Cowes Week is the largest annual sporting event in the UK after the London Marathon, with almost 1,000 yachts and 8,000 competitors taking part, making it one of the most prestigious ways to entertain clients or reward staff.
Cowes, as it is now known, is renowned as the yachting centre of the world. During Cowes Week the town becomes a lively and bustling haven for sailing enthusiasts, either taking part or viewing from the land. In conjunction with the racing is a vibrant social scene, which is largely centered on the beer tent erected in the centre of the yacht haven.
One of the most exciting parts of the days experience will be watching the starts, as all the yachts racing converge on a small patch of water at one or other end of the start line close to the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes. It is here, in these congested waters that the adrenaline really starts to flow in the final seconds before the start.
Cowes Weeks grand finale is the firework display held on the Friday evening, which is a breathtaking show. The annual Cowes Week Regatta fireworks display is considered to be the very best of the summer season displays in the UK. It certainly attracts one of the largest audiences of around 170,000 people, second only to the Edinburgh Hogmanay celebrations.
