Throughout North Sails Cowes Week, away from the sailing, there were plenty of activities for locals and visitors to enjoy.
Several local bands and solo artistes performed at the various venues across the town including The Parade, Cowes Yacht Haven, Northwood House Lawn Lounge, Shepards Marina and not forgetting the town’s pubs.
In Cowes Yacht Haven visitors could experience the GB1 America’s Cup simulator. At certain times, the Louis Vuitton Cup was on view, loaned from the RYS. It was won by Sir Ben Ainslie, in 2024, as the winner of the America’s Cup Challenger Series,only to lose to holders Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup proper.
lsewhere in Cowes Yacht Haven “All About Catering” were busy. David Rogers and his team not only provided food in the Food Court with Pizza/ Pasta and their “Burger Haven”, but provided the catering for the CYH Restaurant “Pontoon View”. Here, those seeking a full dining experience or just a drink from the bar, could enjoy a view overlooking the boats on the pontoons. At “Burger Haven” customers could enjoy freshly cooked burgers and other foods often teamed with drinks of Mount Gay Rum or Mermaid Gin which had special bars nearby.
Northwood House volunteers served teas for the week with Thursday seeing the ladies lunch and special teas as well as music played by the Band of the Royal Marines, Portsmouth. Some of the board members of Northwood House Trust said how they had enjoyed the lunch organised by David Rogers and his team from “All About Catering” and thanked the Northwood House volunteers for not only serving the teas during the week but preparing the gardens around the park ready for this special event.
Meanwhile at Holy Trinity Church as well as an art exhibition the team served their delicious cakes and bacon rolls with tea and coffee throughout the week right up until just before the fireworks on Friday. Speaking with them on Friday afternoon they said that over £2,000 had been raised for church funds.
Following the Princess Royal’s visit to ISC where she opened the “Queen Elizabeth Room” local glass artist Brian Marriott curated an exhibition of his work in the newly opened room. A specially commissioned piece of glass art by Brian, commemorating the 200 years of Cowes Week , was presented to the princess.
Various spirits from the Mermaid range were, once again, the prizes for the Prometheus 41 Regatta held within Cowes Week. Overall winner was Deloitte Green. However, this year Hawksbill Rum had a boat in the regatta which was placed 3rd overall, and were offering tastes of their Rum at prize-givings. Hawksbill, like Mermaid, has an interesting bottle with their bottles depicting the turtle that the brand is named after. Their project is to save 100,000 baby turtles each year with monies from sales going towards the project.
