There’s a definite buzz in the air as competitors make final preparations for their first day on the water on the opening day of Cowes Week.

Both Black and White Group classes will head west from the RYS line with the Extreme 40s first off at 1000. Much of the day’s action will take place in the Eastern Solent – after a short beat White Group competitors will head to the shallow area east of the Bramble Bank, and Black Group will also finish from the east. The Black Group committee boat will be stationed near Browndown, east of Gilkicker Point.

A westerly Force 4 promises excellent racing, although a cold front over the south of England has produced early morning drizzle, this is forecast to move away during the morning leaving brighter conditions in its wake.

As well as the thousands of amateur sailors taking part this week, the big boats in IRC Class Zero will be battling in out for one of the most prestigious trophies of the week – The Queen's Cup. This cup was first presented by the Royal Southampton Yacht Club by Queen Victoria in 1897 in her Diamond Jubilee year. This race will be hotly contested by the competitively strong big boat fleet including the Charles Dunstone’s TP52 – Rio which won the race last year. Rio is joined by two other TP52s – Pace and LECG Smart. Another one to watch out for is Sir Peter Ogden’s brand-new Mini Maxi – Jethou – who’s come all the way from the Med specifically for this event.

The Extreme 40 catamarans are taking part in the UK leg of the Extreme Sailing Series at Cowes this week. Watch out for these fast multihulls as they head off on their daily long distance race from the Royal Yacht Squadron line this morning. This afternoon will see the nine professional race teams battle it out from their base off Egypt Point for the action-packed, daily short-course races.

On shore visitors to Cowes Week can enjoy the many social events including live entertainment on the Gill stage in the Cowes Yacht Haven starting at 1600. Entertainment on Cowes Parade kicks off at 1200, and a disco at East Cowes Marina starts at 2030.

Sue Pelling/CWL

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Last Updated ( Saturday, 31 July 2010 )