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COWES WEEK
RacingRegatta

COWES WEEK

Cowes Week — the UK's biggest inshore regatta, 7 days based in Cowes

From Sat, 1 Aug 2026·09:00 start

Dates

1–7 Aug 2026

Duration

10 hrs

Location

Mercury Yacht Harbour, Hamble

About

The UK's biggest inshore regatta — 7 days of Solent racing, based in Cowes.

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Seven days of inshore racing in Cowes — one of the world's longest-running and largest sailing regattas.

Cowes Week is held annually on the Solent in early August, organised by Cowes Combined Clubs / Cowes Week Ltd. The format is multiple class starts daily on courses around the central and eastern Solent, with prize-giving and social events ashore each evening.

Unity Sailing bases the boat in Cowes for the week. Crew can book the full week or shorter stints — confirm with the skipper which days you're racing.

Ready to race?

From £250 · Sat 1 Aug

Book your place Have a question?

Race programme

Sail to Cowes pre-week · daily racing · evenings ashore · prize-giving · sail home.

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  1. Pre-week — sail to Cowes

    Boat moves from Mercury Yacht Harbour to Cowes the day before the regatta starts. Crew either join in Hamble for the delivery or meet the boat in Cowes.

  2. Day 1 — first race day

    Briefing in the morning, dock-out, race(s) on Solent courses, return to Cowes for evening ashore.

  3. Days 2–6 — full week of racing

    Daily race format. Briefing, race, ashore in Cowes each evening for prize-giving, dinner and the festival atmosphere.

  4. Final day — racing, prize-giving, sail home

    Final day's racing followed by overall prize-giving. Boat returns to Mercury Yacht Harbour at the end of the week.

Joining details

Pre-week sail-to-Cowes or meet the boat in Cowes — confirm with the skipper.

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Meeting point

Mercury Yacht Harbour, Satchell Lane, Hamble-le-Rice, SO31 4HQ. We meet on the pontoon by your assigned berth — your skipper will share the berth number and a location pin in the crew WhatsApp group the week before.

Meeting point

- Mercury Yacht Harbour, Hamble (postcode shown above). Pontoon and berth shared in the crew WhatsApp the week before.

Arrival

- Arrive by the start time shown on this event page. - Subject to availability you can arrive the night before — arrange with the skipper in the WhatsApp.

Parking

- Free at Mercury, except Round the Island Race weekend.

Crew WhatsApp

- Set up by the Wednesday before. Confirms timings, weather, destination berth.

Before you arrive

- Emergency contact, medical info and waiver in your dashboard profile. - International races: upload passport details.

Ready to race?

From £250 · Sat 1 Aug

Book your place Have a question?

What to bring

Day-race kit + light sleeping bag for the week aboard in Cowes.

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Essential

- Waterproof sailing jacket + salopettes - Sailing boots (deck shoes only OK for inshore day races) - Warm base layers (no cotton) + mid-layer fleece - Hat and sailing gloves - Sun hat, sunglasses with retainer, sun cream - Head torch with red-light mode (any night sailing or offshore) - Personal medication - Sea-sickness remedy (taken 30 mins before the start) - Water bottle and snacks for the day - Soft holdall or dry bag — no hard suitcases

Overnight

- 3-4 season sleeping bag (no bedding provided) - Toiletries, change of clothes, quick-dry towel

Offshore / double-handed

- Notebook for debrief - Passport for cross channel races

Provided

- Yacht, professional skipper/coach - Life jackets and safety kit - Charts, AIS, VHF (+ satcom offshore) - Galley kit, water, tea, coffee - Mooring fees and insurance

Not provided

- Food and snacks aboard — bring your own, or shared crew food order on overnight / offshore (cost shared, leftovers taken home).

Leave behind

- Hard suitcases, hair dryers, excess alcohol.

Who can join

  • Beginner — all experience levels welcome

FAQs

Full week vs partial, berthing, suitability, sleeping, kit.

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What's on the boat vs what I bring?

On board: yacht, skipper/coach, lifejackets and safety kit, galley kit, water/tea/coffee. You bring: personal kit, layers, sleeping bag (if overnight) plus food and snacks.

What if the weather is bad?

We still run something — theory, manoeuvres in the lee of land, sheltered routes. Seriously weather-affected weekends rerun at a discount where reasonable.

I'm sea-sick prone — can I still come?

Yes. Take your remedy 30 mins before the start, not after. Tell your skipper in the safety brief.

I don't have a partner — can I still book?

Yes. We pair crew via the WhatsApp before each event. You won't be the odd one out.

Can I arrive the night before?

Usually possible, subject to availability. Arrange with the skipper in the crew WhatsApp.

How do I cancel or change my booking?

Contact us early — refunds and changes are handled case-by-case under our T&Cs. Earlier is always better.

Ready to race?

From £250 · Sat 1 Aug

Book your place Have a question?

Official links

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