A familiar sight of flags flapping lifelessly on Cowes Parade greeted the fleet first thing this morning but by midday, the sea breeze had kicked in, as predicted by weather expert Chris Tibbs.

And so the sun sets on another hugely successful Skandia Cowes Week! A total of 997 entries experienced some world-class racing during the Week and enjoyed an exciting and varied social scene off the water in Cowes.

* Despite the weather not entirely playing ball it was an absolute cracker.

My crew had a brilliant time and have all traipsed back to London with severe bruising, a few hangovers, glowing suntans ang big smiles on their faces...personally that was the best holiday I've had in a very long time despite finishing in 5th place overall in Class 9 IRC (not bad but could have been much, much better!)...

Anyhow, the list of thank you's is long, spearheaded by the army of volunteers who have selflessly given their time making sure that everything ran as smoothly as possible - thank you! Then to the officials - Stuart Quarrie, John Grandy, Patsy Carter, Mary Scott-Jackson, Peta Stuart-Hunt, Michelle Warner, Nerys James, Andre Oszmann, Tim Sewell, Andy Hazell...the list goes on and on but thank you to everyone involved...I have to say that competing sure was a heck of a lot better than standing on the banks or sitting in the media centre writing about the event!

I'll definitely be back next year at the world's best regatta! Thank you to everyone involved! -- Magnus Wheatley in http://rule69blog.com

Winners by class (boat name, skipper)

Black Group Overall: Amey Love Shack (Class 4 IRC), Tim Spalding White Group Overall: Arbitrator (Etchells), Graham Bailey Class 0 IRC: ICAP Leopard, Mike Slade

Class 1 IRC: Flash Glove, Colm Barrington
Class 2 IRC: WISC, Glynn Williams
Class 3 IRC: Holmatro, Sander Speet
Class 4 IRC: Amey Love Shack, Tim Spalding
Class 5 IRC: Alvine Jacobite, Harry Evans
Class 6 IRC: Fatjax, Iain Kirkpatrick
Class 7 IRC: Earls Court Boatshow, Adam Gosling
Class 8 IRC: Bullett, Howard Sellars
Class 9 IRC: Madelaine, Richard Donald

1720: La Licorne, Mark Greenaway

Beneteau 31.7: Electra, Andy Phelps

Beneteau 40.7: Amey Love Shack, Tim Spalding
Contessa 32: Drumbeat, Eldred Himsworth

Daring: Dauntless, Giles Peckham

Dragon: Princess Jalina, David Palmer

Etchells: Arbitrator, Graham Bailey

Farr 45: Henri Lloyd, Stacey Clark

Hunter 707: The Ant Hill Mob, Russell Mead

Flying 15: Men Behaving Badly, Rupert Mander

IRM: Henri Lloyd, Stacey Clark

J/Sprit: Mojo, Robin Stevenson

J/109: Shiva, Matthew Boyle

J/105: J-Dream, David Apthorp

J/92: Mojo, Robin Stevenson

J/80: Savage Sailing Team, Liz Savage

Laser SB3: Musto, Glenn Bourke

Multihull: Buzz, Phil Cotton

Nautor Swan Trophy: WISC, Glynn Williams
Quarter Tonner: Bullett, Howard Sellars

Redwing: Toucan, N/A

RS Elite: Eclipse, Ian Andrew

RS KS: Courageous, Richard Talbot

Seaview Mermaid: Sheen, N/A

Sigma 33: Workout, Jeff Worboys

Sigma 38: Beefeater, Adrian Ward

Solent Sunbeam: Daisy, Michael Moss and Michael Law

Sonar: Bertie, Simon Barter

Sonata: G-String, Kieron O'Connell

Sportsboats: Abstension II, N/A

Squib: Firecracker Too, N/A

Sunsail 37: Deloitte, Hamish Edsell

Swallow: Skua, Harry Roome

Swan 45: WISC, Glynn Williams

Victory: Zinnia, John Tremlett

X One Design: Swallow, Simon Russell

X332: Fatjax, Iain Kirkpatrick

X35: Kiss, David Pinner

Skandia Young Skippers: Holmatro (Class 3 IRC), Sander Speet

http://www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk