Each year, Cowes Week Limited (CWL) gathers feedback from competitors and visitors after Cowes Week, in partnership with market-leading online research company, eDigitalResearch.

This intelligence is gathered through a variety of channels including daily SMS course surveys during Cowes Week, a post-event questionnaire and live net chat, as well as a debrief meeting with all the class secretaries. This process enables CWL to conduct a detailed evaluation of where Cowes Week excels, as well as areas that require further development or improvement.

Commenting on the results of this year's survey, Stuart Quarrie, CEO of CWL said: "Through our relationship with eDigitalResearch we are able to analyse all the responses to the Cowes Week questionnaire and look at the main areas which require our attention before forming a plan to address these with the extended event team".

Here is the Cowes Week response to the research at the 2010 regatta

 

2010 Cowes Week response to your feedback ‐ we are listening...

Each year we ask for your feedback on Cowes Week so that we can develop the event in the ways you want. 

More of you completed the online survey in 2010 than ever before and some of you also took part in an online net chat with me. This, as always, has provided some invaluable information about what is important to you.

Thank you for continuing to take the time to tell us what you think – your comments and suggestions really do form an integral part of our ongoing planning process; hopefully our responses and actions as a result of
your feedback demonstrate this.

Please continue to tell us what we’re doing well and where we need to up our game. It’s your regatta and your continued enjoyment of it is the driving force for everything we do.

 

VALUE‐FOR‐MONEY
We understand that there are many components
to the overall cost of coming to Cowes Week.
Whilst CWL is primarily responsible for the
organisation of the racing, we are working very
hard on your behalf to improve the overall value
for money that Cowes Week delivers.
Here are some of the areas we are working to
improve for the 2011 event:


Entry fees
Cowes Week’s entry fees are currently on a par
with other major international sailing regattas.
However, one of our highest priorities is to
reduce entry fees as soon as we have sufficient
sponsorship income.


Berthing costs
Following your feedback, Cowes Harbour
Commission have reappraised the layout and
technical specification of the day class moorings
and will be making some changes in 2011 to
ensure consistency across all temporary moorings
for Cowes week. This review has included the
specific concerns raised in 2010 over the spacing
of some risers and the condition of some strops.

Cowes Yacht Haven is improving the quality of
their service by completely refurbishing the toilet
and shower facilities, and marina electrics. In
addition, the layout of the site will be more
customer‐focused and will provide better support
services for Cowes Week competitors.


East Cowes Marina is once again part‐funding the
free up‐river ferry service and is also offering a
10% reduction on bookings received before the
end of the Cowes Week Early Bird Discounted
Entry Fee period on Monday 13th June (this is in
addition to the 2010 berthing rate reduction).


Eating out and enjoying a drink
Restaurant and bar prices are sometimes higher
than usual during Cowes Week to cater for the
increased demands during the regatta. To make
sure that our competitors continue to receive
good value for money, we are taking the
following steps:


Introduction of a “Cowes Week Charter”
scheme in conjunction with Cowes Business
Association providing easy identification of
the establishments offering value‐for‐money
during the event.

Improving the benefits offered by the Competitor Card.

Accommodation
Our research shows that over the last few years,
the price of accommodation at many properties
in Cowes has remained the same or, in some
instances, been reduced as a result of changing
market conditions.


We have passed all of your accommodation
feedback to the various agencies, who in turn will
be providing robust recommendations to
property owners on rental prices, depending on
the quality, size and location of each house.


IMPROVING THE RACING AND COMMUNICATIONS


Courses
The use of a core course setting team improved
the general level of courses and we are delighted
that this was recognised in your feedback.
Lessons were learnt which will assist the team
next year and, in addition, the tides will be quite
different in 2011, with most starts seeing west
going tides. This should largely remove the
problem, highlighted by white group, of boats
beating close inshore along the Green.
The texting of course information seemed to
happen very late this year and too close to the
start of racing.


We had a technical issue on the first day which
will not be repeated. We are also looking at ways
that will enable us to send the text messages just
a little earlier to ensure that the vast majority get
their courses before their warning signal.
It’s sometimes hard to see the information on
the course boards before the start of a race
(White Group).


In 2011 we hope to trial the distribution of course
information via VHF radio in parallel with the
course boards and text communications. VHF
Radio has been used as the means of
communicating courses for Black Group
successfully for many years.

The race management on the committee boats
seemed a little out of step with the rest of the
race management team.


In 2011 we were short of available committee
boats, a situation which is in hand for next year.
We are also looking at ways to enhance and
improve some aspects of on‐the‐water race
management and to make it more consistent
across the regatta.
There were far too many Sailing Instructions
amendments this year. Was this really
necessary?


In our efforts to simplify the Sailing Instructions
this year, there were a few areas that were either
overlooked or could be perceived as ambiguous.
We will work harder to get this right first time
next year.


The medallion daily prize was not of a standard I
would expect of Cowes Week.


Both medallions and Gill vouchers were offered
as options for the daily prizes this year. We
recognise that the medallions weren’t quite up to
standard and we will address this with a suitable
alternative in 2011.


IMPROVING THE SHORE‐SIDE EXPERIENCE


It would be good to have a crew‐only enclosure
at Cowes Week.
Shepards Wharf Marina is intended as a crew only
area for competitors, friends and family.
There are plans in place to improve Shepards as a
venue for 2011. In addition, the Cowes Corinthian
Yacht Club grants temporary membership to all
Cowes Week competitors during the event.


The music at some venues is often too loud for
us to enjoy conversation after racing
Your comments have been shared with each of
the venues and they will aim to provide a more
“toned‐down” environment for you immediately
after racing.

What are you doing to prevent crime and
disorder during Cowes Week?
Across the event we work very closely with the
police, security staff, the Council and the local
business community to try to manage the
minority who behave badly during Cowes Week.
There are extra police foot and cycle patrols in
Cowes to provide reassurance and a swift
response to any problems reported. Public
opening hours at Cowes Police Station are
extended for the week.


Officers can use powers under Section 27 of the
Violent Crime Reduction Act to direct anyone
aged 16 years or over to leave Cowes for up to 48
hours if their presence is likely to cause alcohol related
crime and disorder. If anyone who is told
to move on refuses, they are committing a
criminal offence and police then have the power
to arrest.


The police report that there have been low levels
of crime during Cowes Week in recent years.
Tens of thousands of people enjoy the occasion
safely and responsibly, and the police will
continue to work with the community to
maintain the regatta’s vibrant and friendly
festival atmosphere.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2011


Cowes Week 2011 is already shaping up to be a
memorable regatta.


The XOD Class will be celebrating the 100th
anniversary of their first Class race and are
expecting well over 100 of the 140 XODs still
regularly racing to compete at Cowes Week!
During the week’s racing there will be a series of
three Centenary races which are expected to
start and finish on the Royal Yacht Squadron line
to provide a great spectacle.


The Contessa 32 Class will be celebrating its 40th
anniversary and we are working with the Class to
get as many as 40 Contessas on the start line in
2011.


We will continue to consider your comments
carefully as we work to further develop Cowes
Week. Look out for more details in our
newsletter in March, at which time online entries
will also be possible.


We very much look forward to welcoming you all
to the regatta from the 6 ‐ 13 August. In the
meantime, if you have any questions or
constructive comments for us, please don't
hesitate to get in touch.