A spell of rain failed to dampen competitors' spirits on the opening day of this year's Cowes Week

Shifty, drizzly conditions don't deter the photographers - check out the action from day 1 on our gallery.

Cowes Week starts tomorrow, Saturday 1st August, and the Extreme 40s had three practice races today, now sensibly cited off The Green

Maxi Trimaran departs New York aiming to cross the Atlantic in under 4 days 3 hours and 57 minutes