Cowes Week returns for 198th regatta on the Isle of Wight

As ever, The Solent will be filled with boats for some exciting sailing throughout the week ahead.

Organisers say entries have already passed the 400 mark — cementing Cowes Week at the top of the list among the world’s biggest regattas.

READ MORE: Isle of Wight Cowes Week 2024 LIVE BLOG

Cowes Week remains the UK's pre-eminent keelboat regatta. Most of the boats will be berthed at Cowes Yacht Haven, allowing spectators to view the fleet by walking along the seawall, which has a bird’s eye view of the action.

The start of a Victory Class yacht race during Cowes Week last year. (Image: Paul Wyeth)

Among the array of eye-catching vessels this year, will be the Victory Class boats, which celebrate their 90th anniversary when they compete at Cowes Week.

The boats, based in Old Portsmouth and designed by Alfred Westmacott, whose boats are ubiquitous across the Cowes Week classes, began their celebrations last month with races off Seaview and Bembridge — continuing into Cowes Week 2024. 

Many of the races take place each day, close to the shore at Cowes, conducted from the Royal Yacht Squadron, a popular spectator location.

Dependent upon wind conditions, races should start between 10.30am and 12.15pm.

Cowes Combined Clubs (CCC) will be organising the racing and provide 250 volunteers to conduct the event.

Action on The Solent during Cowes Week 2023 (Image: Paul Wyeth)

Bob Trimble, CCC chair, said: “It’s a fabulous event to be involved with and it always gives us great pleasure to see sailors enjoying the sport.

"This is the 198th running of Cowes Week — and we already have plans developing for the 200th anniversary in 2026.

"We have sailors in their early teens competing and, I suspect, the oldest will probably be in their 80s! It really is a sport for all.”

As much as it is a sailing regatta, it is also a huge social occasion for Cowes — and the Island.

Open to all, there will be live music every night at the Regatta Village, on Cowes Parade, from this coming Saturday (July 27) to the following Saturday (August 3).

There other main hub for competitors and visitors will be Cowes Yacht Haven, which has daily entertainment, plus, this year, a new feature — a Range Rover Driving Experience over obstacles.

One of Cowes Week’s chosen charities this year is the RNLI, which will man a stand on the Parade, alongside the Tall Ships Youth Trust and, on Thursday, the Royal Navy, on 'Royal Navy Day'.