Peter Taylor, Regatta ChairmanFollowing the success of last year’s event - the biggest and best ever - we are again working hard to bring you exceptional racing and varied shore side parties.
We are delighted that Charles Stanley is continuing their headline sponsorship. As before, their involvement will not be as a corporate looker on, but as members of a shared experience as there will be Charles Stanley employees competing at the event again. The Royal London Yacht Club and Charles Stanley see significant business synergies with the owners and crews of the classic boats attending the regatta and we invite competitors to speak with the Charles Stanley representatives to find out more about their Investment Management proposition.
There are always exciting developments surrounding Cowes Classics Week, and this year is no different. Our pre-Christmas newsletter gave updates on the classes who are interested in participating this year, or in the future, including the Tempest, Soling, Star and Royal Burnham One Design. We hope that this will enable us to re-introduce the Classic Dayboat Class that has been missing from the past couple of regattas. We are also delighted that the 6mRs will be attending again.
Our regular dayboat classes can rest assured that this increased interest from new classes will not dilute their racing as we remain committed to our principle that no more than 3 classes will race on each circuit.
Our largest class, the XODs, will again have a pin end committee boat that will have additional race officer resources this year and as well as spotting, will display visual race signals.
The Classic Yacht Classes will split into 3 fleets - Red, White & Blue, including a non-spinnaker fleet which will be set courses without dead-downwind legs. The Old Gaffers will probably race on the same track as this new fleet.
On shore we will have our usual mix of parties and suppers, and of course our home-made cake. A lot of the shore side programme is reliant on our loyal subsidiary sponsors who will again include:
- Cowes Harbour Commission - Moorings & Publicity
- Harken - Race Day Prizes
- Haines Boatyard - Competitors Reception & Race Day prizes
- Hudson Wight - Official clothing supplier & competitor bags
- Kendalls Fine Art - Competitors Reception
- NMS Marketing - Text service to competitors
- The Yachting Studio - Publicity & Prizes
- Winkworth - Tea & Cakes & Prize giving refreshments
We all look forward to seeing you in Cowes from 20 to 24 July 2015.
Peter Taylor,
Regatta Chairman
