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Cowes Week 2010 - Practical Advice

Cowes week image Cowes Week (31 July - 7 August 2010) 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.

What’s on ashore

The Isle of Wight Council plays a huge role in supporting this event ensuring that life is as much fun on shore as off. Seafront entertainment adds to the carnival-like atmosphere throughout the event.

The staged area on the Parade bandstand offers free entertainment both day and night. The line-up includes live bands, aerobatics, comedians and magic shows suitable for all ages. The Parade offers prime viewing to watch the racing, catch up on the racing results, and soak up the atmosphere, whilst sitting in the decked garden or wandering through the Parade Village.

The traditional Friday night firework finale lights up the night sky silhouetting hundreds of boats against the skyline. Thousands gather from Prince’s Green to the Marina, Cowes or along the seafront in East Cowes to watch the magnificent display. The spectacular display takes place on Friday 6 August beginning at 21.30 and lasting for about half an hour.

		Entertainment Black Eagels acrobatic display

		Aerial display Team Road Angel aerobatic display

		Fireworks night

		iwight.com guide to Cowes

		iwight.com sailing pages

		Parade Entertainment

Cowes Week Arrangements - Your Council's Involvement

The Isle of Wight Council helps to ensure the whole week of activity runs smoothly from organising additional parking to extra floating bridge crossings, PA systems for racing results, flag poles and flower baskets, street cleansing and policing, and transforming the Parade into a tented village.

To help you make the most of the Cowes Week experience, Cowes Parade will be pedestrianised. Cars and coaches are provided with plenty of parking alternatives, just follow the AA signs for the car parks, located in Ward Avenue and Crossfield Avenue.

Additional Floating Bridge Services

Pedestrians and motorists may also access Cowes from East Cowes by means of the Chain Ferry. This is free of charge to pedestrians and provides the opportunity to walk throughout the whole of the pedestrianised zone from Shooter’s Hill to Prince’s Green, enjoying the sights, sounds and ambience….

Extra overnight services are being provided on the Cowes – East Cowes Chain Ferry across the River Medina. From Friday 30 July until Saturday 7 August (inclusive), the usual backand- forth operation that would normally end shortly before midnight will extend until 02.00. After this there will be each-way services at about 02.20, 02.40 and the last one at 03.00. The usual continuous service will commence at 05.00. On Fireworks Night (6 August) the only vehicles that will be carried between 19.00 and 23.00 will be emergency vehicles. All times are subject to tides, weather and navigation. There will be restrictions to the number of people allowed on the Chain Ferry at any one time and a queuing system will be in operation from 18.00. 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, Northwood House Trustees are providing temporary car parking facilities in the grassed areas at Northwood Park, off Ward Avenue. The council is running an overflow car park at Cowes High School, off Crossfield Avenue. The car parks will be open from Friday 30 July to Saturday 7 August from 08.00 – 21.00.

Cowes Football Club and the Isle of Wight Community Club both situated off Park Road will also be used on Fireworks Night. All temporary car parks will be clearly signed. East Cowes offers extra car parking facilities on Victoria Grove Recreation Grounds for Fireworks Night only with buses down to the seafront.

Opening times of Cowes Tourist Information Centre

Visitors to Cowes may wish to drop in to the council’s TIC (Tourist Information Centre) for up to date information on accommodation availability, where to eat, what’s happening etc. The TIC is situated in Fountain Quay right outside the Red Jet terminal. Opening times during the Week are:

Saturday 31 July: 09.30 – 17.00

Sunday 1 August: 10.00 – 15.30

Monday 2 August: 09.30 – 17.00

Tuesday 3 August: 09.30 – 17.00

Wednesday 4 August: 09.30 – 17.00

Thursday 5 August: 09.30 – 17.00

Friday 6 August: 09.30 – 17.00

Saturday 7 August: 09.30 – 17.00

Sunday 8 August: 10.00 – 15.30

Clean Sweep

The council has arranged for the town centre streets to be cleansed and litter picked on a continuous cycle throughout Cowes Week as well as a dedicated roving team being available to carry out any spot cleaning as required. Litter bins will be supplemented by wheelie-bins in the High Street and Parade areas and will be emptied several times a day. A major cleaning operation will begin shortly after the fireworks on Friday 6 August to return areas to a high standard of cleanliness ready for the early risers. Private waste collection contractors will continue to provide their service to their trade customers before 10.00 each morning. The four blocks of public conveniences in the town will be attended to by a dedicated member of staff on a continuous rotational basis.