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Cowes Week 2019: How to get involved

Cowes Week is a highlight of the sailing calendar, held on the Isle of Wight and dating all the way back to 1826. This year, it’s running from the 10th to the 17th August, and whether you’re a sailor or not, there’s loads of ways to get involved and enjoy the racing.

With so many boats on the water, this is an impressive regatta to watch from the shore. Racing is scheduled to start at 10am each morning and, if you’re not bothered by loud noises, you should get yourself right down by the cannons for this part. If you want to get closer to the action, there’s a number of opportunities to get yourself afloat on a RIB trip throughout the day. For the finish, we recommend taking a walk along the Green and heading over to Egypt Point to watch the fleet cross the line.

Key dates

Throughout the week, there’s a wide range of exciting events to get involved in, so put these dates in your diary and make the most of everything on offer.

Family Day – Sunday 11th August

The Sunday of the regatta is filled with family-friendly activities and entertainment, making a great day out for parents and children alike. With live music, entertainers and face painting, as well as family discounts on RIB rides, complimentary on-the-water sailing experiences and coaching, this is a fun-filled day to inspire the next generation of sailors to get involved and have a go.

To keep your child safe on the water, take a look at our great deals on kids life jackets.

Charity Day – Monday 12th August

The Official Event Charity, The 1851 Trust, supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds all over the UK. To meet their target of £30,000, they’ll be running activities to fundraise throughout the week, such as all-day treasure hunts with prizes up for grabs too!

Slingsby Ladies Day – Tuesday 13th August

Though Cowes Week has many mixed crews, and a lot of all-women crews too, it’s still less common to see women helming during the regatta, so Ladies Day hugely encourages this with the awarding of the Royal Southern Ariel Trophy for the best overall result from a female helm on this Tuesday. Both on and off the water, all women are encouraged to wear navy and white stripes for the day, with discounts at bars and pop-ups on shore on offer as well.

Keep yourself protected from unexpected showers with huge discounts on women’s coats and jackets.

Youth Day – Wednesday 14th August

Here’s one for the younger sailors, this day includes discounted entrance fees for crews under 25 and a Caribbean themed party to celebrate the next generation of sailors. If you’re not sure whether to enter or not, chance of winning a ticket for a skipper and a guest to race in Antigua Sailing Week in 2020 might sway you!

Fireworks and Awards – Friday 16th August

On the penultimate day of the regatta, it’s time to take your eyes off the water and look up at the sky, with an amazing aerial performance from the RAF Typhoon Display Team at 19:30, and a spectacular fireworks display at 21:30 – bring along a warm fleece to keep yourself toasty while you watch, and don’t forget your earplugs!

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Written by Eliza Tilbury

Updated on 1st October 2019

Originally published on 9th August 2019 in Sailing

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