Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week - Feedback drives improvements

by Cowes Week Ltd on 15 Jan 2015 Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week - Feedback drives improvements.

We spent a couple of months immediately after last year’s event gathering feedback from each of you and have since been busy evaluating this and establishing an action plan to make sure Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week is even better in 2015.

A very big thank you to everyone who responded to either the online questionnaire or the daily SMS course survey during the event; your feedback is a key part of our planning process. Thanks also to eDigitalResearch who played a critical role in conducting this research on our behalf.

We have detailed the main areas that your feedback highlighted and our associated action plan in a document which can be downloaded from the event website.

We very much look forward to seeing you at this year's event - eighth - 15th August - for what promises to be a fabulous Week amidst a spectacular summer of celebrations in Cowes. Be part of it!

Cowes Week Limited’s response to your feedback, 2014...

Thank you for letting us know what you thought of Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2014. All of your comments are taken into account within our various debrief meetings as we continually strive to make each year’s event the 'best yet'. We can only do this with your input, so thank you for sharing.

To show you the ways in which we intend to make improvements to the 2015 regatta, we’ve highlighted below some of the key themes identified in the course text surveys, the post-event online survey, the class wash-up meeting and your individual comments.

Following your review of this feedback response, please do not hesitate to contact our Sailing Director (stuart.quarrie@aamcowesweek.co.uk) on any sailing matters, or our Sales & Marketing Director, Michelle Warner (michelle.warner@aamcowesweek.co.uk) for anything else.

Best wishes,
Peter Dickson, Chairman

The evolution of race management

2014 marked the 50th anniversary of the formation of Cowes Combined Clubs, and we used this occasion to review our operational structure and see how we could deliver an even better race experience at the regatta. Your feedback was complemented by the observations of our own independent analysts, and as a result the CWL Sailing Committee has undertaken to:

? introduce measures to significantly simplify the Sailing Instructions;
? evaluate ways in which race communications with competitors can be improved; and
? establish a consistent process which gives the best chance of racing when there is a late onset of wind.

In addition, the organising yacht clubs are evaluating the ways in which the general co- ordination of race management can be improved throughout the Week. More information on how this may be achieved will be shared in the Notice of Regatta newsletter, published in February.

Enhancing the race programme

Whilst the après-sail fun at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week is an important part of what you love about the regatta, we know that your racing comes first and we are constantly reviewing what else you’d like to see from the race programme.

In 2014, a number of classes indicated that they’d really like to have two races on at least one day of the regatta, and we’re therefore delighted to confirm that two races will be offered on one day of the 2015 regatta for the J/109, First 40.7s and Sigma 38 classes. The Sigma 33 class will also enjoy two races a day over the first weekend of the regatta as part of its class championships, and the Grand Slam format will continue to be offered to the SB20 and J/70 classes.

In addition, the role of the final Saturday is an area that has been frequently raised by both the racing sailors, as well as other stakeholder groups. This year CWL conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the importance of the final Saturday to various classes, and the resulting feedback indicates many polarised views within classes. In most cases, the majority who have the final Saturday included as part of their points series would like this to continue, but discussions will take place with individual classes where the feedback was marginal and we will continue to work with all classes to develop an attractive programme of racing for the final Saturday (even where this does not form part of their points series).

Reduced cost of berthing

In recent years we have worked hard to keep the total costs of participation as low as possible, but we know that it’s an area that we need continue to work closely on with others to provide better value for money. In 2014, the efforts made by East Cowes Marina with the introduction of their flexible 'Racer Rate' were really well received and East Cowes Marina has refined this offer for 2015 to make it even better value. Cowes Yacht Haven and Shepards Wharf Marina have followed suit for the year ahead with a reduction of 20% + to the price per metre charged throughout the period of the regatta. Full berthing prices for 2015 are available on the event website.

In addition, as a result of the increase in racing activity in Cowes throughout next summer due to the exciting bicentenary celebrations of the Royal Yacht Squadron, further special rates have been negotiated for boats berthing in Cowes for the period from 26th July through to the Fastnet on August 16th inclusive. Please contact either the Regatta Centre or the individual berthing providers direct for further information.

It is hoped that discounted early bird arrangements will once again be established with the accommodation providers and Red Funnel too for those of you booking early. More details will follow with the Notice of Regatta.

Cowes Town

Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week is Cowes’ flagship event and as a result of your comments, the event’s shore-side committee is working hard to ensure:

? Signage is improved throughout the town to key points of interest.
? Trading hours are extended throughout the event.
? The whole town is better integrated with the event.
? Empty shops are smartened-up and potentially re-used for the period of the event.

In addition, many of you would like a crew-only area to be established in addition to the crew bar at Shepards Wharf Marina and the facilities of the Cowes Yacht Clubs. This is currently under review with Cowes Yacht Haven.

In general, the efforts that the shore-side venues had taken to improve your event experience based on feedback responses to the previous years’ survey were noted in 2014. The venues continue to strive to improve the event in collaboration with CWL.

Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2015

The regatta dates in 2015 are 8 – 15 August (one week later due to the tides) and the full Notice of Regatta will be available in February via the event website. A wonderful summer of sailing and celebrations is ahead of us in Cowes, and it's only seven short months until Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week takes place. Be part of it with us!