News - 28/06/17

Cowes Harbour hosts two major classic yacht regattas in July of each year, the Panerai British Classic Week and Charles Stanley Direct Cowes Classics Week. 

Panerai British Classic Week, the annual regatta of the British Classic Yacht Club (BCYC), will see the 16th edition being held this July from Saturday, 8th to Saturday, 15th. The event not only attracts entries from Britain but also regularly from Europe and further afield. The regatta is always an occasion for classic boat enthusiasts to enjoy good racing and to spend time with other sailors who share the same appreciation of classics. 

The racing is once again being organised by the Royal Yacht Squadron with a seven race series including an Around the Island Race sponsored by EFG International on Monday, 10th July.

This year will also see the introduction of an exciting new category of awards for the regatta. In order to recognize and encourage high standards of boat preparation and maintenance, there will be trophies for the best owner maintained and professionally maintained yachts as well as an overall award for the best yacht at the regatta. In this way, the BCYC seeks to broaden the appeal and emphasis of the event from racing to recognition of the effort that owners put into maintaining the many beautiful yachts that are at the heart of the sailing.

Top photo: Panerai British Classic Week racing – © Guido Cantini

Meanwhile, it is now less than three weeks to go before the start of the 10th Charles Stanley Direct Cowes Classics Week and entries have been rolling in fast with over 130 boats registered so far.

The regatta, organised by the Royal London Yacht Club, takes place from Monday, 17th to Friday, 21st July and is all about racing traditional yachts on the water and enjoying fabulous social events ashore. Metre boats, Classic Racing Dayboats, Classic Yachts, Old Gaffers and Spirit of Tradition Yachts are all welcome to sail varied courses set in the Solent with high teas, great parties and suppers at different club venues.

The event is proving once again to be a magnet for some beautiful newcomers as new faces and defending champions prepare for the 2017 Charles Stanley Direct Cowes Classics Week.

Cowes Harbour Commission’s Shepards Wharf Marina has again been selected as the official marina and many of the boats taking part in Charles Stanley Direct Cowes Classics Week will be moored together in the North Basin at Shepards Wharf to create an event atmosphere.

This year Cowes Classics Week competitors are supporting the event charity Cowes Sea Cadets (TS Osborne), who are hoping to increase waterborne activities for all Cowes Sea Cadets with much needed boating equipment and funding for training. Find out more at cowesclassicsweek.org.