Cowes Week 2011

A Week of Summer Yacht Racing on Friday 5th August to Friday 12th August (with a training weekend on 30/31st July).

Skandia Cowes Week is the largest annual sporting event in the UK after the London Marathon, with almost 1,000 yachts and 8,000 competitors taking part. Now you can be part of this world famous regatta. Stormforce Coaching is offering a limited number of places on board a racing yacht for a training weekend and the seven day regatta.

You don't have to have raced before to experience Cowes Week. Our package combines a weekend of sail and race training followed by a week of competitive racing with social entertainment.

The programme starts on the evening of Friday 29th July in Southampton where you will meet your skipper, mate and the rest of the crew for a safety briefing. The weekend is spent on board learning and practising the various racing skills and getting to know the rest of the team.

Following this training weekend the crew next meet on Friday 5th August. This is where the fun really starts, following a briefing from the skipper you will make your way over to Cowes (Isle of Wight) where you will live aboard for the week, race each day and soak up the party atmosphere each evening. Cowes week is as much a social event as a race regatta.

On board will be our racing skipper and mate to help you find your way around the boat and provide coaching, direction and ensure you are well fed. All lunches and snacks are provided. Typically our crew will be of mixed ability at the start of the week, although all will have developed their skills greatly over the event. We are not just offering race charter but also comprehensive training and coaching throughout with team de briefs every afternoon.

This is a great opportunity to experience the thrill of Cowes Week. Apart from any on-shore expenses you personally incur, everything is included:

• A modern yacht with fine racing pedigree and up-to-the-minute equipment.
• Accommodation on board.
• An experienced and knowledgeable Racing Skipper and Mate.
• All race fees and race training.
• A variety of food and drink.
• Access to on-shore marina facilities.
• All marina fees and general boat expenses.
• A unique crew shirt to keep.
• Loan of full wet weather gear (although we do expect sunshine).

We'll berth each night in Cowes. In order to secure this berth, the boat will need to be there early on Friday. If you can't join us for the sail over, then we would need you to make your own way over to the Isle of Wight on Friday afternoon. You would of course be met from the Red Jet terminal and escorted to the yacht.