With a wet and windy Round the Island race behind us and hopefully some sunshine on the horizon, we are expecting a busy couple of months in the Solent. We have been lucky enough to participate in some fantastic charters, but what is to come?
As we look forward to the rest of the season, the next major event we are lucky enough to be a part of is Cowes Week 2024. Every year, SRC eagerly anticipates the beginning of Cowes Week. The Solent becomes engulfed in a wash of colourful sails, which is a spectacle not to be missed. Not only does it generate a wonderful exhibition, but it also leads to a great atmosphere within the local area, as Cowes welcomes travelling sailors and tourists to witness the racing. If the racing isn’t enough, pubs, restaurants, pop-up bars, and mobile food trucks will be open throughout the duration of the event, with some staying open into the early hours for the sailors to have a well-earned drink. A more detailed entertainment guide for each day can be found here.
The first competition was held at the Royal Yacht Club in 1826, which is today known as the Royal Yacht Squadron. In 1826, the club placed a notice in the ‘Southampton Town and Country Herald’ on July 31st, advertising a yacht race for a gold cup worth £100. The race was open to any club yacht, regardless of rig or tonnage, and cost a whopping £2 to enter. A total of seven yachts entered, with yacht ‘Arrow’ taking home the cup. A quarter mile of well-dressed people lined the beach to spectate the racing, which was projected to have exceeded three thousand people. Adding to the masses, outside the sailing club, carriages were drawn up and filled with elegant women to welcome the victor and present the Gold Cup. Almost 200 years later, the race continues!
The best way to spectate the race is aboard one of our immaculately kept Ribs. A viable option to spectate the racing, is via Solent Rib Charters skippered charter. Our experienced skippers will help create a perfect itinerary and tailor your day to suit your requirements. Our skippers will ensure you get front row action without jeopardising safety or impeding any of the racing.
Alternatively, for experienced and qualified skippers, we do offer bareboat charters. If you hold a Powerboat Level 2 or equivalent and have experience within the Solent, you are welcome to head out on a vessel on your own accord. The vessel will be available for collection from 8:00 and must be returned by 17:30. Bareboat charters give you the full ‘ownership experience’ but we do ask that before heading out onto the water, you create a detailed passage plan and familiarise yourself with the potential hazards. A summary of hazards can be found here.
If you are interested in spectating the racing up close and personal via either option, then please give our team a call on 01590 607101 or email admin@solentribcharter.co.uk.
