The world's best-known sailing regatta gets underway tomorrow

Racing starts tomorrow at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week © Richard Langdon / www.oceanimages.co.uk

Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week gets underway tomorrow and this year's regatta promises action-packed excitement afloat with a shore-side programme to match.

This year, Cowes Combined Clubs celebrates 50 years of co-ordinated race management at the 188 year-old regatta, and at least 13 competitors racing this year also took part in the 1964 regatta (the first year of the formation of CCC). Eric Williams of Williams Shipping is one, and these days is frequently to be found towards the top of the leader-board with his Dragon, Ecstatic. Commenting on what keeps him coming back to Cowes Week, Eric said: "I love it. It's a great sailing obstacle course! It's not just about the racing; you're crossing tides, avoiding ships, missing rocks and keeping clear of everyone else. There's so much to think about and you've never won until you've crossed the finish line. It certainly gets the adrenalin flowing!"

In celebration of the anniversary, the daily prizes and overall trophies will carry a commemorative logo and there are a number of commemorative items available for purchase too. In addition, the CCC Anniversary Trophy has been introduced. This is a painting by local yachtsman and artist, Mike Till, and will be awarded as a perpetual interclub team trophy with the painting held on the premises of the winning club.

Organisers are delighted to also welcome a number of new faces to this year's regatta, with at least 45 newcomers entering for the first time in 2014. David and Gill Roberts are one such crew, taking part for the first time on the final Saturday with their cruiser, Bugsy 2. This will be their first proper race in their first yacht!

Racing on the final Saturday is now used as an introduction to the regatta for those who want to find out what it's all about while having the chance to win some silverware and enjoying a gentler pace with a later start, for a bargain price of just £30. Commenting on their motivation for signing up to this year's regatta, David Roberts said: "Having bought our first boat and just about got used to her, we thought it would be great fun to enter her into the final Saturday race, which seemed designed to encourage the likes of ourselves to take part."

Anyone thinking about taking part in this year's regatta can still do so; entries are accepted for the following days racing before 5pm each day. Visit the Regatta Centre behind the bandstand on Cowes Parade or call 01983 295744 to sign-up.

In keeping with Aberdeen Asset Management's and Cowes Week Limited's shared objectives of supporting the next generation of sailors, they were delighted to announce the appointment of UKSA as the official charity of the regatta earlier in the year. UKSA provides transformational opportunities for young people through sailing and watersports, and will be fundraising in order to offer every year six primary school child on the Island (a total of 1,600 children) the opportunity to experience water-based sports. UKSA have a range of activities planned in support of this target, including a limited edition Ladies Day charity T-shirt and will be resident at Cowes Yacht Haven throughout the Week.

Aberdeen Asset Management has also extended its popular Under 25 initiative to twenty crews who have had their entry fees covered by the title sponsor this year and will also receive team sailing kit and be in contention for the prestigious Aberdeen Asset Management Under 25 Trophy.

On a practical note, visitors and competitors to the regatta will notice that work is currently underway in the harbour for the long-awaited new outer breakwater which will give the marinas and moorings protection from north-easterly winds and minimise damage to boats caused by strong winds in this direction. All boats need to observe the exclusion zone in place throughout the regatta to safeguard against any damage from submerged chain, anchors and floating pipelines.

Ashore, there is a packed schedule of events with entertainments laid-on from early afternoon each day across the town and the addition of a big wheel at Northwood House this year offering panoramic views across Cowes and the Solent.

Special highlights for 2014 include a display from The Blades Aerobatic Display team (Saturday 2 August at 7pm), Family Day (Sunday 3 August), Ladies Day (Thursday 7 August), and the RAF Typhoon Display Team (7.10pm), the iconic Red Arrows (7.30pm) and the spectacular fireworks display (9.30pm) all taking place on the penultimate day of the regatta (Friday 8 August). See the official event website for full details of the shore-side schedule.

There are competitions running throughout the Week too, with lots of brilliant prizes to be won. Details of these can be found at aamcw.co/comps and include the #GoGreenBlue competition in support of Green Blue Day (Saturday 2 August), the Aberdeen Asset Management photography competition and a last chance to win a year's supply of wine courtesy of new wine and champagne sponsor, Laithwaite's.

On a more sombre note, Tuesday 5 August will commemorate the centenary of the first shot at sea in the First World War with a sail past by the Royal Navy and a one minute silence in memory of all those who have served in defence of the nation. A single cannon shot will be fired from the Royal Yacht Squadron at 10am to mark the start of the silence and will fire again at the end of the minute. In addition, this year's race for The Britannia Cup, will be held in commemoration of the centenary of the Great War at Sea.

Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2014 will provide something for everyone and organisers look forward to welcoming all to Cowes for one of the greatest events on the sailing calendar. For those unable to attend, Cowes Live! will broadcast the racing action on the event website from 9.30am until early afternoon each day thanks to funding from Aberdeen Asset Management and the support of the event's technology partner, NGR, and Cowes Radio.

Visit www.aamcowesweek.co.uk for more information.