Skandia Cowes Week
The Solent, Cowes
Skandia Cowes Week is the largest, longest running and most prestigious international sailing regatta in the world. The event takes place in The Solent, Isle of Wight and lasts for 8 days each August.
The event is open to everyone, with amateur sailors competing alongside Olympic and World Champions. The eight-day racing programme encompasses people from all walks of life, of all ages and abilities and with a range of boats as diverse as the crews participating.
Skandia Cowes Week is special to everyone involved, whether sailing or not. Cowes on the Isle of Wight offers plenty of pubs, restaurants and cafés to choose from and the atmosphere on shore is carnival-like, with plenty of open-air activities and entertainment.
It is believed that Cowes owes its name as 'yachting capital of the world' to the building of a small boat called Rat O'Wight on the banks of the River Medina for the use of Queen Elizabeth I.
A typical Skandia Cowes Week has between 25 and 40 class starts each day to cater for the 950 or so boats entered. Classes include cruiser-racers, one designs and keelboat classes.
The Isle of Wight's Skandia Cowes Week is the longest-running annual regatta in the world, having been held in early August every year (except during the two world wars) since the first race started at 09.30 on Thursday 10th August 1826.
The attendance by members of the Royal Family, an extensive social programme organised by the yacht clubs and classes participating in the regatta, have ensured that this Event has a secure place on the British Summer Season's social and yachting calendar.