Cowes Classics Week News

SEASONS GREETINGS FROM THE NEW CHAIR

With this newsletter being published here and sent as an email on Christmas Eve, may I take the opportunity to introduce myself as the new Commodore of the Royal London and also the Chairman for Cowes Classics Week 2025.

As you may already have heard, there has been a date change for the regatta next year. After much consultation with all the classes we have decided to run a four-day regatta in 2025 across a long weekend, the new dates being Friday 30 May to Monday 2 June 2025, inclusive. Hopefully this will give more people the opportunity to take part whilst respecting everybody’s time limitations.

Racing will start on Friday afternoon to allow people time to travel to Cowes, and finish on Monday in time for people to be able to travel home. Over the four days we aim intend to get 8 races in for committee boat circuits and 6 for the shoreline, so we hope this compact format will still offer the great racing that Cowes Classics Week is known for, just in a shorter time frame. 

There will be the usual opportunities to enjoy wining and dining at other Cowes clubs and drinks on the Squadron lawn, social highlights which so characterise the spirit of Cowes Classics Week.

Peter Ralls, KC, RLYC Commodore & Chairman for CCW 2025The Notice of Race will be available in early March when entries will also open online. There will be a move toward online briefing information as well as registrations, in order to curtail the need for people to be in Cowes a day before the regatta.

We hope you will be able to join us for the 17th Cowes Classics Week.

Please feel free to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., our This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any queries.

A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

Kind regards

Peter Ralls, KC

Regatta Chairman
Cowes Classics Week 2025

It was terrific to see so many returning competitors to the 16th Edition of Cowes Classics Week, joined by lots of newcomers including the magnificent 8mR Sophie Anne from Lake Starnberg, Germany.

At a time when many regattas are reporting declining numbers we are delighted that Cowes Classics Week is showing modest increases year on year. It is not our aim to make the regatta much bigger, but we do strive to make it better.

Following this link will take you to our Wash Up Survey. We have changed it a little this year reflecting your comments last year.

We do carefully consider every returned survey and respond to what we learn. This enables us to continually improve the regatta so do please take a few minutes to complete and return the survey as the more responses we have the higher the quality of data.

Read more …

Our handicapper Iain McAllister has reviewing data submitted by owners and skippers, setting handicaps for both the Shoreline and the Weyborne Estate Pursuit Race on Monday.

The handicaps and conversions to TCF for race scoring can be seen here, along with the Shoreline Fleet Splits which were published yesterday in accordance with the NoR.

Signing-On

As previously communicated, Cowes Classics Week Signing-On has been moved online and we’re pleased to report that as of now, 62 boats have started the Signing-On process with 50 completing their submissions.

If you are one of the 58 boats yet to look at your Signing-On form, then can we please urge you to do so as soon as you can.

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The Regatta Prize-giving & Afternoon Tea will take place in the London Room on FRIDAY 12th at approximately 14.30.

If you’re still in Cowes for the evening, please join us for a relaxed Survivor’s Supper of Fish, Chips and Mushy Peas followed by Ice Cream Sundaes.
Throughout the week, the Royal London will be open for full service. Breakfast will be available in the Ground Floor Dining Room from 08.00 to 09.30.

• Bacon Rolls will be available between 09.00 and 10.30.
• Morning Tea, Coffee and Pastries will be available between 09.00 and 12.00.
• Lunch is available daily from 12.30 to 14.30 on the Balcony and in the Drawing Room.

  Read more …

Post racing Tea & Cake will be served in the RLYC London Room between 15.00 and 17.00.

Thursday evening’s Prize-giving and Drinks Reception will take place at the magnificent Royal Yacht Squadron where we are looking forward to enjoying the Ultimate Provence Rose and Silver Reign Sparkling wines generously provided by MDCV UK. Hopefully the sun will be shining! The reception will begin at 18.30.

We’ll then move on to the Royal London for the highlight of the week, the Regatta Dinner at 20.00. See the delicious menu created by our chefs Ashley and Rob.

We are delighted that MDCV UK have provided La Grande Cuvee Red and Silverhand Solaris White wines to accompany the Regatta Dinner, which we know will pair perfectly. We are very grateful to MDCV UK for their support.

