Come to Skandia Cowes Week – the simple way

by Katherine O'Driscoll on 11 May 2005 A highlight of the annual racing calendar in the United Kingdom is undoubtedly the world famous Skandia Cowes Week, a world class event boasting 40 different classes, over 1000 competing boats and over 8000 sailors every year.

Add to that over 2000 spectator boats and you have some idea of the magnitude of this regatta.

The Solent is a unique sailing ground, characterised by its complicated tides, giving even the most experienced helmsman and crew plenty of excitement and challenges to overcome against the beautiful backdrop of the Isle of Wight.

Held every July, this year, the event is even more exciting, as it will be followed by the biannual Fastnet race.

Attracting yachts from around the globe, the Fastnet is without doubt one of the world's premier ocean races, with over 250 entries anticipated in 2005.

A demanding and complex race, the Fastnet takes the large fleet south-west down the Solent, past the Needles, then out into the English Channel and across the open ocean to the Fastnet Rock off the south-west tip of Ireland.

The return leg to Plymouth, via Bishop Rock Lighthouse, is just as demanding as fatigue and conditions take their toll.

This year, Flying Fish is entering several yachts into both events. There are a few places still available for Skandia Cowes Week, the Fastnet or both, on Dehler 34s and x332s, both of which are extremely competitive classes.

Within the regatta, the x332s are the largest one design class with often in excess of 30 boats on the start line. This fleet delivers exciting and close racing and is comparable with the competitive racing of the Sydney 38 class in Sydney.

Flying Fish has raced at Cowes for the last ten years, regularly achieving top 10 results. The company makes life easy for those who do not have the time or experience to organise a boat and crew themselves – you just have to turn up and sail!

New Zealander Colin Burgess, a Flying Fish instructor, runs the RYA Yachtmaster training programme at the Flying Fish base in Sydney.

Last year, he was sent to Cowes to skipper one of the x332s. ‘I’ve raced a lot in the Southern Hemisphere, but Cowes Week was definitely the biggest regatta I’ve ever competed in – with some of the busiest start lines as well,’ Burgess enthused.

‘There are 35 starts a day and often different divisions use the same mark – upwind and downwind combined! Add to that the complex tides and changeable weather.

‘I can safely say it was one of the most exciting and challenging regattas I’ve ever competed in - I just wish I was being sent over again!’

Flying Fish provides Skandia Cowes Week and Fastnet training packages, including race training to enable you to start working with the rest of the crew and tuning up techniques.

So, if you're planning your racing calendar for the rest of the year, why not consider an overseas event? Places are open to sailors of all levels.

For dates, prices and a copy of the Flying Fish Race and Events Guide, please contact the Flying Fish team on Australia 02 9976 6714 or email oz@flyingfishonline.com