Skandia Cowes Week newsletter

All the latest updates from the event organisers

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh will open new Regatta Centre on May 19th

Cowes Combined Clubs (CCC) has moved into its new purpose-built Regatta Centre in Bath Road, Cowes (above) and the Official Opening Ceremony has been brought forward from August to May 19th.

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh will unveil a commemorative plaque in a ceremony that is being planned to allow the people of Cowes and as many guests as possible to watch.

The Regatta Centre team is operating from a modern suite of spacious and relaxed air-conditioned offices and the new building provides Cowes with a purpose-built Regatta Centre facility as well as a superb venue for competitors.

The 2004 Regatta (August 7-14) marks the 10th Anniversary of Skandia’s title sponsorship of the most famous sailing regatta in the world whilst also celebrating the 40th anniversary of the event’s organising body, Cowes Combined Clubs.

Entry Fees – A simplified fee structure

Historically the entry fee structure for Cowes Week has been very complex and used to be based on an estimate of the crew numbers. However, this year it has been simplified with a huge reduction in the number of different levels of entry fee. This means that some classes will see a reduction in their fees from last year whilst others will unfortunately have an increase.

CCC had hoped to be able to keep the level of entry fees static. However, ISAF have stopped event organisers from charging differential fees for boats that carry advertising. This left CCC with a large black hole in its budget that would have meant increasing fees by over 10% just to stay still. CCC and Skandia decided that this level of fee increase was not going to be acceptable to the majority of non-advertising boats and have therefore agreed to swallow over half the losses. Despite this, CCC has had to increase fees by an average of 5% and hopes that all competitors will understand. However, if they feel strongly about it they should write to ISAF.

CCC also suggests that corporate entries might like to donate at least part of the savings that ISAF has brought them to the official Skandia Cowes Week charity, Sail 4 Cancer. www.sail4cancer.org

Ocean World returns as Official Merchandiser

After a year’s absence as Skandia Cowes Week’s Official Merchandiser - resulting from a devastating fire at their premises in Cowes – the event is delighted to welcome back Ocean World as the official supplier of the skipper’s briefcases.

Skandia Cowes Week Parade Village & Prizegiving

The overall ambience of Skandia Cowes Week 2004 will be enhanced by the Parade Village. With a revised site layout that will provide a fabulous atmosphere, and with the popular and highly topical Sail for Gold bar on site, it is anticipated that this area will help cater to the enormous public turnout that Skandia Cowes Week enjoys and will also relieve some of the pressure of numbers within Cowes Yacht Haven. However, Steve Cole at Cowes Yacht Haven says there are plans for a much improved line up of bands there as well.

After a couple of years of experimentation, CCC is also planning to hold the overall prizegiving on the stage in the Parade Village. This will make it even more accessible as well as making late results easier to cope with from an administration viewpoint.

Red Arrows Aerobatic Display Team – Thursday 12 August

We are delighted that the Red Arrows have agreed to hold a full, 22 minute display of their aerobatic skills. This is being funded by Skandia and will take place at 1800 on Thursday 12 August. Anyone who has seen one of these displays before will know just how exciting they are – with a left/right display line going from just 260 metres off the RYS Castle and then over East Cowes just outside the end of the breakwater, the jets will be flying low over the trots, giving a marvellous view to competitors and spectators alike.

Fireworks – Friday 13 August

Following consultation, the Isle of Wight Council is taking back the overall management of the fireworks display with Cowes Week Sponsorship Ltd providing the funding. This should ensure optimum marketing through IOW Tourism and means that all spectator areas ashore are properly managed.

The 2003 display by Kimbolton Fireworks was voted a success by the majority and it is hoped that Kimbolton will again be providing the display this year. Similarly, the addition of music was enjoyed by most (although by no means all) and this will be repeated. As per last year, the music will be broadcast on Cowes Radio on FM106.2Mhz. Spectators should note that the display is not fireworks set to a concert; rather it is suitable music to add a further dimension to the visual display.

Skandia Squad...the search is still on

The search for the 2004 Skandia Squad is still on and Skandia is once again offering entrants the opportunity to participate in the Skandia Squad and be sponsored by Skandia for the eight-day regatta.

Skandia is particularly keen to hear from international teams in line with the Cowes Combined Clubs’ initiative to encourage more overseas entries.

Anyone interested in entering the 2004 Skandia Squad should send their story of Courage, Passion, Commitment, Creativity or Contribution to Tim Sewell at Skandia Squad Entries, FREEPOST, SO1641, Southampton SO14 7YE or by email to skandia.squad@skandia.co.uk. Please include at least one photograph of the boat.

Poms and Aussies play swopsies

Larriken II has been selected by Skandia to represent Skandia Geelong Week at Skandia Cowes Week this year. This follows the riproaring success of the English team – Charlie Fish – who represented Skandia Cowes Week in Geelong in January. The crew from Larriken II will head over to Cowes to compete in arguably one of the largest and most competitive classes – the Hunter 707 class.

Wightlink Catamaran Service Direct to Cowes from Lymington

Following the success of its inaugural Lymington-Cowes catamaran sailings for Skandia Cowes Week in 2003, long time Event sponsor Wightlink has announced that it will run the service again throughout the 2004 regatta. Aimed at both Skandia Cowes Week crews and spectators, the half-hour crossing on Wightlink’s newest FastCat craft will run between Lymington and Cowes. Operating from Saturday 7th August until Saturday 14th August inclusive, the service will run between Wightlink’s Lymington ferry terminal, close to the railway station with its good rail links to London, and Thetis Wharf, an easy walking distance into central Cowes.

An increased schedule of eight crossings will operate daily from Lymington, starting at 0715, and eight will depart from Cowes with the last sailing back to the mainland scheduled at one minute after midnight, allowing customers who want to stay on for balls and other social events during the evening to get back to the mainland afterwards. Return fares are priced at £13.50 for adults and £6.50 for children aged 5-15 and are valid for travel out and back during any day of Skandia Cowes Week. In addition, for every adult ticket sold for the Lymington-Cowes FastCat service, Wightlink will donate 50p to the official charity of Skandia Cowes Week, Sail 4 Cancer.