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Competitors at Skandia Life Cowes Week have spent the morning enjoying a welcome break in the clouds and waiting for the promised sea breeze to fill in. However, as of 1315 there was no sign of the wind and the waters off Cowes resembled a millpond, forcing the race committee to postpone the racing once again.

During the morning a selection of yachts had slipped their warps and left the pontoons early in an effort to prepare for the racing but once out in the Solent, it soon became apparent that basking on deck and an early lunch were the likely options.

Some of those who made the decision to stay put in Cowes Yacht Haven resorted to traditional onshore daytime activities including bombardment by water balloon and assault by catapult. The high noon sun has also ensured good custom for the Tropicana team, who waddle around the pontoons with giant packs of free tropical drinks strapped to their backs. Some crews raised a finger, didn't feel so much as a whisper and made the decision early on that there would be no racing, heading straight for Island Sailing Club's bar to sample the delights of something stronger.

In the midst of all this chilling out, an announcement was made that a zephyr of wind had been spotted on the Solent's mirrored face. That was like shouting 'there's gold on them there hills' for Classes 5, 7 and 10, together with the Mumm 30s, who were called to the committee boat line, even at the very moment most had thought that the race results computer would take a break.

Meantime, the promised sea breeze has, we suspect, also retired to the ISC bar. For the four classes racing they might just be praying for rain, both to prompt some wind and to drown the revellers ashore.

More news when we have it.