6:20 AM Tue 6 Apr 2010 GMT
Cowes Week opens its doors for entries to the world's best known sailing regatta. This iconic British event, one of the longest running in UK sporting history, looks forward to welcoming both regular and new participants to this year's regatta. From 31st July to 7th August the Solent will once again be awash with colour and vitality as Cowes Week enjoys its 184th anniversary; a true celebration of serious sailing fun at its very best.
The team at Cowes Week Limited work tirelessly behind-the-scenes to make improvements to the regatta each year in response to feedback and requests. As a result, a number of changes have been made for 2010.
Crew Lists
This year, a crew list requirement has been introduced, designed to improve communications between the regatta organisers and participants. This will ensure that all competitors have access to the information they need (not just the person who enters the boat), and planned improvements and amendments to the Sailing Instructions can be reported as widely as possible.
Class Changes for 2010
. J/Sprit and J/92 Championship - the J/Sprit class has been re-instated to split out the majority of fixed bowsprits from boats with moveable spinnaker poles. The first four days of Cowes Week will also be used by the J/92s as their National Championship.
. Sigma 33 Championship - the Sigma 33s will use the 2010 regatta as their Class Championship.
. Mixed Dayboat Class - the 707, 1720, and Sonata fleets will be amalgamated into a single mixed dayboat class. They will use the same class flag, have the same starts, courses and finishes but have separate one-design fleet results.
. Sportsboat (SBR) class - If sufficient numbers of people want to race using the RYA/RORC sportsboat rule then a class will be added to the mixed dayboat class. Please contact the Regatta Office to discuss this.
. IRC rated fleet - To reduce the average fleet size, the number of IRC classes will be increased by two. Following your feedback last year, we will be doing splits, based purely on rating.
. Large, canting keeled boats - There are unlikely to be enough of this type of boat in the UK to justify their own fleet and they do not fit easily into a fleet of boats with fixed keels. However, if sufficient numbers of canting keeled boats want to race, we will consider running racing for these boats. Please contact the Regatta Office to discuss this.
. Cruisers - To accommodate cruisers, two choices are offered:
o A non-spinnaker class for the whole week.
o A class for a single day of racing on the final Saturday, using the free and simple Island Sailing Club Rating System. This is offered with the low entry fee of only ?40 for the day's racing, regardless of boat size.
. Longtze Class - We are delighted to welcome this new and exciting planing dayboat and anticipate an inaugural fleet of between fifteen and twenty boats.
Course Setting
Good courses are a key component of Cowes Week and something that we take very seriously. To ensure consistently high standards are achieved, a number of improvements for 2010 have been made:
. Black and White Groups will each have a dedicated Principle Course Setter, chosen from a core team of only the most experienced racing sailors. They will be assisted by club representatives.
. The support team will be strengthened and extensive pre-event training sessions, designed to help familiarize all team members with a variety of race-day scenarios, will be run.
. An overall course setting co-ordinator will be in place to maintain good communications and to ensure that each course satisfies the ethos of a fun and challenging racing.
Berthing
Following feedback from the 2009 event, we have been able to agree some reductions for you in the cost of berthing during Cowes Week.
. For 2010, Cowes Yacht Haven has reduced its berthing prices by ten percent. Although currently fully booked, Cowes Yacht Haven will keep a number of berths available on a first come first served basis for people wanting to experience Cowes Week for a short period of time. There will also be free entry into Cowes Yacht Haven each evening (excluding fireworks night).
. East Cowes Marina have rolled back their Cowes Week Package to 2006 prices and access will be improved for 2010 as Solent & Wightline Cruises, courtesy of East Cowes Marina and Cowes Harbor Commission, will provide a free up-river ferry service.
. Responding to a number of requests for provision of short-stay berthing, organizers are introducing a new facility on Trinity Landing; berthing for up to three hours for a fixed fee of ?15. This will be strictly limited according to availability, pre-booking will not be possible.
Read the NOR and enter online at
www.cowesweek.co.uk
by Michelle Warner
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