My intention was to arrive at the Cowes Week Regatta early Monday morning but even before leaving London I’d already heard the inclement weather had deteriorated at such an extent sailing in Cowes had been postponed by race organisers until early afternoon and with somes smaller classes cancelled altogether. For that reasons I felt compelled to give up the idea of going to Cowes on Monday driving directly early afternoon to Sandbanks where I was staying with friends for the next few days arriving around tea time. One of my great loves whenever in Sandbanks is taking their lovely Springer spaniel, Jake for long walks long the nearby sandy beaches, and this I did late that afternoon walking on a mostly deserted beach while battling the strong winds and was more than relieved I had made the decision not to go to Cowes that day.
Fortunately by the next day winds had subsided, rain had all but disappeared and blue skies appeared between woolly looking clouds. Leaving Sandbanks at the crack of dawn I arrived in good time at the Regatta’s media centre to pick up accreditation and was able to secure a place on the Red Ferry training boat which this year doubled up as the press boat and was conveniently leaving within the next fifteen minutes. This enabled me to spend a pleasant couple of hours on the water following at close quarters several different classes racing around buoys and markers. This year’s fickle British weather was instrumental in making Cowes Week one of the most challenging sailing weeks on record yet fortunately turned out to be one of the most successful regattas with 100’s of teams and crews enjoying excellent and exciting sailing all week. Thankfully the inaugural King’s Cup event which took place on the Thursday before the start of Cowes Week regatta thankfully experienced perfect weather conditions allowing the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to take part in the event while their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte watched from the safe haven of the seashore. By all accounts it was an exciting race.
All racing on Saturday had been cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, winds up to 50 mph are not ideal sailing conditions but by Tuesday the inclement weather settled down to enable sailors to enjoy a good days’s racing. Tuesday is always Ladies Day, and we are asked to wear something pretty, navy and possibly stripey for the Annual Ladies Slingsby Awards party which each year takes place at the delightful Northwood House over looking Cowes. Sadly by the evening the weather had again deteriorated and was mostly wet and windy. As the first part of the party is held outside (normally in fine weather), most of us braved the cold in flimsy dresses. I noticed Jemma Kidd was sensibly dressed figure hugging jeans and a stripped top, while and Sue Pelling, a renowned sailing journalists and old hand at these events was also sensibly attired. Once awards were over, the party continued with dancing to a jazz band but as two-thirds of those present were women not many danced, most preferred to drink Slingsbury gin cocktails.from the lawns of Northwood House
My plan was to catch the 8 pm ferry back to Southampton, pick up my car and drive to Sandbanks to have a late supper with the friends I was staying with which meant missing most of the fun but judging from the state one or two journalist in the next day I imagine the party went onto well into the night!
Let’s hope next year’s weather is an improvement on this year’s!