To add to the excitement there will be live commentary and the race will be broadcast on Cowes Radio.


The Extreme 40s are coming to Cowes

Four days of high octane racing off the Green +
a round the Island race on Tuesday 1 August

Princes Green, Cowes
Monday 31 July, Wednesday 2 August, Thursday 3 August & Friday 4 August from 1600 – 1900

Team Basilica and Team Conrad Humphreys Racing (CHC) plus one other Extreme 40 (the ex-Volvo sponsored boat being referred to currently as ‘the pink boat’) are now confirmed, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to see these one-design boats prove what they are capable of in their own race series during the Week. The races are being staged in the spectator-friendly area off Princes Green with the last race scheduled for 18:00 on Monday 31 July, Wednesday 2 August, Thursday 3 August & Friday 4 August.

Around the Island - Tuesday 1 August - Start time 1000 – The Extreme 40s are also racing around the Isle of Wight with a scheduled start time of 10:00 – could the existing record of 08hrs:20min:55secs recently set by Holmatro in June’s JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race be broken? Helping Conrad to try and beat the record is Oscar-winning actor, friend and Patron, Jeremy Irons and Jeremy’s son Max.

Bear of Britain & Chernikeeff 2 match-race in tribute to Kit Hobday

Farr 52s will be racing off the Green on Tuesday 1 August at 6pm

The Farr 52s Bear of Britain and Chernikeeff 2 are planning some match-racing in a fitting tribute to the late Kit Hobday who passed away very recently after losing his long-running battle against prostate cancer. The intention is to raise more awareness for Ignorance Isn’t Bliss, the Charity created by Kit for prostate cancer sufferers. The winner will be awarded the Kit Hobday Memorial Cup.

Traxu Sailor positioning system

Trials within the Laser SB3 class

A trial of the Traxu Sailor product will take place at this year’s Skandia Cowes Week. 20 boats in the Laser SB3 class (part of the largest fleet racing at Cowes this year) will trial the units with the possibility of more widespread use in the future.

The small stand-alone transmitters will be attached to the base of the mast and send the boat’s position every second using GPS and GPRS technology. Positions will be tracked on the Official Website at www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk with positions and results available to media, race officials and supporters alike.

During the 2006 trials, an amendment to the Sailing Instructions will ensure that none of the information can be used by the Race Committee or a competitor in a protest. Stuart Quarrie, CCC Regatta Director, commented: “If the system proves itself and is brought into general use at some time in the future, then it is anticipated that it will be used to assist in the determination of OCS calls and finishing times.”

Mark Richards, Director of Traxu says ‘the devices are particularly relevant to race management in terms of organisation, accuracy and safety, but also may affect the sport as a whole given that the virtual media arena, with tracking, video and audio, will make the sport of far greater interest to the public, therefore extending the sport’s reach for sponsors’.


Ladies Day @ Skandia Cowes Week

Thursday 3 August
Fancy Feet, Fashion, free Skandia/UKSA Try Sailing lessons for women

Plans are progressing well for the first-ever Ladies Day at the 180 year-old Cowes Week regatta.

Will you have the Fanciest Feet in Cowes?

The fanciest footwear will be on full display this year. Women attending Ladies Day @ Skandia Cowes Week are invited to join in the fun by preparing their fanciest footwear to be judged by Timberland® at this year’s inaugural Ladies Day Fancy Feet Competition.

The lucky winner will receive a pair of Timberland’s® from their extensive SS06 range plus a bottle of Mumm Champagne – prizes worth over £150.
Two runners up will also win a bottle of Mumm Champagne.

To enter the competition, simply go to the Timberland® Experience Area in Cowes Yacht Haven on Thursday 3rd of August before 2pm, or watch out for the Timberland® photographers who will be out and about throughout the morning. At 2pm the entrants will be judged by a representative from Timberland® alongside a presenter from Isle of Wight Radio.

The winners presentation will take place outside the Timberland® Brand Experience Marquee at 3pm – before the Tug of War that starts at 5pm (immediately after the Fashion Show!).

If you are stuck for ideas of what to do - how about giving your flip-flops a summery feel with some flowers, or feathers and foliage decoration? Why not give your wellies a nautical feel with some painted on portholes and maybe a sail or two, seagulls or a burgee?

Cowes Fashion 2006

A real treat for visitors on Ladies Day

On the main stage in Cowes Yacht Haven from 4.15 - 5pm, there is a fabulous line-up of some of the top designers’ and their labels worn by models from the famous Storm Model Agency. Designers and top brands represented at this Show range from Ralph Lauren and Elizabeth Hurley, Jigsaw and French Connection to Thomas Pink, Hugo Boss, Fat Face, Henri Lloyd and Gill amongst others. It’s a top line up being modelled by some top models, courtesy of Storm Model Agency.

Who will be awarded the inaugural Skandia Cowes Week Ladies Day Trophy?
Presented by Dame Ellen MacArthur

Nominations are closing at midday on Friday July 28 so if you know someone who deserves to win the Trophy, log onto: www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk
and fill out the brief nomination form NOW! Whoever is awarded this wonderful Trophy, each of the five shortlisted women stands to win a fabulous line up of prizes:

• A one hour shooting lesson at the exclusive West London Shooting School (Madonna shoots there!) & a Touareg Unlimited day for the nominee plus guest, courtesy of Volkswagen
• A Henri-Lloyd wash bag
• A voucher for a pair of Timberland shoes
• A bottle of rose Champagne G.H. Mumm for each person
• A Liz Earle goody bag

The overall winner will also receive a stunning Ladies Admiral’s Cup Watch, courtesy of Corum, and of course the prestigious and very beautiful Skandia Cowes Week Ladies Day Trophy (a perpetual Trophy with a small version for the winner’s mantlepiece), designed and created by Isle of Wight Glass.

Anything to declare?

NEW for 2006 is the introduction of internet 'kiosks'. In partnership with WightCable, Cowes Combined Clubs introduces a facility to enable - first and foremost - ease of accessibility for online declarations. The kiosks will be positioned in Shepards Wharf Marina, in Cowes Yacht Haven (on the Timberland and Volkswagen stands respectively), and in the Sail for Gold Bar on Cowes Parade. No longer will straws need to be drawn to determine who makes the trip to the Regatta Office to declare!

The Future of Cowes Week – Online questionnaire

The Cowes Week Working Party has spent the last six months examining the challenges presented by the continued growth of the Regatta, and the possible ways in which these challenges can be overcome to support the long-term development of this important Event.

To gather as many views as possible on the options available, the Working Party has launched an online questionnaire. Anyone wishing to play an active role in helping to shape the future of Cowes Week, please take a little time to participate in this important survey at: www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk