2nd-8th Aug: Cowes Week

Cowes Week 2025 was from Saturday 2nd to Friday 8th August.  I went to NCI stone Point on various days to try to take photos either before the watch or snatched during the watch if time was available.

On Saturday 2nd August the morning northerlies were replaced by a sea breeze in the afternoon.  I was on the 15hrs to 18hrs watch, but by myself, so could not take photos except through the windows.  I think the racing must have been delayed waiting for wind since this photo of yachts in the west Solent was taken at 16:49 hours.

It was windier on Sunday 3rd August with force 4 to 5 WSW winds at Stone Point.  I did a double watch from 12hrs to 18hrs.  Some of the smaller yacht classes were using Lepe Spit cardinal Mark as a course marker so I managed to take some photos during the early afternoon.

A named storm was forecast for Monday 4th August so all racing was cancelled the night before.  I was at Lepe on the 12hrs to 15hrs watch but there was no racing and very little on the water.

The sun was out for Tuesday 5th August and there was a good NW wind.  The fastest and largest classes were in the central and eastern Solent but of the rest, the larger boats used “Cowes Week 2026” off Lepe as their first course mark, whilst the smaller yachts were using the Lepe Spit Cardinal Mark  allowing me to photograph a whole range of Solent Classes.

Winds on the morning of Wednesday 6th August were light, and with no watches booked I did not go to Lepe.  There was racing in the afternoon.

On Thursday 7th August I delivered a new “radio script” to NCI Calshot Tower, and then spent time at Lepe photographing the racing.  Conditions were good with a WSW force 4 to 5 wind.  Here are some of the photos.

Winds on Friday 8th started lighter but strengthened in the afternoon.  I wondered about going to Lepe but with no watches booked, in the end  I decided not.