The RYS Prize-giving & Drinks Reception and Regatta Dinner are now only bookable as a combined ticket. Places are limited, please book soon to make sure that you don’t miss out!

Now that the Balcony is fully booked, we are pleased to let you know that we will also be opening up the Dining Room at the Royal London for Steak Night on Wednesday 10th July. Dinner will be served at 20.30.

Read more …

Cowes Classics Week is fun, and we know that when Eugene stikes a pose and starts performing as George Michael, everyone with a ticket for the Greek BBQ and Deck Party at CCYC is going to be having the best time ever… but more on that later.

Our Wednesday socials begin with post-racing Tea & Cake, to be served in the RLYC London Room between 15.00 and 17.00.

Wednesday evening’s Prize-giving and Drinks Reception is sponsored by Kendalls Fine Art and will be held at their Bath Road Gallery at 18:00. We are very grateful to Kendalls Fine Art for their longstanding generous support for the Regatta. They have been with us from the start!

Read more …

Our handicapper Iain McAllister has been busy reviewing data submitted by owners and skippers, running it through the KLR formula to deliver fair handicap racing.

The work has progressed to the point where we can now publish the provisional numbers online here.

Iain is still waiting on some skippers to provide information about their boats, so if you are expecting to race under KLR but have yet to liaise with him, then please do so as soon as possible. The contact details and info on KLR can be found here.

Signing On

For 2024 the Cowes Classics Week signing-on process has been moved online and we’re pleased to report that as of now, 33 boats have started the sign on process and 19 have completed their submission, which considering this is a new process is great news.

Read more …

Monsoon and David Elliot racing at Cowes Classics Week in 2023

CCW’s famous post racing Tea & Cake service starts next Tuesday!

Our chefs have been working hard to create a mouthwatering selection of homemade cakes that we’re sure will be better than ever this year. As always our lovely tea and cake team will be filling mugs and plates in the London Room between 15.00 and 17.00.

Tuesday evening’s Prize-giving and Drinks Reception is sponsored by the Isle of Wight Distillery so please join us at RORC from 18.00 for Mermaid Gin & Tonics.

There are two dining options for you on Tuesday:

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Monsoon and David Elliot racing at Cowes Classics Week in 2023Monsoon, pictured racing in 2023, is an International Six Metre, designed and built by Maxwell Blake in Singapore. He had lived and worked there most of his life, was the founding Commodore of the Royal Singapore Yacht Club and Monsoon was his retirement present to himself – shipped to Cowes in 1924. 

Maxwell Blake is known as the designer of Gypsy Moth II, Francis Chichester’s first boat and the Deben 4 Tonner. She was launched with a bamboo gaff which was quickly replaced when he realised that all the other 6mR had converted to Bermudan rig. As an early Second Rule boat she has more of the characteristics of earlier designs and was later relegated to the Q-Class – a handicap class for retired 6mR.

Read more …

Our first announcement is that following competitor requests we have worked with the Island Sailing Club to bring you an ISC Carvery Supper!

ISC Carvery Supper guests will be offered seating in both the Conservatory and Main Dining Room on a first come first served basis with a limited number of tickets now on sale at £27.50 per person, representing outstanding value.

Chef will be carving Island Roast Sirloin of Beef and/or Island Roast Loin of Pork, served with all the trimmings and followed by Chocolate Chip Bread & Butter Pudding OR Cheese & Biscuits.

Dress code is casual and these tickets are only available to purchase online until 7 July.

Regatta Dinner & Royal Yacht Squadron Combination Ticket

Our second announcement is that with the RYS Reception tickets now off-sale, you can still enjoy fizz in the wonderful Royal Yacht Squadron pavilion with a new combined ticket package. This new combi-ticket covers both the Royal Yacht Squadron Prizegiving and Drinks Reception and the prestigious Cowes Classics Week Regatta Dinner held at RLYC, for £67.00 per person.

We’d remind those still weighing up going to the Regatta Dinner, that attendees will be treated to wonderful La Grande Cuvée Red and Silverhand Solaris Wines generously provided by MDCV UK.

Dress code is Jacket and Tie and a limited number of these new combi tickets are only on sale until 8 July.

We’re looking forward to seeing you!

Lisa Marsden
Socials
Cowes Classics Week 2024