| You don't have to be into sailing to enjoy a visit | | | | and famous who to this day are still attracted to |
| to Cowes Week, but it does help! This sailing | | | | this top class event. |
| regatta is the largest and longest running of its | | | | The Cowes Week fireworks are very popular and |
| kind in the world and as well as being a top | | | | definitely one of the highlights of the regatta. The |
| sporting event it's also a top social event, and is | | | | fireworks display is as traditional as Cowes Week |
| one of the must-do's of the British social calendar | | | | itself as there's been one every year of Cowes |
| that attracts visitors and competitors from Britain | | | | Week for over 150 years, taking place on the |
| and around the world. | | | | Friday. |
| Not Just Yacht Racing! | | | | Visiting Cowes Week |
| Cowes Week has been an annual regatta that's | | | | You can join the 100,000 or so other spectators |
| taken place every year since it started in 1826. | | | | enjoying the yacht races and music and |
| Only the two world wars stopped Cowes Week | | | | entertainment for free, because you don't have |
| from happening, and it's grown from a small | | | | to buy a ticket to experience Cowes Week! Just |
| regatta that attracted only royalty and the elite in | | | | come along and find a good viewing location, or |
| society, to one that attracts around 100,000 | | | | enjoy a drink or two in one of Cowes' cafes, bars |
| spectators every year. | | | | or restaurants. |
| About 8,500 competitors take part in the races | | | | Cowes itself is a lovely little seaside town with |
| on over 1,000 different boats, and you can | | | | historic architecture and quaint streets lined with |
| expect to see around 35 races starting each and | | | | shops so it's a great place to spend some time. |
| every day. Yachtsmen and women compete for | | | | Accommodation is limited so make sure you |
| prizes including the Queen's Cup, the Britannia Cup, | | | | reserve your hotel, B&B or guest house as soon |
| and the Young Skipper's Trophy for younger | | | | as possible, or consider staying in one of the |
| competitors who have done particularly well over | | | | other attractive towns on the island. |
| the course of the week. | | | | The racing takes place on the Solent, which is the |
| There are some great vantage points within the | | | | stretch of water between the south coast of |
| small town of Cowes from which you can get to | | | | England, and the Isle of Wight, and Cowes is |
| watch all these races, but yacht racing is not the | | | | located on the northern coast of the island. You |
| only thing happening here. Visiting Cowes Week | | | | can get here easily by ferry from Southampton |
| you can also enjoy free live music and | | | | direct to Cowes, or to another port on the Isle of |
| entertainment every day, or get yourself into a | | | | Wight, or travel in style and take a helicopter |
| posh cocktail party and rub shoulders with the rich | | | | flight to Cowes! |