AFTER a very successful 14-year tenure, 2008 is Skandia's last year as title sponsor of Cowes Week, the world's oldest and largest annual sailing regatta which this year is held from August 2 to 9.
The regatta organisers are looking positively to the future as they continue their search for a new headline sponsor to join them in taking this great British sporting event to its next phase.
An important part of the structure now in place to ensure a smooth transition to a new title sponsor is the recent formation of Cowes Week Limited (CWL). Wholly owned by Cowes Combined Clubs Limited - of which the Royal Southampton is part - the new management company has overall responsibility for policy decisions and the strategic direction of the regatta. This is to ensure that the business operation of both the shore-side and the racing are managed in a more streamlined way. CWL is serviced on a day-to-day basis by a sailing, shore-side and finance committee, and the sales and marketing department.
Stuart Quarrie, chief executive officer, of Cowes Week Limited, said: "The newly formed CWL has already streamlined the management of Cowes Week. Looking ahead, it will introduce a strategic level of thinking to the event as a whole and will help to ensure that Cowes Week continues to go from strength to strength."
The organisers, Skandia, and the family of supporting sponsors as well as the event charity, the Ellen Macarthur Trust, are all looking forward to announcing their plans for Skandia Cowes Week over the coming weeks.
Everyone is gearing up to celebrate the end of an era and the breaking of a new dawn over Cowes.
