News - 2013

09:00 Monday 1 Jul 2013 Sue PellingGood Returns for Great Racing at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week

With between 800 and 1,000 boats taking part, Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week is one of the biggest events of its kind in the world and regarded by many as a key regatta on the international racing calendar.

Racing within such a huge fleet is unique experience, which is why at least 80 per cent of competitors return to the event year after year, reports Sue Pelling.

As well as the excitement of racing against so many other boats, and lining up on the start line with some of the world’s best sailors, it is the natural balance of fun versus quality of racing that continues to attracts competitors to the regatta time and time again.

Cowes Week regular, Graham Bailey, says it is by far his favourite regatta. This year he’ll be sailing his International Dragon with his wife Julia, Richard Powell and Will Heritage (aged 12). Commenting on what makes him return to regatta, Bailey says: “Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week is simply the best regatta there is for the balance of fun and supreme technical challenge. I just love those big, gutsy, brave moves when someone splits to another shore. The situation looks shocking for a while but the return often beats the investment. It is agonising to watch from either perspective. The single most important skill of sailing at the regatta is to manage your risk, and there is plenty of risk to manage coming at you from all angles. After Cowes Week, championships on windward/leeward courses are a doddle. Can't wait.”

Competition at the front of most fleets at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week is exceptionally hot. During the eight-day regatta the intensity builds throughout the week and often there are just a few points separating the top-ranked boats on the final day.

Burnham-on-Crouch Squib sailors Malcolm Hutchings and Andy Ramsey who won their class and finished in White Group second overall at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week for the last two years say the long haul from east coast to Cowes is always worthwhile. Their aim this year is to make it a hat trick and, if possible, win White Group overall. Chatting about what makes the week so special, Ramsey commented: “It is a truly unique regatta and I actually prefer it to championship sailing because the courses are far more interesting. For a two-person crew, having to deal with the complexities of navigation, the tides and the 100s of other boats on the course; it is particularly challenging, but I think that is what makes the event so special. The social side of Cowes Week is also unique because there is something for everyone from casual nights at the beer tent to black tie dinners. In fact, depending on how seriously you take your racing, you can party non-stop for eight days.”