Cowes Week is a fusion of many exciting elements, with its great mix of competitive sailing and social activities. The 8,500 competitors range from Olympic and world class professionals to weekend sailors. In excess of 100,000 spectators come to watch the sailing, enjoy the parties and live entertainment, and to experience the unique atmosphere. It is genuinely a one-of-a-kind event!
This Saturday the largest sailing regatta of its kind, Cowes Week, kicks off for its 184th year. Again, J's will have a strong showing, led this year by a competitive contingent in IRC 1 Class with the J/125 STRAIT DEALER sailed by David Franks and a fleet of J/133s, including Julian James' JERONIMO, Ian Dewhirst' JUMP, Yves Grosjean's JIVARO from France, Herman Bergshaven's SOLNESS III and Fiona and Malcom Thorpes' KING LOUIE.
IRC 2 Class has a lone J/133, Angus Bates' ASSARAIN IV, who will have to contend with a very tenacious group of J/122s, including David Hunt's JACOB'S LADDER, David Richards' JOLLY, Robin Myerscough's MINT JULEP, Ian Matthews' champion JINJA and Rodolphe Marchais' JOLLY JOKER from France.
IRC 5 Class will have the new J/97s racing, including Mike & Jamie Holme's JIKA JIKA, Grant Gordon's FEVER and Jim Dick's JACKAROO.
In the one-design world, there will be large, competitive classes of J/109s, J/105s and J/80s. With 35 boats entered, the J/109s will have all the usual suspects and cast of characters showing up including some new teams to stir the pot. The British Police will be racing against the RAF Red Arrows! Who wins that protest, the military or the "bobbies"? Many previous winners of J/109 Europeans and UK Championships are in attendance as well as a host of teams practicing for the Rolex Commodore's Cup. The J/109s are the largest offshore one-design keelboat class at Cowes Week, proving yet again, like their "cross-pond" friends sailing in the American Great Lakes and East Coast, that the J/109 is not only fun to race, but a very popular and enjoyable family boat, too.The J/80s will have a 19 boat class led by some of the class leaders, such as Thor Askeland's ELLE S'APPELLE, Jon Cooper's OI! and Simon Ling skippering Team Spitfire's SPITFIRE.
For the J/92s, eight boats have entered in what promises to be close-quarters racing amongst the leaders. Based on Warsash Spring Series results, it will be interesting to see who gets the best of who on the capricious Solent waters between JAMMIN, J'RONIMO, NEILSON REDEYE and JUST IN TIME. For more Cowes Week sailing information.
