A quick guide to
Skandia Cowes Week 2007

4th August - 11th August

Skandia Cowes Week is an eight day regatta of sailing and yacht racing that takes place every year in the first week of August. The event is one of the world's largest and most famous and over 8,000 sailors competing day-in day-out. People travel to Cowes from all over the world to compete in and watch the 30-odd races a day and related shoreside festivities.

The first official regatta took place in 1812 and the event was quickly adopted as one of the annual high spots in the calendar for the wealthy and those of high social standing. Over the years, its length and character has varied tremendously, from two days early on to nine days in the 1950's, but it has retained the same eight-day format since the mid 1960's.

To find out in advance how to register for the races, learn more about the history of Cowes or track down a hotel to spend the week in, the following sites should hold all the information you need. No doubt they will also be posting up the results once the racing begins.

Useful Links

> Official Skandia Cowes Week website - www.cowesweek.com

> Offshore Challenges' Cowes Week Webcam - www.offshorechallenges.com

> Cowes Harbour Comission website - www.cowes.co.uk

> Find accommodation in Cowes, Isle of Wight - www.wightindex.com

> Cowes Yacht Haven - www.cowesyachthaven.com

> Northwood House Event Lisitngs - www.iwight.gov.uk

> Custom designed vinyl boat names - www.boatnames.co.uk