Skandia Cowes Week 2006

Skandia Cowes Week, the longest-running and most prestigious annual sailing event in the world, celebrates its 180th anniversary in 2006.

Hundreds of boats, which range from high-tech racers to classic day boats, are split into 40 classes and race on each of the eight days of competition.

Open to everyone

The eight-day racing programme is open to anyone and encompasses people of all ages and abilities racing boats that are as diverse as the competitors themselves.

The event is arguably unique in that amateur sailors compete alongside Olympic and World Champions.

Challenging sailing

The Solent, where the event takes place, lies between the Isle of Wight and the south coast of England and provides some of the most challenging sailing conditions in the world.

The area is characterised by its sheltered waters and unusual tidal conditions, so course layouts often have to be decided on the day of the race to suit the prevailing wind and tide conditions.

A typical week

A typical race programme now has at least 35 starts a day, with around 900 boats taking part.

Cowes also plays host to visiting foreign warships, sail training vessels and high-profile maxi and round-the-world yachts.

Close-quarter viewing

Visitors to Skandia Cowes Week enjoy a unique opportunity to see the yachts at close quarters on the Solent, both from boats and on shore.

Hour-long spectator boat trips with live commentary enable visitors to get a close-up view of the racing, while the area of deep water just off The Green is the best public viewing point for shore-based spectators.

Cocktail parties and yacht club balls

As with many of the other major British summer sporting events, such as Wimbledon and Royal Ascot, Skandia Cowes Week is a major part of the social calendar.

Activities vary from cocktail parties, yacht club balls, private parties and public events at Northwood House.

A spectacular fireworks display, watched by thousands of people from the shore and from boats in the Solent, is probably the highlight of the week.

In the beginning

The first Cowes Week race, for a “Gold Cup of the value of £100”, started on Thursday 10 August 1826. There was a race the next day for prize money only, a ball on Thursday evening and fireworks on Friday evening.

The event has taken place every year since, apart from during the two World Wars.

世界上最出名，历史最为悠久的年度航海大事——考斯帆船赛周今年是开办以来的第180个年头。

数百只现代化帆船和普通船只被分成40组，次第排开，进行为期八天的角逐赛。

人人可以参与

为期八天的帆船比赛对每个人开放，参赛选手不受年龄和水平的限制。不同水平的人可以参加相应级别的帆船赛事。

这一赛事的独特之处就在于，业余水手有机会在奥赛和世锦赛上大显身手。

富有挑战性的航海条件

位于怀特岛和英格兰南海岸之间的索伦特海峡是本次帆船赛的举办地，这儿具有世界上最富有挑战性的航海环境。

这一区域的独特之处在于它的海域受到保护，且其潮汐运动不规律。为了使比赛不受风向和潮汐的影响，比赛的航程通常在比赛当天才能决定。

帆船周

如果情况正常，每天至少要进行有900余只帆船参加的35轮比赛。

同时，考斯还接待外国军舰、航海训练船队、豪华巨轮以及环游世界的游艇。

近距离观看

帆船赛周期间，去考斯的游客有机会可以从船只或是海岸上近距离地观看游艇。

观众可以一边在海上划行，一边听着实况解说，这样就可以近距离地观看每场为期一个小时的赛事，而对于海岸上的观众来说，只要远离深水区的“警戒线”位置，就是最佳的公共看台。

鸡尾酒舞会和游艇俱乐部晚会

像诸如温布尔登网球赛事和皇家阿斯科特赛马大会等英国其他重大夏季体育赛事一样，考斯帆船赛周亦是一个重要的社交活动。

帆船赛周期间，在Northwood House开办了各种各样的活动：有鸡尾酒宴会、游艇俱乐部晚会、个人舞会以及公共活动。

壮观的焰火表演吸引了索伦特海岸和船只上的上千名游客，堪称比赛期间的一大亮点。

赛周举办伊始

英国第一届考斯帆船赛周的举办时间可以追溯到1826年8月10日星期二。比赛冠军可以赢得“价值100英镑的金杯”。金杯得主还将在次日为争夺奖金而进行一场角逐赛。而且，当时也举办各种活动，如星期二晚上的舞会和星期五晚上的焰火表演。

此后，除了两次世界大战期间之外，该赛事每年都会如期举行。