Skandia Cowes Week 2006 Report
 This year (2006) was the first year that Cowes Sailing School ran “Try Racing” in conjunction with Skandia Cowes Week. The concept was that anyone could book a day of racing on a Sigma 38 during Skandia Cowes Week; some previous experience was useful but not essential.
The weather was kind to us during the week, giving us a huge variety of conditions but never fortunately flat calm which would have been no good for racing.
The course setters and race committee gave us a wide variety of areas to race in during the week, so with a combination of starts from committee boat and Royal Yacht Squadron line as well as the variety of weather conditions, those aboard for more than one day could never say that it was repetitive.
 Altogether we had 25 different people racing aboard “Bellerophon of Wight” doing a combination of 1, 2, 3 and 4 days. Our performance, whilst never going to be in the podium finish was credible as almost everyone had a chance to helm for part of a race.
I can happily say that there were periods of sailing during the week when we would have had the least experienced person helming of all those afloat racing. Not everyone wants to try all the positions on the boat, but for those who did, then the opportunity was there.
On the Tuesday and Wednesday the breezes were sufficient to encourage us to keep our spinnakers below decks, but much entertainment was had by watching others.
The daily feedback was that everyone had a great time, learnt loads and would like to come back for more |
