Four aircraft will light up the Solent sky above Cowes on the evening of Thursday 6 August, as Red Funnel presents a bicentenary aerial display to mark 200 years of North Sails Cowes Week racing.
The display kicks off at 7:10pm, featuring a Yak-52 and a Pitts Special, both well regarded for aerobatics and formation flying. They'll be joined by a Fairey Swordfish, a nod to naval heritage, and a Firebird set to deliver an adrenaline-charged solo performance.
Cowes Parade and Cowes Green are the pick of the viewing spots. The Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines Portsmouth will warm up the crowd from 6pm to 7pm ahead of the planes taking to the air.
The display falls the evening before the traditional Friday night fireworks on 7 August, the two events together giving the bicentenary celebrations a serious festival feel.
The partnership has a neat symmetry to it. Cowes Week Chair Bob Trimble put it this way: "Both Cowes Week and Red Funnel celebrate significant milestones this summer and are connected by the Solent, the regatta celebrating 200 years of racing since 1826 and Red Funnel marking 165 years of connecting the Isle of Wight and mainland since 1961. We're delighted that our longstanding Official Travel Partner Red Funnel will present the popular aerial display for the bicentenary year, offering an exciting addition to the spectator programme."
Red Funnel CEO Fran Collins added: "Cowes Week has been at the heart of life on the Isle of Wight for 200 years, bringing together our community, visitors and sailors from around the world to celebrate a shared maritime heritage. We hope the Bicentenary Aerial Display, alongside the traditional fireworks, gives everyone the chance to come together and be part of what promises to be a very special year for Cowes Week."
For those travelling from the mainland, Red Funnel is offering a special event fare, with day returns to West Cowes starting from £14 for adults and £7 for children. The ferry operator is also running Fireworks Cruises on the Friday evening, a three-hour excursion departing at sunset with live entertainment and on-water views of the fireworks display.
