This year marks Skandia’s 13th and penultimate year as the title sponsor of Cowes Week and the Event has witnessed some incredibly positive changes during this period.  Skandia's long-term investment - both financially and in terms of the time they put in working with the Event’s organising committee at Cowes Combined Clubs (CCC) - has helped to make Skandia Cowes Week a world-renowned success, both on and off the water.  Their commitment to sailing as a sport in general has also worked to the benefit of the Event, adding some big boat glamour, offshore sailing heroes and Olympic stars to the mix of competition, fun and excitement.

This year will be no exception when it comes to sailing stars, big boat glamour and excitement in Cowes! To coincide with the Rolex Fastnet Race, the biennial institution that lures the big guns to the Solent in early August, CCC, under the guiding hand of regatta director Stuart Quarrie, is running a newly created IRC Class 0 Big Boat Series during Skandia Cowes Week.


Racing will take place between the biggest, most expensive and exciting racing yachts on the global circuit; indeed the Series is already enticing the owners and skippers of the world’s largest and fastest ocean racing yachts to come to this great regatta (Friday 3rd August - Saturday 11th August).  The new IRC Class 0 also meets the demands of the owners of mainstream Class 1 boats to separate canting keelers from boats with fixed keels.

Recognising that the majority of these big boats will only be able to accommodate a few days racing into their schedule prior to the start of the Rolex Fastnet, the Big Boat Series will comprise three days of racing encompassing a round-the-cans Solent race on Friday, 3rd  August – the day before the remaining classes start their Week - a race around the Island on Wednesday, 8th August and a short passage race on Thursday, 9th August.

Stuart Quarrie, explains:
“A typical Cowes Week course will provide tight Solent racing for these big boats on the day before the remaining 1,000 boats start their week’s racing. This allows the big boats the space they need and gives the Event a spectacular platform from which to launch the Week.”

Racing events staged to inspire great competition

An integral part of the race around the Island will be  ‘The Artemis Challenge at Skandia Cowes Week’, a race for Open 60 yachts that is being hosted and sponsored by Artemis. This is still in the planning stages but we’re expecting a sprinkling of celebrity guests to be invited to participate and Artemis is putting up a prize pot of £10,000 for the winning boat to donate to a charity of its choice.
 
We’re also hosting the Extreme 40s again this year. This exciting class will compete in Cowes in the UK edition of ‘The iShares Cup at Skandia Cowes Week’ and will no doubt provide some spectacular racing; these boats hammering across Solent waters at full pelt make for a truly exhilarating and breathtaking sight.

   
‘The iShares Cup at Skandia Cowes Week’ takes place on Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th August.

Another great piece of news is that, as a result of the success of our first-ever Ladies Day @ Skandia Cowes Week last year, Champagne G.H. Mumm has stepped up to the mark and is sponsoring this year’s special day on Thursday 9th August.

With G.H. Mumm’s own commitment to celebrating remarkable feats of endurance and human achievement and as a long-time supporting sponsor of the Event, it’s an obvious and perfect fit and there is a whole host of fun and celebratory activities planned. The Skandia Cowes Week website is the place to look for further news and details.

In support of Champagne G.H. Mumm Ladies Day, the Ladies Day Trophy will be awarded in recognition of the achievements and contribution of women in sailing across the board – from the Corinthian sailor, and those overcoming difficulties in order to succeed in sailing, through to those who have undertaken remarkable challenges in sailing.
 
In 2006, the inaugural Ladies Day Trophy was awarded to Betty Moore. At 88, it was fitting that Betty should become the first recipient of the Trophy, having sailed in Cowes every year since 1947; demonstration indeed of a remarkable woman making a remarkable contribution!
 
The nomination process for the 2007 G.H. Mumm Ladies Day Trophy is now up and running via the Skandia Cowes Week website.

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Preparations underway for the Ellen MacArthur Trust

BIG BRANDS SIGN UP

LYMINGTON TO COWES FERRY SERVICE

Cowes Combined Clubs, the organisers of Skandia Cowes Week, in partnership with Blue Funnel Cruises, is delighted to announce the introduction of a dedicated ferry service for competitors during Skandia Cowes Week 2007. The service will operate from Saturday 4th – Saturday 11th Aug between the Lymington Town Harbour Masters Jetty (next to the Lymington Town Sailing Club and Harbour Masters Office) and Trinity Landing, Cowes.

The service will cost:

·       £15 return;

·       £8 single; OR

·       £107.50 for an 8 day ticket

Advance bookings are possible from the Blue Funnel Offices on: 023 8022 3278 or office@bluefunnel.co.uk. Tickets can also be purchased on the boat on the day.

For further details, and for timetable information, please visit the travel section of the Skandia Cowes Week website at www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk

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Keep up to date with all the latest news and information in the lead up to Skandia Cowes Week via LDCs Marine Section