Cowes Week 2010

The UK's longest-running and most prestigious sailing regatta, Cowes Week (31 July - 7 August), returns to the Isle of Wight with a brilliant mix of competitive sailing, glittering parties and live entertainment, providing visitors with the perfect opportunity to jump aboard and soak up the atmosphere either on or off-shore.

A thousand sailboats, 8,500 competitors and more than a hundred thousand spectators ensures Cowes Week's position as the world's largest sailing regatta of its kind. Races – around 40 per day - take place in the Solent waters off Cowes. Watch all the action from Cowes seafront, especially The Green which offers a panoramic viewing platform, and the Royal Yacht Squadron from where the races start and finish. For a close-up of the action, take a spectator boat which can be booked on the day or in advance at www.cowesweek.co.uk (£10 adult/£8 child).

On-shore entertainment

On-shore there's a fabulous festival atmosphere with family fun and the best of Island produce. Highlights this year include iShares Cup, hosted during the first three days of Cowes Week (1-3 August). The thrills and spills of racing will take place within metres of the Cowes shoreline adding a sensational display for the thousands of visitors who gather to watch; the RNLI Charity Day (2 August) and Ladies Day (4 August) celebrating women in sailing. Later enjoy the live bands at Cowes Yacht Haven and the spectacular fireworks display on the Friday night (6 August). See What's on Where: www.cowesweek.co.uk

Throughout the week, the Parade is turned into a tented village offering plenty of musical entertainment to complement the grandstand views of racing.

Please see our practical advice page for more details, including the latest 5-day weather forecast for Cowes from the Met Office.

An exciting shore-side programme for Cowes Week 2010

The shore-side programme for Cowes Week 2010 is set to provide the perfect complement to a packed racing schedule and guarantee the usual vibrant, festival atmosphere ashore for which Cowes Week is so well known.

Fireworks

Cowes Week Limited (CWL) is delighted to confirm that the spectacular annual Cowes Week fireworks display has been secured for 2010 thanks to a generous anonymous donor. The display will take place on Friday 6 August at 21:30.

Click here for the fireworks viewing guide & floating bridge safety information. 

Red Arrows

The sensational Cowes Week Red Arrows display, a regular fixture in recent years, will take place at 19:00 on Friday 6 August thanks to sponsorship by Artemis Investment Management for the second year running. The display will serve as a perfect warm-up to the fireworks.

The RNLI Charity Day

Monday 2 August will be a day when efforts are focused on the activities of the official charity with an emphasis on fundraising and generating awareness of the charity’s great work.

Ladies Day

A celebration of women in sailing - one of very few mainstream sports where men and women compete on equal terms – will take place on Wednesday 4 August. A whole host of fun and celebratory activities will provide a focus for the day.

Each of the shore-side venues will also be contributing to the unique festival atmosphere of Cowes Week. Highlights include:

• A dedicated area for Cowes Week participants and friends at Shepards Wharf Marina will host daily live bands, crew parties and themed nights throughout the week. Entrance to the site is free, although Competitor Cards may be required at certain times. The late night crew bar is open until 02:00 and entry to Infernos Nightclub is free with a Competitor Card before 22:00 throughout the week (except Friday 6 August).

• A lively party atmosphere in the centre of Cowes at Cowes Yacht Haven where live acts will perform on The Gill Stage from 16:00 until late. Entrance this year will be free to all (excluding Fireworks night).

• The chance to mingle with the two America’s Cup teams, TEAMORIGIN and BMWORACLE Racing at The 1851 Cup Village on Cowes Parade. Here, you will also be able to watch the Cowes Week racing fleets as they head to and from their start and finish lines and enjoy live entertainment throughout the week.

• The Egypt Point race village, will welcome Cowes Week participants and the general public to enjoy the great entertainment of the Extreme Sailing Series racing close to shore each afternoon, while enjoying a relaxed drink, food, commentary and music.

• A buzzing town throughout the week with street theatre and live entertainments, provided courtesy of Cowes Business Association.

Full details of the entertainment line-up throughout Cowes Week are now available online at www.cowesweek.co.uk. Details will be updated in the approach to the event, so keep checking back for more information.

Travel & Transport

As well as the usual Red Funnel ferry services from Southampton to Cowes, Blue Funnel also operates a dedicated regatta service from Lymington to Cowes during the event. Wightlink will be operating their normal services from Portsmouth to Ryde and Fishbourne and Lymington to Yarmouth and if you plan to bring a car, booking is essential. Parking is available at Northwood House in Cowes and Southern Vectis are offering a Park & Ride service available from Somerton just outside Cowes.

For the most uptodate information, including accommodation availability, visit Cowes tourist information centre which is open Monday to Saturday 9.30 to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 3pm. Cowes Week accommodation can also be booked on-line at www.islandbreaks.co.uk

Please click here for practical advice on Parking and additional floating bridge services

Come Racing

You can join in the sailing action at Cowes Week and Come Racing for just £10. LaserPerformance, the company behind the Laser SB3 dinghy, one of the larges classes at Cowes Week, has teamed up with Pelecan Racing to offer visitors an opportunity to 'Come Racing' after the rest of the 1,000 boat fleet has finished for the day. For further details, go to the Spectactor Guide at www.cowesweek.co.uk

Learn to Sail

Just about every British sailor, including Chay Blythe, learned the ropes on the Solent, a narrow stretch of water between the Isle of Wight and the south coast of England. For those inspired to take the plunge, the Island's pristine waters and mild climate is a great place to get started. Learn to sail packages and sailing-based activity holidays are available year round for all the family - visit www.islandbreaks.co.uk/site/sports-and-outdoor-activities/sailing.