Cowes Week!
There aren’t many sailors who haven’t had a go at Cowes Week at one time or another, 1000 boats and 8000 competitors make it the largest regatta of its kind in the world. It’s a showcase for our sport and highlights the diversity of keelboat racing available in the UK.
Last year was the first time I have attended Cowes week as a competitor for the full week. I’d done a few corporate bits with the RYA but this was the first time I’d put together a year of sailing with a view towards Cowes regatta. In a lot of ways we probably took on more than we realised, buying a good but unproven XOD, putting 3 dinghy sailors in it with no experience of Cowes and only limited sailing in boats that (hopefully) don’t capsize, needless to say we got a bit of an education but in a good way.
I massively enjoyed Cowes Week last year, the XOD was an easy choice of class with it being one of the longest running and the biggest fleets it is always going to take some winning and that was an attractive challenge. I like the prestige and heritage of our sport and am drawn to fleets that many great sailors have and still compete in.
Racing at Cowes is unlike any other regatta I have done, it is largely different because the race area is the Solent and legs from Lee-On-Solent to Cowes aren’t uncommon, that gives various loss/gain features and the big picture is on a massive scale compared to what I have experienced in dinghies. Not only that but the racing is more of an orienteering affair with long legs, and rather than repeated laps of a course you generally only sail a leg once putting greater emphasis on forward planning and getting it right first time. Just working out where the mark is (which you can’t see), with no GPS amongst 1000 boats is enough of a challenge before even contemplating the best way to get there.
We are now in our second year of XOD sailing and I’m really looking forward to having another crack at Cowes Week. I certainly feel more at home in the boat. I’m not sure there are good and bad XOD’s but there is understanding what makes it tick, and that isn’t the same for every boat. X22 likes heel, windward on the run, leeward reaching and upwind, the further back we sit the faster she goes which to a dinghy sailor in light winds is seriously alien. I’ve had to teach myself to let the boat do its own thing, steer as little as possible and she goes faster as a result, I’m really not used to that! We’ve done small sail modifications but largely it felt there was a lot to still unlock from understanding the rig, settings and the boat so that has been the focus this season.
No doubt we are still the newbies, but I think we will have a much better idea what to expect this year allowing us to just get on with the racing, we know where we weren’t strong last year and I think our approach and focus of priorities will be very different. The Central Solent Regatta was a good boost of confidence where we finished up 3rd overall in strong company and confirmed our speed and that our racing has moved on from where we were this time last year.
P&B is the UK’s leading one stop shop for dinghy and keel-boat sailors offering specialist knowledge and services. Our stores located in Northampton (01604 592808, email) and Fareham (01489 577748, enquiries@pinbax.com) offer the best in chandlery, clothing, spars and rigging along with new boats and repairs. Visit our website www.pinbax.com for more information.
Kit of the Week!
Dubarry Boots – These boots are seriously comfortable whilst also light weight, dry and offer fantastic grip. The best bit of kit I have brought for keelboat sailing so far!
Currently priced at £215 – Offer Ends 8th August 2015.
Deck Tech Trainers – I’ve found these trainers great on hot days, very comfortable and very good deck grip. A very god addition to any keelboat sailors kit bag.
Currently priced at £69.95 – Offer Ends 8th August 2015.
Are you kitted for Cowes?
Currently in store at Fareham we have a variety of keelboat waterproofs at bargain prices, ZHIK, Musto and Gill kit from inshore to offshore. Check out the list below for a chance to save yourself up to 50% off RRP prices and make sure you are all set for Cowes Week 2015!
Grab a Bargain
Items on the sale rail this week at P&B South.
Musto MPX Offshore Jacket - Red/Dark Grey S, M & XXL
RRP £450.00 | Sale £230.00
Gill I5 Crosswind Jacket Dark Grey S, M & XL
RRP £135.00 | Sale £99.95
Gill I5 Crosswind Sallopette Dark Grey L & XL
RRP £135.00 | Sale £99.95
Gill Mens Coastal Racer Jacket - Blue -S,M,L & XXL
RRP £175.00 | Sale £131.25
Gill Womens Coastal Racer Jacket - Blue -10, 14, 16
RRP £175.00 | SAlLE £131.25
Gill Mens Coastal Racer Jacket - Graphite -S,M,L,XL & XXL
RRP £175.00 | SALE £131.25
Musto BR2 Sallopettes Black - Small
RRP £210.00 | SALE £125.00
Musto BR2 Sallopettes Black - XXL
RRP £210.00 | SALE £125.00
Crewsaver Moko Ladies Neporene Microfleece Top - size 8
RRP £49.95 | SALE £35.00
Crewsaver Moko Mens Neporene Microfleece Top - size XXL
RRP £49.95 | SALE £35.00
Gill OS21 Sallopettes - Red - XXL
RRP £169.95 | SALE £119.95
Gill OS21 Sallopettes - Red - XXXL
RRP £169.95 | SALE £119.95
Gill Womens Spinnaker Jacket - Blue - 10, 12, 16
RRP £145.00 | SALE £105.00
Gill Mens Spinnaker Jacket - Graphite - M, L, XL
RRP £145.00 | SALE £105.00
Slam Winter Sailing Jacket - Navy - Small
RRP £120.00 | SALE £87.00
Slam Winter Sailing Jacket - Navy - Medium
RRP £120.00 | SALE £87.00
Zhik Aroshell Race Jacket Carbon Grey - Small & XL
RRP £279.00 | SALE £210.00
Zhik Aroshell Race Trousers Carbon Grey - Small
RRP £279.00 | SALE £210.00
Zhik Aroshell Race Jacket Ash Grey - Small, Medium & XL
RRP £279.00 | SALE £210.00
Zhik Aroshell Race Trousers Carbon Grey - Small, Medium & XL
RRP £279.00 | SALE £210.00
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