Dates
30 Jul 2027 — 6 Aug 2027
Duration
10 hrs
Location
Mercury Yacht Harbour, Hamble
About
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.
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Race programme
Sail to Cowes pre-week · daily racing · evenings ashore · prize-giving · sail home.
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Race programme
Sail to Cowes pre-week · daily racing · evenings ashore · prize-giving · sail home.
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.
Day 1 — first race day
Briefing in the morning, dock-out, race(s) on Solent courses, return to Cowes for evening ashore.
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.
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.
Good to know
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.
Arrival
- Arrive by the start time shown on this event page.
- Subject to availability you can arrive the night before, arrange with the team
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.
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
- Life jackets and safety kit
- Charts, AIS, VHF (+ satcom offshore)
- Galley kit, water, tea, coffee
- Homebase Mooring fees
- Insurance (Security and damage deposit held for Bareboat Charters)
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
Questions
What's on the boat vs what I bring?
What if the weather is bad?
I'm sea-sick prone — can I still come?
I don't have a partner — can I still book?
Can I arrive the night before?
How do I cancel or change my booking?
Interested in this race?
From £275 · Fri 30 Jul