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Serious racing

Serious racing

Racing for centuries

Racing for centuries

Heads up

Cowes Classics Regatta

Having canvassed the opinion of racing competitors, social attendees, sponsors and the clubs involved in the overall running of an event that has seen soaring popularity since inception in 2008, the Chairman and Organising Committee of Cowes Classics Regatta are delighted to unveil a new format. Retaining the key elements of ‘Cowes Classics ‘Week’, a much-loved and iconic spectacle on the racing calendar, the decision has been taken to shorten the regatta to run the event over the long weekend of Friday 30th May through to Sunday 1st June 2025, but with more racing than ever before and a schedule of shoreside activities that will match, or better, anything seen in the regatta’s history. “It was vital that we recognised the shifting demands of all our stakeholders,” commented His Honour Judge Peter Ralls KC, Chairman of Cowes Classics Regatta, “whilst also retaining the key facets that have made the week-long regatta such a success in the past. I trust that competitors in the one-design fleets will find eight compacted races to be both a challenge and a welcome upscale, whilst those competing off the shoreline will complete a six-race series. Meanwhile I am enthused to see shoreside events that mirror and complement the on-water activity.”

Event ratings

  • Fun     ♥♥♥
  • Race ♥♥♥♥
  • Venue(s) ♥♥
  • Adventure ♥

Contact information

Call: +44 1983 300 727
sailing@rlyc.org.uk
50.7656562,-1.3019534

Event highlights

The team are looking forward to welcoming everyone to take part in, or spectate at, another successful Cowes Week Regatta in 2025.

Visiting this unique automotive and maritime showcase is free of charge. Over 50 classic cars on display. A unique collection of interesting and historic motor vessels and yachts. Spitfire fly-past. Explore the stories of each car and boat from the presentation notes displayed prominently on each entry. Talk to the owners and restorers. Vote for your favourite car and boat. There will be an award ceremony at 3.00pm. Further attractions are being prepared and will be unveiled soon. Motor Gun Boat 81 The restored Motor Gunboat 81 is hoping to visit

Participating Yachts

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to race in a 500 boat fleet, starting under cannon fire off the historic Royal Yacht Squadron, but don’t have access to a boat of your own, chartering is an increasingly cost-effective way of getting involved.

Organisation

Royal London Yacht Club

Official Charter Supplier

Prometheus Sailing

Mail: events@prometheus-sailing.co.uk

Official Charter Supplier

Solent Events

Mail: simon@solent-events.co.uk

Official Charter Supplier

LV Yachting

Mail: info@lvyachting.com

Official Charter Supplier

Fairview

Mail: info@fairviewsailing.co.uk

Social Program

One of the great things about Cowes Week is that spectators can watch much of the racing from the shore. The Green and The Parade are great places to view the action and spectators also now have a number of fantastic opportunities to go afloat.

Watch ashore
One of the best locations to watch the starts ashore each morning is undoubtedly the area between the Castle of the Royal Yacht Squadron and the cannons – as long as you don’t mind the loud bangs! Racing is scheduled to start at approximately 10 am every day.

Here you can get right on the line and see who got the best start and which boats were over the line. You can also hear the race officers giving their countdowns and calling the starts from the Royal Yacht Squadron battlements. In the afternoon, head along the Green towards Egypt Point to watch the fleet as they finish.

Spectator Boats
For those wanting to watch from the water, there are a number of spectator boat options, offering trips to watch the racing action up close. Trips are an hour-long and depart 10.30am, 12.00pm and 1.30pm from Trinity Landing on Cowes Parade.

Background

During the post-war era, each day of racing was run by a different Cowes or Solent mainland club. Every club printed their own sailing instructions and ran their own programme for the day. By 1964 however, the clubs had realised that there were significant benefits in having one central body to coordinate the racing. They agreed to combine resources and establish Cowes Combined Clubs (CCC) to run the racing as a single organisation. CCC has 9 members: 8 yacht clubs and the Cowes Town Regatta committee. On each day of the regatta, one or two clubs present their own trophies. CCC members work as a team to organise and provide the race management for the week.”

In 1995 Cowes Week Sponsorship Ltd. was formed to manage the sponsorship and shore-side aspects of the event. This operated in parallel with the activities of CCC.

In November 2007, Cowes Week Ltd (wholly owned by CCC) was formed to provide a single management board for the event with overall responsibility for policy decisions and determining strategic direction. This ensures that the business operation of both the shore-side and racing elements are managed in a more streamlined way. CWL is serviced on a day to day basis by the Management Team, with input from the committee structure.

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