News - 2014

09:00 Monday 7 Jul 2014 Rupert HolmesRupert Holmes provides tips on the help at hand in Cowes for fixing issues during this year's regatta

While many repairs can be completed overnight, this Quarter Tonner had extensive damage to her topsides and coachroof following a port/starboard incident, but her crew missed only one day of racing

Although sailing is in theory a non-contact sport, with up to 1,000 boats racing, some degree of breakages and damage is inevitable during a long event such as Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week. Fortunately Cowes is home to some of the world’s best boat repair companies that will help get you back on the water, usually for the following day.

For smaller breakages there are a number of well-stocked chandlers, while Spencer Rigging in St Mary’s Road is one of the world’s best-regarded riggers. On windy days sail damage is common, particularly to spinnakers. Medina Sailcare in Cowes Yacht Haven, run by Gerry Faram, has a team of sailmakers on standby to ensure that even extensive repairs can be carried out ready for racing the following day, if necessary working through the night.

Local boat builder David Heritage Racing Yachts is similarly geared up to provide an overnight service to repair structural damage. Big jobs that Heritage has completed overnight in the past include patching a two-foot square hole in the side of a 38-footer and extensively rebuilding the corner of the transom of a Swan 45. He is also able to undertake smaller rigging repairs and can fix broken carbon spinnaker poles overnight.

While there’s plenty of help available to get you back on the race course the following day, if you sustain damage, don’t hit the bar before arranging for repairs to take place – get in contact as quickly as possible. This allows companies to manage their workload, ensures your boat is as far up the work schedule as possible, and means there’s no risk that staff who are on standby to work in the evening and overnight are not stood down before your job is booked in.