The Cowes Week, which this year is 200 years old, takes place on the island by Wight and represents a unique event in the world of sailing. From the legend of the Royal Yacht Squadron to the ruthless challenges of the Admiral’s Cup, the week turns into a large open-air theatre, where history, technology and passion mix. The Cowes Week, organized by the Royal Yacht Squadron, is the largest sailing festival in the Ocean and attracts thousands of enthusiasts from all over the world. Ferry to the island is parallel to a portion of the SailGP route, based in Portsmouth. The F50s flow faster than the two-motor ferry, demonstrating how modern technology has revolutionized the race.
A trip to the Solent
The Solent, a sea arm that separates Wight Island from mainland England, is the heart of the Cowes Week. The small ferries leave from the quays of the Town Quay, keeping a certain authenticity, where you consume Fish and Chips or sip a local beer. The navigation is parallel to a portion of the SailGP route, based in the nearby Portsmouth, in a stage that saw the Spanish team win in front of the Swedish and Canadian team. The technology of those boats allows the wind to make them rub faster than our two-motor ferry.
Cowes Week sees nearly three hundred races for over thirty competitive classes, at least six hundred boats, perhaps eight hundred, and over one hundred thousand visitors. The festival takes place with shows of fireworks, parties in every bar on the island and the participation of vintage yachts. The sail has always been present in the family of Alessandro Onorato, who tells: “It’s the thermal Solent, they explain to me. The wind enchants itself to the mouths of the rivers, so it rejoins looking at the sea a bit, a bit the coast. ”
History and legend
The Cowes Week is linked to the history of English sailing. Legend has it that in 1851 Queen Victoria asked who was behind America during a race organized by the club with departure and arrival right there, after a tour of the entire island. The answer was: “Majesty, there is no second.” Perhaps this story is not true, but it is certain that that that day the America’s Cup was born, which takes its name from that boat of the New York Yacht Club that had crossed the Atlantic to beat the English at home.
The Cowes Week sees the participation of vintage yachts and the celebration of historical events. The Fastnet Race, with over six hundred miles of route, is a tactical and physical marathon. Although technology has improved performance, the challenge remains intact. The history of sailing on the island goes beyond the activities of the Royal Yacht Squadron, with the headquarters of the Royal Ocean Racing Club that represents the glorious and terrible soul of the Fastnet Race.
Cowes Week is an event that celebrates sailing in all its forms: from tradition to modernity, from past to future. The Solent, with its wind and tides, continues to forge the sailors of tomorrow, keeping alive the legends and challenges that made this week a symbol of the passion for sailing.