This in from Cowes Week organisers, in their own words, Ed
Each year, Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week brings people together from all walks of life and from across the globe; young and old, men and women, disabled and able-bodied, amateur and professional.
Teamwork is the name of the game and is what attracts families, the armed forces, charitable causes, and a huge number of faithfuls to the regatta. This year is no exception and event organisers are gearing up for another fantastic regatta in two weeks time.
Below is a snapshot of some of the crews who will take to the water at this year’s event:
We are family
Last year’s first Family Day highlighted just how many family crews enjoy racing together at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, with the Squib class in particular being very popular with family sailors.
In addition, in the SB20 class the Simonds make a family affair of it at the regatta each year on Doolalli with the crew rotated with various family members throughout the Week. Elixir, racing in the IRC fleet will also be a family affair. The boat is being sailed with a core crew of nine, four of whom are William Garnett and wife Susannah and their children Tobias (25) and Amelia (22). In addition, they have William’s brother, Christopher onboard and father and daughter Andrew and Alexandra Neill. They all learnt to sail in Seaview and Andrew and William’s families have been coming to the Island since the late 19th century.
Racing at Cowes Week has also long been popular with a different kind of “family” too, with many military entries each year.
White Knight VI is crewed by members of the British Army, some of whom who have recently returned from a demanding tour of Afghanistan as part of 20 Armoured Brigade. The boat is owned by the Royal Armoured Corps Yacht Club, a private sailing club for British cavalry regiments, and is used extensively for sail training for young soldiers as a means of practising teamwork in a non-combat environment… if you can describe racing as a non-combat environment!
In addition, the crew of Gladeye is made up of young officers from the Household Division and the boat is used for training soldiers from the Household Division regiments throughout the year, while Red Arrow is the RAF Sailing Association yacht with its crew comprising of serving RAF personnel.
Changing lives
The importance of team-work on a boat acts as a great leveller. This is part of the reason why sailing can often be the catalyst for changing or improving people’s lives.
Racing at this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week there are many teams racing who have overcome challenges to get here.
The crew of Geronimo in the Sonar class are all profoundly deaf (with the exception of a communicator onboard for safety only) and have come from all over the country to race together at Cowes as part of the Shoreham racing team.
Also in the Sonar class, CWL is delighted to welcome back the US sailor Kerry Gruson with Blew Bayou 2. Kerry, one of the first disabled woman helms to compete at the regatta, won the Ladies Day Trophy in 2008 in recognition of her work teaching sailing and advancing accessible sailing for people with disabilities.
The official event charity, Toe in the Water, has TOE IN THE WATER and TOE IN THE WATER TOO racing in the IRC fleet as part of the rehabilitation programme for injured service personnel.
Ocean Venture in the IRC Ocean Racer fleet is being campaigned as a charitable project, helping local Islanders experiencing a difficult time dealing with life’s challenges.
Across the fleet there is a plethora of inspirational stories of people who have overcome the odds and are here to enjoy a great week of racing on level terms with everyone else.
Stalwarts
At least 80% of all those who race at the regatta have competed several times. Some, however, may reasonably be described as stalwarts of Cowes Week, with over 30 years of racing at the regatta!
The 80 boat strong XOD fleet has its fair share of experience. James McGill will be racing Quest – having first crewed her at the age of 14, James has been racing at Cowes Week for over 50 years! Bill Mallam will enjoy his 46th year in 2012 with his boat Judy. Tony Probert has regularly raced at the regatta for 35 years and this year enters with Madamex.
Travelled from afar
Many regulars to Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week are those who can regard the world’s best-known sailing regatta as their local regatta. However, entries are attracted from all corners of the globe.
Some 14 countries are confirmed to take part in the racing this year, with Dave & Zorana Bull coming from furthest afield. They will arrive from Australia to race in the SB20 fleet with Jester 3. This is their 4th Cowes week – Dave competed first in Cowes when at Royal Naval Engineering College in 1986, then again in 1998 & 2009.
The countries to have best representation are the Netherlands and USA, each country with six boats racing.
This year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week takes place from the 11-18 August. There’s still good time to enter and the standard entry fee applies until 17:00 on Sunday 5 August. Enter online at: www.aamcowesweek.co.uk.
Image: © CWL_RickTomlinson
