Volkswagen Touareg King Of Cowes at Skandia Cowes Week

With some big prizes and a prestigious title at stake, the scene is hotting up for the 2008 edition of the Volkswagen Touareg King of Cowes at Skandia Cowes Week, which takes place on Friday 1st August.

The inaugural event, in 2007, saw Alistair Richardson crowned "King of Cowes" and drive away with a brand new Volkswagen Touareg. Volkswagen Touareg has continued its sponsorship of the Laser SB3 class and its events into 2008 and is back again as the driving force behind this second Volkswagen Touareg King of Cowes at Skandia Cowes Week.

The prizes up for grabs this year reflect the level of competition the regatta attracts, and on the day the sailors will be vying for a number of top prizes, as well as the all important title.

The overall winning helmsman, already a Class winner at Skandia Cowes Week 2007, will once again drive away with a fabulous Volkswagen Touareg. The second placed helm will receive a Laser XD dinghy, as specified and used by World number one and British Olympic Laser Class representative Paul Goodison, whilst the third placed helm gets a Laser Bug, the critically acclaimed new singled handed junior dinghy launched in 2008.

The owners of the Laser SB3s, who provide the boats and are critical to the success of the event, don't walk away empty handed either. Every competing Laser SB3 owner will receive a brand new jib for their boat and in addition the top three owners will also receive fabulous prizes.

Additional prizes up for grabs

New for 2008, the event is being supported by holiday company, Mark Warner, one of the most highly regarded independent travel companies in the UK, carrying over 50,000 passengers to a mix of Ski and Beach resort holidays each year. The owner of the winning boat will receive a fantastic activity holiday with Mark Warner. The second and third placed owners will receive a new Laser SB3 Mainsail and a new jib respectively.

"Mark Warner are delighted to be supporting this event. It is very exciting to be involved in the Volkswagen Touareg King of Cowes. We wish all the competitors the best of luck' - Leslie Crook, Press & PR Co-ordinator, Mark Warner.

Another exciting new development is the introduction of the Nexus Marine "Most Passionate Performance of the Day" award. Swedish-based Nexus Marine, is a leading manufacturer of navigation equipment for racing and cruising yachts and this award will be judged by an on-water panel led by its Sales and Marketing Manager, Jonas Magnér. The judges will be looking for the team that demonstrates the greatest "passion" for the competition and the winning helm will receive a Nexus instrument package worth £500.

"Nexus is delighted to be part of this year's Volkswagen Touareg King of Cowes at Skandia Cowes Week. Nexus is an Official Supplier to Skandia Cowes Week and we are passionate about our products and know that success in sailing, as well as in life, requires both passion and commitment. In awarding this prize we will be looking for the team whose attitude best displays that wonderful passion for sailing and joie-de-vivre that make Skandia Cowes Week and the Volkswagen Touareg King of Cowes world class events." - Jonas Magnér.

This year's event will see the 32 official class winners from Skandia Cowes Week 2007 competing in one design Laser SB3's.

Watch this space for the official pairings of skippers and owners, and to see who will take home each of these superb prizes.

www.kingofcowes.com