Thanks to Suzanne and Alan for this update from Cowes Week. Ed
One of the first trophies, the Vanduara Bowl, to be awarded at AAM Cowes Week was presented to the crew from Tonnerre de Breskens 3. This boat is often seen in the waters off Cowes and is owned by Dutchman Piet Vroon who has a home on the Island.
As well as racing every day for Cowes Week Tonnerre de Breskens 3.is entered in the Rolex Fastnet Race which starts from Cowes on Sunday.
Racing for 60 years
Piet Vroon has taken part in six decades of offshore racing and on Sunday sees his 25th Fastnet as skipper. He will be just 83 when he sails his 46ft grand-prix racer down the Solent. To date, he has only missed out on one Fastnet Race in 1995.
He took part in his first RORC race in 1955 and first Fastnet in 1963. Tonnerre de Breskens 3 has won the RORC season overall prize twice in a row (2010, when she was also Yacht of the Year) and again in 2011.She missed out in 2012 by a single point.
Piet Vroon was also awarded the Somerset Memorial Trophy for outstanding racing achievement recently and will now add the Vanduara Bowl to his collection of trophies.
Presented by Shirley Robertson
Presentation for the Vanduara Bowl took place after the day’s racing at AAM Cowes Week with Shirley Robertson making the presentations. Shirley joked that after a hard day’s racing Piet had ‘gone for a lay-down’ whilst his crew were on hand to receive the trophy as well as individual awards depicting Tonnerre de Breskens 3 in action.
Formula 1 comes to Cowes
There was a treat for Formula 1 fans visiting AAM Cowes Week Regatta Village on Cowes Parade. On the Chatham Marine stand visitors could view one of the Sahara Force India Mercedes race cars.
Chatham is the official footwear sponsor for AAM Cowes Week and now also supply footwear for the Force India race mechanics and garage crew. Both sailors and garage mechanics need non-slip footwear and Chatham has devised special non slip soles. Not quite so non-slip were the slick tyres on the car!
Royal visit
Princess Anne (Princess Royal) was recently appointed Admiral of the Royal London Yacht Club, in its 175th anniversary year. A special anniversary dinner was held at the club. Princess Anne is also an Honorary Member of the Royal Yacht Squadron.
Visiting Cowes on Monday the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence arrived at Trinity Landing before making their way along The Parade to Regatta House where they met some of the team responsible for the organisation of the regatta including Stuart Quarrie.
According to Andrew Rayner, head of Next Generation Results – technical partner for Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week – The Princess Royal was particularly interested in finding out more about how the regatta is run.
