Skandia Cowes Week starts Saturday 2 August
'Skandia Cowes Week'
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It has been held for the past 182 years, is known the world over as the greatest and certainly one of the most inclusive regattas in the yachting calendar, and it officially starts on Saturday 2 August.
Skandia Cowes Week - the last year the event will bear this title as Skandia is relinquishing its title sponsorship after 14 years - is hosting high-profile sailors, high-octane racing and fierce rivalry on the water.
With the inclusion of the Volkswagen Touareg King of Cowes at Skandia Cowes Week regatta, the iShares Cup at Skandia Cowes Week and the Artemis Challenge at Skandia Cowes Week, the event is attracting some of the best sailing talent in the world...and then there's the matter of over 970 yachts racing in 37 different classes with over 8,500 competitors taking to their start lines in boats ranging from 68ft down to 20.99ft!
The event, which is also justifiably proud of its shoreside entertainment programme for competitors and visitors alike (the latter numbering in the region of 100,000 over eight days) has enjoyed a fantastic partnership with its title sponsor Skandia but, as with all good things, the relationship is coming to an end after this year's regatta. The regatta's CEO, Stuart Quarrie said earlier in the week, as part of an official statement:
'Looking ahead to the future of Cowes Week and life after Skandia, our ideal scenario had been to announce a new partner in advance of this year's event. Although discussions are progressing well, we are not in a position to make an announcement before or during the regatta. However, we do have every confidence that Cowes Week will have a new partner in place in good time for the 2009 regatta.'
Below are some of this year's many highlights and remember you can keep up to date with all the latest news and views, weather, results and commentary from Cowes Radio via the official website at www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk
The Volkswagen Touareg King of Cowes at Skandia Cowes Week
Expect some fierce rivalry as famous athletes join 30 of last year's class winners to race Laser SB3s.
Television sports personality Kirsty Gallacher and former GB Olympic athletes Colin Jackson and Jonathan Edwards are competing in The Volkswagen Touareg King of Cowes @ Skandia Cowes Week regatta tomorrow, Friday 1 August.
The inclusion of this trio of aspiring sailors creates a unique race within a race that seeks to find the 'champion of champions' at Cowes. Racing starts at 11:00, subject to weather.
In year two of this highly fought on-water competition, there are superb prizes of a Volkswagen Touareg, Laser XD and Laser BUG up for grabs. On top of all this, there is a great holiday with Mark Warner to be won for the winning SB3 owner and a ?500 spot prize for the 'The Most Passionate Performance' awarded by Nexus Marine. www.kingofcowes.com
The iShares Cup at Skandia Cowes Week
Coinciding with the official start of the regatta on Saturday 2nd August, the UK leg of the iShares Cup runs until Monday 4th August with a list of 11 runners and riders racing Extreme 40s and it is a series that promises to deliver some fast and furious competition.
Daily starts are scheduled for 1400 off the mainland shore near Lepe. Racing continues until 1700 and all boats are berthed in East Cowes. www.isharescup.com
The Ellen MacArthur Trust (EMT)
The official charity for Skandia Cowes Week is gearing up for its third and final year of official association with the Event. It hopes to 'turn Cowes blue' again and is encouraging everyone to dye their hair, fly blue flags or just wear blue clothes. Scarlet Oyster, the yacht lent to The Trust by Gordon Appleby for use during its summer trips and sailing regattas, will again be crewed by children from The Trust. Gordon sadly lost his battle with cancer in February and The Trust's entry into Skandia Cowes Week is dedicated to his memory.
The EMT stand on Cowes Parade has rowing machines with the aim of visitors rowing two million metres over the course of the week and raising funds at the same time. Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare, Skandia Cowes Week's official skincare sponsors, are continuing their support by supplying sunscreen available to purchase on lanyards, with sales proceeds going to the Charity. The official charity day is Monday 4 August and it culminates in the Ellen MacArthur Trust Ball - an absolute 'must attend' event which this year is being held at Osborne House in East Cowes. The great news is that all the tickets have been snapped up! www.ellenmacarthurtrust.org
The Artemis Challenge at Skandia Cowes Week
Eight IMOCA Open 60s on the Start Line for charity race
Skandia Cowes Week welcomes back The Artemis Challenge. Organised under IMOCA rules, it features some of the biggest names on the IMOCA circuit. The Open 60 yachts will race against each other to compete for a generous ?10,000 prize fund that will be donated to the winning team's charity of choice, with the skipper taking home the Artemis Challenge Trophy. www.artemisoceanracing.com
Liz Earle Ladies Day
Liz Earle Ladies Day is on Thursday 7 August and it recognises and celebrates the contribution and achievements of women in sailing. The event organisers are keen that nominations for the Liz Earle Ladies Day Trophy should encompass all female sailors ranging from the Corinthian sailor and those overcoming difficulties, through to those who have undertaken remarkable challenges in sailing.
More women than ever now compete at the regatta and at least a third of the 8,500 competitors are female. To highlight the increasing involvement of the fairer sex and to celebrate sailing as one of few mainstream sports where men and women compete on equal terms, the Ladies Day Trophy is awarded as part of Liz Earle Ladies Day alongside a host of other activities and promotions.
Try Sailing
Skandia are once again running their highly popular Try Sailing initiative in conjunction with the United Kingdom Sailing Academy (UKSA). Over the past three years, hundreds of visitors have been able to take to the water for a free one-hour supervised sailing lesson thanks to this scheme.
Anyone over eight years old qualifies for a session, which can be booked at the Try Sailing booth on Cowes Parade. A specially designed boat, the Artemis 20, is also available especially for disabled visitors wanting to see what it's like to get out on the water.
The Liz Earle 'Close Shave Trophy'
The inaugural Liz Earle 'Close Shave Trophy' has been introduced this year to be awarded annually to the overall winner across all classes who grasps victory by the closest margin. The Liz Earle Close Shave Trophy recognises high performance, tough competition and achievement, and will be presented at the overall prize giving at the end of the week, together with a Liz Earle goodie bag for each of the crew.
Watch the action from the shoreline or head into the heart of the action on a spectator boat. Whether on shore or on water you can enjoy spectator-friendly commentary
One of the great things about Skandia Cowes Week is that spectators can watch much of the racing from the shore. The Green (in front of the Esplanade) and The Parade are great places to view the action and there are also a number of fantastic opportunities to go afloat (details on the Event website). There are numerous entertainments laid on for visitors and the event is very family-friendly.
Tune in to Cowes Radio, providing exciting commentary on the racing as it happens. Any ordinary FM radio will pick up the signal which is broadcast on 87.7 FM and also through loudspeakers along the Green and Cowes Parade.
One of the best locations to watch the starts ashore is undoubtedly the area between the Castle of the Royal Yacht Squadron and the cannons - as long as you don't mind the loud bangs! Here you can get right on the line and see who got the best start and which boats were over the line. You can also hear the race officers giving their countdowns and calling the starts from the Royal Yacht Squadron battlements.
Whether you're competing or spectating at Skandia Cowes Week, you will undoubtedly look back at your time at this unique event as pretty special. Enjoy!
by Peta Stuart-Hunt 
Buderim, QLD
