Cowes Week Preview

(Cowes, IOW, England)- Traditionally, Cowes Week takes place after Glorious Goodwood and before the Glorious Twelfth (the first day of the grouse shooting season). Over the years, the event has attracted British and foreign royalty, and many famous faces.  Around 8,000 competitors now participate, ranging from Olympic and world-class yachtsmen to weekend sailors. The spectacle that the racing provides, together with the vibrant festival atmosphere, attracts over 100,000 visitors to Cowes during the event.

The 2016 Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week is hosted by the Cowes Combined Clubs (Royal Yacht Squadron, Island Sailing Club, Royal Ocean Racing Club) and is taking place from August 6th to 13th.

In Sportsboat Div 1, a quartet of J/88s are racing against a gaggle of Farr 280’s and FarEast 28R.  David & Kirsty Apthorp’s J-DREAM (past J/109 champions) are hoping their new steed will go fast against good teams like Paul Ward’s EAT SLEEP J REPEAT, David Cule’s MAI TAI and Dirk & Dianne van Beek’s SABRIEL JR.

In the one-design world at Cowes Week, there are J/111s, J/109s and J/70s.  The J/111’s have a half-dozen entries, including Simon & Oscar Bamford’s KESTREL, Tony Mack’s McFLY, Martin Dent’s JELVIS (current J/111 World Champion), Simon Grier-Jones’ SNOW LEOPARD, Paul van Driel’s SWEENY and the British Army’s Under 25 Team on BRITISH SOLDIER.

One of the largest one-design classes will be this year’s J/70 class with 25 entries.  Leading the way may be teams like Phil Chandler’s BLACKJAX, Nick Phillips’ CHAOTIC, Patrick Liardet’s COSMIC, Nick & Adam Munday’s J7T, Andrew Barraclough’s JENGA 8, Simon Cavey’s JUST4PLAY, the French team of PAPREC RECYCLAGE, Ian Wilson and Marshall King’s SHIVER, Nigel Evans’ SPINNAKER WEALTH MANAGEMENT, Simon Ling’s TEAM RAF SPITFIRE, and Jack Davies’ YETI.

The other large one-design class will be the 25-boat J/109 fleet.  A few familiar teams are participating along with an entirely new set of crews ready to try their hand at close “mano-a-mano” racing.  Sure to be making their bids for the leaderboard are Roger Phillips’ DESIGNSTAR 2, Robert Stiles’ DIAMOND JEM, Chris Brooks’ JINKS, Simon Perry’s JIRAFFE, David Richards’ JUMPING JELLYFISH, Chris Burleigh’s JYBE TALKIN, Owain Franks & Jean Lockett’s JYNNAN TONNYX, and some visitors from Hong Kong- Nick Southward & John Scott’s WHISKEY JACK!

IRC Class 1 has two brand new J/122E’s sailing, Chris Daniel’s JUNO and Clive Miles’ JANGLE plus the J/133 JACANA sailed by a family crew- Alan, Bruce & James Douglas.

IRC Class 2 sees two classic J/122s participating, Sergey Senchenko’s JOLOU and Alistair Laidlaw’s JOLLY JELLYFISH. IRC Class 3 has the lone J/11S SYNERJY sailing, skippered by Herman Bergshaven.

IRC Class 4 has three J/105s participating, including the trio of FLAWLESS J (Mike Garrett, Peter Sharp, and Adrian/Trevor/Neil); Arthur Freeman’s JAZZ II and Natalie Jobling’s MOSTLY HARMLESS.

IRC Class 5 has a slew of J/97’s, J/97E’s, J/92’s in the fleet.  There is one J/97E sailing- Ole Bettum’s ALAMARA B III.  They are joined by six J/97s, such as Andy Howe’s BLACKJACK II, Rachel & Robert Hunt’s JUMBLESAIL II, Bob & Jon Baker’s JAYWALKER, Jon & Louise Stevens’ WINDJAMMER and Matt Paskin & Rob Orr’s JACKAROO.  Two J/92S’s are in the fleet, including Robin Stevenson’s UPSTART and John Greenway’s WIZARD.  Three J/92s are competing, like past winner Libby & David Greenhalgh’s J’RONIMO, Rob Salter’s JACKDAW and Brian Malone’s BLUE DIAMOND DODJER.   Interestingly, these fast 30 footers will be joined by Ed Holton’s J/110 SHADES OF BLUE and Chris Burbidge’s J/32 DOMAINE.

IRC Class 6 has a lone J/24 sailing against an armada of Impala 28s, hopefully Edmund Gatehouse’s JUPITER can have fun against them and an old 8-Metre! Sailing photo credits- Paul Wyeth/ PWPictures.com.  For more AAM Cowes Week Regatta sailing information


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