Sailing eyes might have been focused on the America’s Cup World Series raced in the waters off Portsmouth over last weekend but this week there should be some excellent sailing nearer to Isle of Wight shores with this year’s version of the Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup being sailed out of Cowes.
Eight teams, of three boats per team, will race against each other in a series of races including a long offshore race and a Round the Isle of Wight Race.
Here is the timetable of events:
Sunday 24 July
3 x Inshore Races -Start at 1030am
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Monday 25 July
Offshore Race -24-36 hour race starting from the Royal Yacht Squadron at 1030am
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Tuesday 26 July
Offshore Race continues. Boats start to finish.
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Wednesday 27 July
2 x Inshore Races -Start at 1030am
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Thursday 28 July
3 x Inshore Races -Start at 1030am
Friday 29 July
Round the Isle of Wight Race -Start at 1030am
Saturday 30 July
2 x Inshore Races -Start at 1030am
The offshore race usually includes a venture into The Channel, if not across to France and if there is plenty of wind in the right direction the Round the Isle of Wight Race should have some good spectator views of the 24 boats taking part as they battle against each other.
Looking back at the Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup results for the last eight years, GBR won in 2008, Ireland in 2010, then GBR again in 2012 and Ireland in 2014. Given this sequence it should be Britain’s turn to prevail once more in the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s biennial event for three boat teams with Corinthian crews, however the French have three teams and other contenders are looking good. This all adds up to an exciting contest which in the past has gone down to the last race.
Watch this space.