Please select your home edition
Edition
RS Sailing 2021 - LEADERBOARD

Ramping up for Cowes Week 2021

by Mary Scott-Jackson 30 Jul 2021 04:10 PDT 31 July - 6 August 2021
All set for racing at Cowes Week © Rick Tomlinson / www.rick-tomlinson.com

Saturday 31st July sees the start of the 195th edition of Cowes Week, the world's longest running sailing regatta and, after a year away due to Covid, the Cowes Week Ltd (CWL) team are excited to see many regular competitors returning and to welcome newcomers to the event.

This year sees a number of changes as the CWL team work to ensure that 2021 is the best yet!

The weather outlook

Cowes Week Meteorologist Fiona Campbell comments: "The long range weather outlook for Cowes Week is a promising one with no sign of stifling heat from high pressure or strong storms. The prevailing wind will be the one we know and love so well on the Solent: west to south west, funnelling up the western Solent and with some thermal enhancement on the sunniest days there should be plenty of champagne sailing.

"Wind speeds should average between 6 to 16 knots for the first half of the week at least. There may be the odd passing showers but with plenty of sunny spells air temperatures should reach low to mid twenties, feeling cooler on the water in the breeze & much warmer out of the wind in central Cowes."

Weather forecasts, sponsored by Sevenstar Yacht Transport, are updated twice a day on the website and more frequently on the Cowes Week Competitor app.

New additions and changes for 2021

One of the biggest changes this year is there will be more starts and finishes from the Royal Yacht Squadron line, making for more exciting racing for competitors and spectators alike.

A completely new class to Cowes Week this year is the Club Cruiser Division who will have their own start. There will be a further three starts in the Performance Cruiser Division. A new trophy for the Club Cruiser Division is being sponsored by The Cruising Association.

A great addition for competitors this year are the Musto Morning Briefings at 09:30 each day with Regatta Director Laurence Mead and Meteorologist Fiona Campbell supported by members of the British Sailing Team and well-known sailors giving their insight into tactical plans for the day. The briefings wil be broadcast live and then be available to view via the website and the App.

New for this year are the daily prize-givings which will take place on the Parade each day at 17:00. The prizes presented will be for the previous day's racing.

The new Cowes Week App is available to all, with competitors getting their own personal guide to the regatta, both ashore and afloat, including course data for the whole crew. A version of the App is also available to visitors to Cowes and to remote spectators bringing them closer to the action and keeping them up to date with all that is happenng at the Regatta. The Cowes Week App is also the place to go to watch all of the starts live, as they happen, from the Royal Yacht Squadron. Cowes Live is one of the most comprehensive presentations of sailing from any regatta in the world.

The biggest fleet of Sonar one designs for more than a decade will gather at Cowes Week 2021 for the UK Sonar National Championship which is being run as part of the Regatta.

Cuvée 450 Solent Team Trophy - Entries are still being accepted from club teams for this trophy which must be made up of at least one boat from White Group and one from Black Group. The winning team receive a Magnum of Cuvée 450 for each skipper. The Royal Yacht Squadron have entered a very strong team, made up of Adam Gosling's Yes! David Franks Leon and Jonathan Calacione's Calypso.

2021 sees the first ever Opening Party for competitors sponsored by Cuvée 450. Being held at Cowes Yacht Haven on Saturday 31st July, competitors will be able to enjoy free bubbly whilst catching up with old and new friends after the first day's racing.

The Overall Prize Giving takes place on Friday 6th August at Cowes Yacht Haven with magnums of Cuvée 450 for all class winners (and a few magnums for other 'special moments' we catch on camera!!)

Shoreside

Sadly, there will not be any fireworks or a Red Arrows display this year, but there is still plenty to see and do at the various venues around town throughout the week with entertainment and bars on The Parade, Cowes Yacht Haven, Shepards Marina and at Northwood House.

See the full entertainment schedule.

Related Articles

Cowes Week 2022 overall
A spectacularly busy finish line at the Royal Yacht Squadron The last day of Cowes Week featured short, action-packed races in a solid north-westerly gradient wind, culminating in a spectacularly busy finish line at the Royal Yacht Squadron. Posted on 6 Aug 2022
Cowes Week day 6
Khumbu wins the New York Yacht Club Challenge Cup A thrilling finish for the Grand Prix yachts competing for the New York Yacht Club Challenge Cup, one of sailing's most coveted prizes, saw Christian Zugel's GP42 Tschuss lead three boats across the Royal Yacht Squadron line just 30 seconds apart. Posted on 4 Aug 2022
Cowes Week day 5
Ian Atkins' Dark 'n' Stormy wins the Britannia Cup Lighter winds this morning increased to give competitors another great day on the water, predominately in breezes of 10-18 knots. Posted on 3 Aug 2022
Cowes Week day 4
Women's Day sees a great ratio of female helms More brisk winds and warm weather provided a further day of excitement for the fourth day of Cowes Week. Sir Ben Ainslie, the most successful Olympic sailor ever, was racing today, demonstrating just how seriously the top teams take their racing. Posted on 2 Aug 2022
Cowes Week day 3
One highlight: more than 20 XODs crossed the finish line overlapped After a relaxed morning waiting for wind, Cowes Week competitors enjoyed a third successive day of glorious sailing and close racing in ideal conditions. Posted on 1 Aug 2022
Cowes Week day 2
Lashings of excitement, thrills, spills and adrenaline Warm weather, combined with winds gusting above 25 knots, provided lashings of excitement, thrills, spills and adrenaline for competitors at Cowes Week today. Long downwind legs for many classes ensured competitors came ashore with big grins. Posted on 31 Jul 2022
Cowes Week day 1
Sun and a west-south-westerly breeze that built from 10 to 15 knots The Solent delivered a sparkling and action-packed day for the start of Cowes Week, with plenty of sun and west-south-westerly breeze that built from 10 to 15 knots to give maximum gusts in the low 20s by early afternoon. Posted on 30 Jul 2022
Entries open for Cowes Week 2022
The team are excited about plans for this year's event Cowes Week Ltd (CWL) is delighted to announce that entries for Cowes Week 2022 will open at noon today, with Super Early Bird discounts available until 18 February. Posted on 21 Jan 2022
Cowes Week 2021 overall
A mix of interesting and exciting racing Cowes Week 2021 delivered a mix of interesting and exciting racing, with up to 40 races per day across 30 classes. Posted on 6 Aug 2021
Cowes Week 2021 Day 6
Tight and energetic racing today in brisk southerly winds Competitors enjoyed tight and energetic racing today in brisk southerly winds building ahead of a weather front. Posted on 5 Aug 2021
SailGP_Technologies_Caro52_1456x180 BOTTOMASB23-SW-1456x180-Banner-Bottom-REV-01SOUTHERN-SPARS-OFFICIAL-SUPPLIER-52-SS728-X-90 Bottom