After a bright start this morning for the opening day of Skandia Cowes Week Chris Tibbs (Sailing Weather Limited) is predicting an increasing chance of rain during the afternoon and a high chance of rain in the evening. Temperatures are expected to be around 22 to 24 degrees C and the wind is S-SW building during the day peaking at 20 to 25 knots between 15:00 and 18:00.

Racing starts this morning at 10:25 when the Laser SB3s take to the water but there’s plenty of ways for visitors to entertain themselves too. Skandia’s Try Sailing event is back, following a successful debut in 2005, Skandia has doubled the number of free sailing lessons. The lessons are free and can be booked at the Skandia Try Sailing Marquee on Cowes Parade.

Stay protected on or off the water. The Skandia team is distributing thousands of packets of sun cream to competitors and visitors during the course of the week.

At 17:00 the Blue Eagles Helicopter Flying Display team will be above Cowes performing a seven-minute display of aerobatics. This will be followed by Dame Ellen MacArthur officially opening Trinity Landing – Cowes Harbour Commission’s new gateway entrance to Cowes.

Yachting World will be reporting on all of the day’s action as it happens as well as speaking to the competitors as they finish, so be sure to check back throughout the day.