When it comes to sailing, choosing the best racing event is always a tough call. Some of the most famous racing events include the Cowes Week, Volvo Ocean Race, Americas Cup, Vendee Globe, and the Sydney to Hobart, to mention a few. If you have been following this sport for a while, you might agree that the Cowes week stands out from the rest.
Cowes Week – History
The Cowes Week is one of the oldest racing competitions in the world. History has it that this sailing event has been held every year since 1826, except during the world wars. It was a small event during its early years, but the early 1900s saw it grow in strength to become one of the greatest sailing events.
Cowes Week Today
The popularity of Cowes Week is evidenced by the fact that close to 8000 competitors graced the event in 2018 with more than 100,000 spectators following the action. This is attributed to the fact that this sailing event is open to competitors in every imaginable level. The incorporation of classic and ultra-modern boat design is another thing that makes this competition unique.
Cowes Week stages close to 40 races for around 1000 boats daily. This means that everyone has a chance to sail here. You might also come with your race team. So you are always assured of featuring here irrespective of your competition level. All the action takes place on the Solent, which is the stretch of water between the Isle of Wight and the mainland. The strong tides present a unique challenge to any sailor, and this makes this even highly competitive.
Being one of the oldest sailing regattas, Cowes Week is a spectacular event even for those who do not sail. As of 2017, this competition welcomed new sponsors Lendy – the official title sponsors. Lendy Cowes Week, as it is known now, will undoubtedly get to greater heights.