You don't have to be into sailing to enjoy a visit to Cowes Week, but it does help! This sailing regatta is the largest and longest running of its kind in the world and as well as being a top sporting event it's also a top social event, and is one of the must-do's of the British social calendar that attracts visitors and competitors from Britain and around the world.
Not Just Yacht Racing!
Cowes Week has been an annual regatta that's taken place every year since it started in 1826. Only the two world wars stopped Cowes Week from happening, and it's grown from a small regatta that attracted only royalty and the elite in society, to one that attracts around 100,000 spectators every year.
About 8,500 competitors take part in the races on over 1,000 different boats, and you can expect to see around 35 races starting each and every day. Yachtsmen and women compete for prizes including the Queen's Cup, the Britannia Cup, and the Young Skipper's Trophy for younger competitors who have done particularly well over the course of the week.
There are some great vantage points within the small town of Cowes from which you can get to watch all these races, but yacht racing is not the only thing happening here. Visiting Cowes Week you can also enjoy free live music and entertainment every day, or get yourself into a posh cocktail party and rub shoulders with the rich and famous who to this day are still attracted to this top class event.
The Cowes Week fireworks are very popular and definitely one of the highlights of the regatta. The fireworks display is as traditional as Cowes Week itself as there's been one every year of Cowes Week for over 150 years, taking place on the Friday.
Visiting Cowes Week
You can join the 100,000 or so other spectators enjoying the yacht races and music and entertainment for free, because you don't have to buy a ticket to experience Cowes Week! Just come along and find a good viewing location, or enjoy a drink or two in one of Cowes' cafes, bars or restaurants.
Cowes itself is a lovely little seaside town with historic architecture and quaint streets lined with shops so it's a great place to spend some time. Accommodation is limited so make sure you reserve your hotel, B&B or guest house as soon as possible, or consider staying in one of the other attractive towns on the island.
The racing takes place on the Solent, which is the stretch of water between the south coast of England, and the Isle of Wight, and Cowes is located on the northern coast of the island. You can get here easily by ferry from Southampton direct to Cowes, or to another port on the Isle of Wight, or travel in style and take a helicopter flight to Cowes!
Christopher Auriol is a European Travel Specialist with TwilightBlue Travel. Visit twilighblue.eu for more information on Cowes Week 2010 and other festivals and carnivals throughout the year. Twilightblue also has a large selection of accommodation near the Cowes Regatta.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_Auriol
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