Editing Cowes Week (section)

==History==
[[File:East Cowes Castle, by J M W Turner 1827.jpg|thumb|The Cowes Regatta as shown in ''[[East Cowes Castle (painting)|East Cowes Castle]]'' by [[J. M. W. Turner]] 1827]]
The festival originates from the Prince Regent's interest in yachting which continued after he became [[George IV]] in 1820. The first race started at 09:30 on Thursday 10 August 1826 with the prize of a "Gold Cup of the value of £100" and was held under the flag of the Royal Yacht Club, which later became the [[Royal Yacht Squadron]]. Another race was held the next day for prize money only (£30 for first place, £20 for second).

Until [[World War I]], big cutters and raters were raced by gentlemen amateurs employing skippers and crew.  In the 1920s and 1930s, there were cruiser handicap classes and local one-designs (although the six to eight and twelve metre classes attracted the most racing interest).  Following [[World War II]], when there was a revival of big [[yacht racing]], ocean racing classes started to predominate, especially after the first [[Admiral's Cup]] event was held in 1957 and the growth in popularity of the two ocean-going races that start and finish the regatta ''The Channel'' and ''[[Fastnet race|the Fastnet]]''. The [[Fastnet race|Fastnet]], which rounds the Fastnet rock far out in the Atlantic and can be dangerous, is held in odd-numbered years only.

[[File:HMY Britannia off Cowes.jpg|thumb|HMY ''Britannia'' anchored off Cowes during Cowes Week 1991]]In the decades following World War II, yachting moved away from its image as a rich man's sport to one which is enjoyed by many today in modest self-skippered 30 to 40 foot yachts.  The attraction of Cowes Week has also given life to many water-based activities and sailing schools promoting the sport of sailing to all age groups and walks of life.  Although certain functions in the week are still the preserve of the elite or members-only clubs, Cowes Week encompasses a wide range of events and attractions open to the public, marketed to a very diverse range of interests.

Key shoreside events of Cowes Week include the festivities within Cowes Yacht Haven, on Cowes Parade and at Shepards Wharf Marina. Each of these venues offer entertainment for the general public as well as those racing.

Traditionally at the end of the Cowes Week event, a fireworks display is held. This has occurred for more than 150 years. In recent years contributions to the funding of the display have been requested by the community who enjoy and benefit from them.<ref name="End of Cowes Week Fireworks?">{{cite web|url=http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/end-of-road-for-cowes-fireworks-24679.aspx |title=Isle of Wight County Press – "End of road for Cowes fireworks? |publisher=iwcp.co.uk |accessdate=2009-02-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331223353/http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/end-of-road-for-cowes-fireworks-24679.aspx |archivedate=31 March 2009 }}</ref>

In 2012 Mrs Gillian Smith became the first female Principal Race Officer to oversee the racing.