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Cowes Week 2009

Cowes week image Cowes Week (August 1-8 2009 ) is the World’s premier sailing regatta, with almost 1,000 yachts and 8,000 competitors taking part in some top-class sailing. Cowes Week has a rich heritage and attracts a wide range of competitors from amateurs to Olympic and World champions. It has a huge amount to offer both sailors and visitors alike, with an exciting racing schedule and a packed entertainment itinerary on shore throughout the week.

A visit to Cowes during the regatta is a must, with its great selection of specialist shops, excellent line-up of live bands and superb choice of cuisine, all helping to create a festival atmosphere - plus one of the best sailing spectacles in the world. One of the highlights of the Regatta is the fireworks display, taking place on the final Friday of Cowes Week. The Cowes Week Parade Entertainment schedule is available via the link below.

Visit the official Cowes Week site for further information on events, accommodation and on-line race entry.

Black Eagles Entertainment
Black Eagels acrobatic display

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Road Angels Aerial display
Team Road Angel aerobatic display

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Firework image Fireworks night

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iwight.com guide to Cowes

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iwight.com sailing pages

Parade Entertainment

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Sailbus Service for Cowes and Gurnard

A free courtesy bus known as the Sailbus operates during the regatta in order to reduce traffic congestion. It is available to anyone wishing to travel between Ward Avenue and the Parade, passing the Cowes Week car parks and the coach setting-down point. The route is as follows: Ward Avenue (for the car parks) - Baring Road - Castle Hill, Parade, Queen's Road, along the sea front to Gurnard, Woodvale Road, Baring Road, Crossfield Avenue (for the heliport and the coach setting down point). The service operates as follows:

Saturday 1 August - Thursday 6 August (inclusive)
First departure 9.30am and then every five minutes until 6pm.

Friday 7 August
First departure 9.30am and then every five minutes until 5pm.

Saturday 8 August
First departure 9.30am and then every 15 minutes until 6pm.

Sailbuses are the only public vehicles permitted onto the Parade during Cowes Week.

Additional Floating Bridge Services

Extra overnight services are being provided on the Cowes - East Cowes floating bridge (chain ferry) across the River Medina. From the evening of Friday 31 July until Saturday 8 August (inclusive), the usual back-and-forth operation that would normally end shortly before midnight will extend until 2am. After this there will be each-way services at 2.20am, 2.40am and the last one at 3am. The usual continuous service will commence at 5am. On firework night (Friday 7 August) the only vehicles that will be carried between 7pm and 11pm will be emergency vehicles. All times are subject to tides, weather and navigation. For further information contact the Ferry Office on 01983 293041.

Parking

In view of the restrictions on parking in Cowes town centre and the Parade during the week, extra parking spaces are being provided in the grassed areas at Northwood Park (off Ward Avenue) and Cowes High School (off Crossfield Avenue). Cowes Football Club and the Isle of Wight Community Club (both off Park Road) will be used for additional parking on Friday 7 August. All temporary car parks will be clearly signed. East Cowes offers extra car parking facilities on Victoria Grove Recreation Grounds for Friday 7 August only.