Skandia Cowes Week is earmarked for Thursday 9 August this year. And once again will be celebrating Ladies Day, with Champagne G.H. Mumm as sponsors.

Ladies Day at Skandia Cowes Week recognises and celebrates the contribution and achievements of women in sailing, as it is a fact that more women than ever now compete at Cowes Week and at least a third of the 8,500 competitors are female.

In order to highlight the increasing involvement of women and to celebrate sailing as one of few mainstream sports where women compete with men on equal terms, CCC will award their Ladies Day Trophy at the Champagne G.H. Mumm Ladies Day Reception and Award ceremony to be held on the Thursday evening.

Last year’s inaugural Ladies Day Trophy was awarded to Betty Moore who, at 88 years young, was its first recipient. Betty was recognised for having sailed at Cowes Week every year since 1947.

It is up to the public to get their nominations in by midday on Friday, 3 August. The process is simple, and anyone can nominate a female competitor at Skandia Cowes Week, past or present. Female competitors may even nominate themselves, or put someone else forward for nomination for their outstanding contribution, commitment or achievement in sailing in general terms (not just at Skandia Cowes Week).

The nominated individual needs to have competed at the Regatta in recent years, and must be available to attend Thursday’s early evening Champagne G.H. Mumm Ladies Day Reception.

All nominations will be reviewed by an event panel, which includes Olympic double Gold medallist Shirley Robertson OBE. The panel will short-list five nominees, all of whom will be invited to join the exclusive Champagne G.H. Mumm Ladies Day Reception and Award ceremony being held this year at the prestigious Royal Corinthian Yacht Club.

The winner will be announced and the Trophy will be presented by the esteemed round the world yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur.