News - 2017

11:38 Saturday 29 Jul 2017 Sue Pelling/LCWSheahan on air

Matt Sheahan on the water this morning

Matt Sheahan, Sunset+Vine’s Head of Performance Sailing and the producer of the World Sailing Show, is the new voice of Lendy Cowes Radio.

Radio listeners tuning into Lendy Cowes Week today will be greeted by Sheahan today who takes over from Dick Johnson, who retired last year after 31 years of on the water chit chat.

Sheahan, the personable yachting journalist, who many will remember from his over 25 years as Technical Editor at Yachting World magazine will, no doubt soon gather a huge following by those who’ll be eager to tune in and listen to his knowledgeable accounts of what’s happening on the water. As always, Cowes Radio’s long term anchor man Simon Vigar will be partnering Sheahan in the reporting role, live from the Royal Yacht Squadron Platform.

Commenting on his new role as he stepped into the RIB this morning, Sheahan said: “They are pretty big boots to fill, I am very aware of that. I have been racing Cowes Week since 1975 and Dick has been a large part of Cowes Week for me and for everyone.

“It was Dick Johnson who gave me my first job in journalism at Yachting World, so it seems pretty ironic that I am stepping into his shoes 27 years later.”

Chatting about his plans this year, Sheahan added: “We will try to cover most classes and give a good insight to what’s going on. We are also keen to hear any interesting snippets of news. As well as the live radio, we’ll be producing the video and TV output so I will have a cameraman in the RIB with me shooting and commentating ready to edit back on shore, so we have quite a lot on.”

Chatting about why Lendy Cowes Week is so special, Sheahan concluded: “I remember racing here with my father in a Quarter Tonner in the mid 1970s so it is a very special event for me. The first time we raced here was amazing. Before that we’d spent our lives racing dinghies, so Cowes was a big step up for us. I absolutely loved it as a kid. The boats, different people, and different style of racing. I wouldn’t say I know the Solent inside out, but I believe I know it pretty well. It is never straight forward racing here, and I think it is the most exciting place to race in the world because there are so many things you have to get right to do well.”

Racing is now underway, so join Matt Sheahan at Lendy Cowes Week Radio 87.7fm.