Home / News / 2007 / 7 / 24 / Archive /

Win a Cowes Week Race Day 4-11 August

ITV Local have created an entire channel on their website to cover the world famous Skandia Cowes Week. There will be a live camera for the duration of the event, over the race start line & will have a huge amount of video footage regularly uploaded to the website - so you won't miss out on a thing!

Also the opportunity to WIN a Cowes Week race day! To stand a chance of winning this competition click on the below link www.itvlocal.com/meridian/cowes_comp/

Visitor Information -Skandia Cowes Week from 4-11 August

Oceans of fun can be had at Skandia Cowes Week from 4-11 August (www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk). This world-class sailing event now attracts 8000 yachts so board a spectator boat to see the racing or just soak up the atmosphere from street entertainment for the kids to trendy nightlife - Pims anyone?

Here's our guide to making the most of the event, both on and off the water......

Sail Ride...Wightlink Ferries are offering a Sail and Ride service, it will run between 4th and 11th August and is being operated in conjunction with Southern Vectis. The price for a foot passengers is £13.00 per person (adult or child) and Includes return ferry crossing and bus travel from Yarmouth to Cowes. For more information contact www.wightlink.co.uk

Highlights of the 2007 event!

Ellen Macarthur Trust Charity Day (Mon 6th Aug)
Monday 6th August will once again be the official Skandia Cowes Week Charity Day. The Trust will attempt to "Turn Cowes Blue". So if you are in Cowes on Monday 6th, prepare to show support for the Charity by showing support for the blue theme! The Ellen MacArthur Trust stand will be on Cowes Parade, with a state of the art sailing simulator to help raise funds for the charity, so why not come and have a go?

Champagne G.H. Mumm Ladies Day (Thurs 9th Aug)
Champagne G.H. Mumm Ladies Day @ Skandia Cowes Week recognises and celebrates the contribution and achievements of women in sailing, so if you are in Cowes on Thurs 9th Aug, prepare to help us with these celebrations! There will be a whole host of activities in place to help the celebrations along - check the Skandia Cowes Week website (www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk) for further information as we get closer to the Event.

Ladies Day (Thursday 9th August)

Shop 'till you drop - Courtesy of Henri Lloyd
The Henri Lloyd Sailing Store in Cowes High Street is offering a fabulous 15% off all ladies wear ...but only on Thursday 9th August, so put aside some time for a bit of retail therapy that day.

Come in Number 1! - Try your hand at radio-controlled Laser racing
Racing high performance radio controlled yachts is an exciting, challenging and very satisfying pastime and all-comers to the event are invited to have a go with a radio controlled Laser.

A number of local Cowes-based owners have kindly volunteered their boats and their time to enable members of the public to sign up for a 15 minute race off Cowes Parade by Trinity Landing. These will take place between 1800 and 2000 on Sunday 5th August, on the Ellen MacArthur Trust Charity Day (Mon 6th Aug), and on Champagne G.H. Mumm Ladies Day (Thurs 9th Aug), when racing will be just for the girls. Donations to the Ellen MacArthur Trust will be welcomed from all those competing.

To take part, all you need to do is sign-up at the Event Information Point on Cowes Parade and, subject to availability, you can try it for yourself.

Your chance to beat the best - on The Ellen MacArthur Trust Sailing Simulator. As part of the activities being staged during Champagne G.H. Mumm Ladies Day, The Ellen MacArthur Trust (EMT) will be running a competition to beat Dame Ellen MacArthur's time as set on the Sailing Simulator on the EMT stand on Cowes Parade. The prize for the winning time is a bottle of Champagne G.H. Mumm Rose.

Mmmm....enjoy a soothing hand massage - Courtesy of Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare. After all that excitement on the EMT stand, head for the Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare retail stand, also situated on Cowes Parade, and enjoy a complimentary hand massage from the team at Liz Earle.

Spectator Boat Service

A spectator boat service will run from Trinity Landing on Cowes Parade enabling visitors to Skandia Cowes Week to safely get in amongst the action and enjoy closer views of the racing. There will be live commentary on board during the hour-long round trip. Advance bookings are possible by completing the online booking form on the Skandia Cowes Week website, available from June (www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk). Visitors will also be able to book onsite during Skandia Cowes Week at the entrance to Trinity Landing (subject to availability). Prices are £10 per adult and £8 for children aged 16 and under.

Spectator Boat Schedule (times are approximate)
10.30 - 11.30 12.00 - 13.00 13.30 - 14.30

Try Sailing

Skandia will once again be running their "Try Sailing" initiative, with members of the public able to get out on the water, courtesy of Skandia, for an hour's introductory session. Around 800 people will be taught how to tack, gybe and take the helm, and each day of the Event bookings can be made at the Skandia Try Sailing booking office on Cowes Parade. Lessons run from 0930 to 1730.

Do's & Don'ts

Do Allow plenty of time at the event to watch the racing, enjoy the entertainment, and really soak up the atmosphere. Racing starts from approx 10:30 and entertainments ashore continue until late into the evening.

Do Buy an official event programme - this will help explain the racing and make sense of the melee of over 1000 boats out on the water. These can be purchased:
- in advance from the Regatta Office (01983 295744);
- on your way over to Cowes from the Red Jet terminal in Southampton;
- or after you've arrived, from the Event Information Point on Cowes Parade (follow the signs!).

Do Book up for one of the spectator boat trips. This is possible in advance (h/l to booking form on website), or when you arrive at the event. Bookings will be taken onsite from the entrance to Trinity Landing on Cowes Parade, subject to availability.

