When seven yachts signed up for the first organised yacht race at Cowes on 10th August 1826, it is unlikely anyone envisaged that this would become the annual world-class yachting event that we now know as Skandia Cowes Week. With over 1,000 yachts and 8,500 competitors taking part in some very challenging first-class sailing, the Event attracts a wide range of local, national and international entrants, from true amateurs to Olympic and World champions.
Source: Skandia Cowes Week 2007 - Welcome
I want to go to this event one year. Last year we didn't get to make it to the Isle of Wight due to an unfortunate car mishap. Maybe next year...
This event was also the cause for creating the only 2nd production app launched for Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), the new technology launched by Microsoft and embedded in Windows Vista.
Of course, MS doesn't exaggerate their case studies (!) but here is a good quote on how long it took them to build this new app.
Cut Development Time from Months to Days
After developing version 1.0, Middlemiss needed a faster way to build its successor. He got it with the new technologies in Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 and Windows Presentation Foundation, along with the XAML-based tool Expression Blend. Using these technologies, Middlemiss created the rendering engine—which had taken three months to develop the year before—in a weekend.
