Red Funnel to light the skies with unmissable Cowes Week firework display

To celebrate 50 years of continuous high-speed service between Southampton and West Cowes, Red Funnel Ferries has announced that it will be the headline sponsor of this year’s Cowes Week fireworks.

To mark such a big anniversary, and to extend thanks to its customers and staff, past and present, Red Funnel, the original Isle of Wight ferry provider, will be lighting up the skies on Friday 16th August at 21:30 with the unmissable Red Funnel Fireworks at Cowes Week to round off a week of sailing at the world-famous annual regatta.

Over the last 5 decades a total of 13 hi-speed vessels have come and gone into the Red Funnel fleet, starting with the hydrofoils (Shearwater 1-6), through to the waterjet propelled Red Jet fleet (1-7).

Commenting on the sponsorship, Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, said: “This year marks a significant milestone for Red Funnel as we celebrate 50 years of high-speed service across the Solent. Committing to headline sponsorship of the Cowes Week fireworks just felt like the right way to celebrate this momentous event in our history. The Red Funnel Fireworks at Cowes Week event is a tribute to all of our staff and customers as a heartfelt thank you for their support over the last 5 decades, and we really hope everyone enjoys the show. We’re a longstanding supporter of Cowes Week but it felt like time for us to take that support to the next level. Cowes Week is deeply rooted in the history of Cowes and Cowes is our Island home port. It just makes perfect sense for us to support making this exciting event the best it can be, and we can’t wait to light up the skies. It’s going to be a fantastic show!”  

Commenting on what to expect of this year’s fireworks display, Kate Johnson, Commercial & Marketing Director at CWL said: “We’re thrilled that Red Funnel has taken on the headline sponsorship of the Fireworks Display, having been a long-term supporter of the regatta. It will be another fabulous display this year and those watching may notice a predominant red and white theme, in recognition of their support.”

As in previous years, Red Funnel will also host two dedicated fireworks party boat excursions, one from Southampton and one from East Cowes, providing an up close view of the fireworks from the Solent.

For more information about The Red Funnel Fireworks at Cowes Week and Red Funnel’s fireworks excursions, please visit: https://www.redfunnel.co.uk/fireworks

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For further information regarding Red Funnel, please contact:

Lisa Norman or Kirsti Pawlowski at McKenna Townsend

T: 01425 472330
E: [email protected]

Editor’s note

About Red Funnel

Red Funnel is the original Isle of Wight ferry company with roots tracing back to 1820. Based in the UK port of Southampton, Red Funnel carries 2.3m passengers and over 800,000 vehicles on its ferry route between the UK port of Southampton and East Cowes and 1.1m passengers between Southampton and West Cowes on its Red Jet Hi-Speed service.  In addition to ferry travel, Red Funnel is the only cross-Solent operator to offer ferry inclusive bonded holiday accommodation, attraction tickets, festival and event tickets and activity packages. Sub-brands include ‘Red Jet’ (the Hi-Speed passenger only ferry service serving West Cowes) and two food & beverage brands, ‘Steam Coffee Company’ and ‘ReFuel’.  The Company is a founder member of Visit Isle of Wight Ltd, the Island’s not for profit destination management organisation and Red Funnel sponsors or supports most of the Island’s premier events including the IW Festival, Cowes Week, Isle of Arts, The Red Funnel IW Literary Festival, IW Newport Jazz Festival, Isle Walk Festival, Ventnor Fringe Festival and Wolverton Manor Garden Show as well as a range of community and niche interest events. Red Funnel’s 2019 Charity of the Year is Mountbatten Hospice, Isle of Wight.

For more information visit: www.redfunnel.co.uk

About Cowes Week

Cowes Week is one of the UK's longest running sporting events, having first taken place in 1826. The aspirational and inclusive sailing regatta is the largest of its kind in the world, attracting between 800 and 1,000 yachts in up to 40 classes. Around 8,000 competitors race during the week ranging from weekend sailors to World Champions and Olympic medallists.

The lively après-sail atmosphere at Cowes Week means there are plenty of social and exciting onshore activities for sailors and the thousands of spectators who visit Cowes each year. The next edition of the regatta takes place from 10 – 17 August 2019.

The event is supported by the following sponsors who also help to make the event a success: aql, Westerhall Rums,  Land Rover, Chatham Marine, MUSTO, Isle of Wight Council, Sunsail, Fever-Tree,  Slingsby Gin and Media Partner: Yachts & Yachting, Official Charity 1851 Trust

More information at www.cowesweek.co.uk

About Cowes Week Limited

Cowes Week Limited (wholly owned by Cowes Combined Clubs Limited) was formed in November 2007 to provide a single management board with overall responsibility for the event. This ensures that the business operation of both the shore-side and racing elements are managed in a streamlined way.