Do Bring a small portable radio with you so that you can stay tuned into the action reported on Cowes Radio (87.7), and a pair of binoculars so that you can really focus in on the sailing action.

Do Be prepared for changeable weather conditions.

Don't Bring your car with you - getting to Cowes is simple by public transport (h/l to Travel part of website)
Don't Leave booking accommodation until the last minute if you are planning on staying over in Cowes - it is in very short supply during the Event

Don't Miss the race starts (sequence starts from around 10.30)

Don't Expect to be able to see all the boats racing all of the time - different courses will take boats to different parts of the Solent

Getting to and from Cowes Parade during Cowes Week

Throughout the Regatta, the whole of the Parade area is thrown open to pedestrians so that people are free to move about and enjoy the sights and sounds without worrying about dodging the traffic.

A courtesy "Sailbus" works in conjunction with the special Cowes Week car parks at Northwood House and Cowes High School. The bus stops outside these approximately every five minutes from 09.30 until 18.00 from Saturday 4 August through to Friday 10 August. The bus route offers the most direct journey to the Parade, and returns the long way round via Prince's Esplanade, offering passengers spectacular views over the Solent.

Sailbuses are the only public vehicles permitted onto the Parade during Cowes Week.

Parking your car

There are severe vehicle restrictions in the town centre and on the Parade during the Week, and extra parking spaces are provided in the grassed areas at Northwood Park, off Ward Avenue and at Cowes High School, off Crossfield Avenue, when Northwood Park is full. The car parks will be open from Friday 3 August to Sunday 12 August from 08.00 - 18.00. The charge is £5 per day/stay. A weekly pass is also available at a reduced rate. All charges include the free Sailbus to Cowes Parade which you can catch from these car parks.

Cowes Football Club and the Isle of Wight Community Club both situated off Park Road will also be used on Firework Night (10 August). All temporary car parks will be clearly signed. East Cowes offers extra car parking facilities on Victoria Grove Recreation Grounds for Fireworks Night only.

Using the Chain Ferry

Pedestrians and motorists may also access Cowes from East Cowes by means of the Chain Ferry. This is free of charge to pedestrians and provides the opportunity to walk throughout the whole of the pedestrianised zone from Shooter's Hill to Prince's Green, enjoying the sights, sounds and ambience of the event.

Extra overnight services are being provided on the Cowes - East Cowes Chain Ferry across the River Medina. From Friday night 3 August until Saturday night 11 August (inclusive), the usual back-and-forth operation that would normally end shortly before midnight will extend until 02.00. After this there will be each-way services at about 02.20, 02.40 and the last one at 03.00. The usual continuous service will commence at 05.00. On Fireworks Night (10 August) the only vehicles that will be carried between 19.00 and 23.00 will be emergency vehicles. All times are subject to tides, weather and navigation. For further information contact the Ferry Office on 01983 293041.

Opening times of Cowes Tourist Information Centre

Visitors to Cowes may wish to drop in to the council's TIC (Tourist Information Centre) for up to date information, accommodation availability, where to eat etc. The TIC is situated in Fountain Quay right outside the Red Jet terminal. Opening times during the Week are:

Saturday 4 August 0930 - 1700
Sunday 5 August 1000 - 1600
Monday 6 August 0930 - 1700
Tuesday 7 August 0930 - 1700
Wednesday 8 August 0930 - 1700
Thursday 9 August 0930 - 1700
Friday 10 August 0930 - 1700
Saturday 11 August 0930 - 1700
Sunday 12 August 1000 - 1530

What's on ashore?

The Isle of Wight Council plays a huge role in supporting this event ensuring that life is as much fun on shore as off. Seafront entertainment adds to the carnival like atmosphere throughout the event.

The staged area on the Parade bandstand offers free entertainment including live bands, comedians and magic shows for the kids. The Parade is also the prime viewing area - watch the racing, catch up on the racing results and soak up the atmosphere whilst sitting in the decked garden or wandering through the marquees.

The traditional Friday night firework finale lights up the night sky silhouetting hundreds of boats against the skyline. Thousands gather from Princes Green to the Marina, Cowes or along the seafront in East Cowes to watch the magnificent display. Further information is also available on www.iwight.com and www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk. The spectacular display takes place on Friday 10 August beginning at 21.30 and lasting for about half an hour.

Evening Entertainment at the Marina

Wristbands are available from Cowes Yacht Haven on 01983 299975 or email info@cowesyachthaven.com

Prices:
£7.00 per night
£9.00 for Friday 10th August (Fireworks Night)
£5.00 for Saturday 11th August

Who's Playing?
Friday 3rd August Hanging Baskets
Saturday 4th August Earth Wind for Hire
Sunday 5th August Jive Aces
Monday 6th August Lime House Lizzy
Tuesday 7th August The AllStars
Wednesday 8th August Rumble Band
Thursday 9th August Tarantinos
Friday 10th August Backbeat Beatles
Saturday 11th August Hot Chocolate

Entertainment at Northwood House

THEATRE IN THE PARK on the lawns of Northwood House - 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' screening on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 August. Tickets are £10 adults and £7 children. Doors open at 18:30 and the performance starts at 19:30. Please bring your picnic and a low-backed chair or rug to sit on. There will be a bar and refreshments available during these two evenings. Tel: 01983 289842 for more information.

And on 10 August there's a BBQ! Watch the fireworks from the grounds at Northwood House. Please bring a chair or blanket to sit on. At just £10 per head, the evening is a bargain! Open from19.30 onwards. Numbers are limited so ring 01983 289842 to book your places.