News - 2014

09:00 Thursday 24 Jul 2014 Sue PellingThe International Presence at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week is as Strong as Ever

Ffreefire underway at last year’s regatta

As one of the largest regattas in the world, it’s not surprising that Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week acts as a magnet for international competitors keen to experience the thrills of big fleet racing. It also has the added appeal of being a quintessentially British event with a strong competitive focus.

Although it is generally Fastnet start years (every other, odd, year) that attract the greatest number of foreign entries with 46 teams last year, the number of international entries is generally on the increase.

This year there are entries from far and wide including Antigua, Belgium, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, and the USA.

Sam Chan and Nick Atkinson from Hong Kong are overseas regulars, having competed in their Flying 15, Ffreefire, at almost every Cowes Week since 2003. They say the event is so unique that they never tire of flying to the UK every year to compete.

Atkinson commented: “The event has always been consistently well run. Sailing in the Solent is a huge challenge, and is a stark contrast from the warmer waters and lighter airs of Hong Kong. Navigating the Solent, with its ever-changing tides and vast race courses in a two-man boat requires a huge amount of focus and teamwork. Both Sam and I are always keen to return each year to put ourselves to the test in one of the worlds toughest regattas.”

The Flying 15 class is seeing a bit of a resurgence at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week this year with 12 boats currently signed up including reining event champions, Rupert and John Mander with Men Behaving Badly, and a South African team on Durban Fflyer.

One of the many first-time international teams heading to the UK to compete this year is the young Dutch Open 30 Tsunami Sailing Team, headed by Robin Jacobs (20). Diederik Andeweg (18) one of the key crew members said although the team (whose average age is just 18) has been sailing since childhood, it only really started racing seriously last September with an aim to compete at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week. He said: “As little kids cruising to the UK for our holidays, and sometimes arriving just in time for Cowes Week, we had a really fun time, watching the big, fast and good-looking boats take part, and enjoyed the amazing atmosphere. I think we all had a desire to compete one day.

“Most of us remained friends as we grew up and formed a sailing team, which meant we were in a good position to plan our trip to Cowes. We saved some money, obtained some financial contribution and even found a sponsor (Tenson) that gave us an opportunity to actually compete. We are so excited about the prospect and are looking forward to finally being part of the event.”

This year’s regatta takes place 2-9 August and any boats thinking about entering for individual days or the whole week are encouraged to do so before midnight on Sunday 27 July which is when the standard entry fee ends.