Spectating at Cowes Week

[PEJ]

Not sure if this should be in here or with the saily boys but I am a MOBOer so I'll stay in my comfort zone!

I quite fancy watching the extreme 40 sailing races at Cowes Week. (these boats go very fast and crash a lot, so it's a bit like touring cars!) my question is - if I want to watch from the boat is there some sort of spectators area for boats? Is it fairly obvious where it is? I would not want to stray on to the course and get one of those extreme 40 boyos up my chuff!

 

[noswad]

First thing to do is check the Cowes week programme for when they are racing. In previous years they have given a display where they come in very close to the green to show off, so it can be quite fun to watch them from the shore.

If you want to follow them from your boat it is best, if they are racing, to understand which marks they intend to round then stay outside of their course. I have taken people out to watch the racing during Cowes Week for the past 8 years and it always pays to try and have an understanding of where any of them are going (not always straight forward!)

The key with the Extreme 40's is that they are very quick and have very good acceleration - we cruise at 25 knots and with 8 or more people on board our acceleration is a little sluggish. The Extreme 40's don't need much breeze to be quicker than us so you need to make sure you keep out of their way.

The key is to keep your wits about you at all times because any class of yacht can creep up on you very quickly in the Solent during Cowes Week!

Having said that they are most exilerating to watch and certainly give the biggest guarantee wow factor as a spectator sport.

 

[flaming]

Last year the extreme 40s weren't off the green, but over the other side of the solent.
Given Ellen and Co have had their application for a corporate hospitality tent on the green turned down I suspect something similar will happen this year. They normally publish spectating guides on the website nearer the time, but might be worthwhile taking a sailor to help you predict what they're likely to do, but basics are try and stay outside of the course area and only make wake when it won't go through the fleet.