SAILINGNEWS Cowes Week News 5
HERDED AT COWES:
Parking can be a problem
as at any big event
SailingNews
Pictures: Daniel Lambert
goeslarge
A first hand account of mixing with the big boys, first in the Louis Vuitton, then at Cowes
am a dedicated dinghy sailor, and was WightwithmyCadetEditorandCadetReporter.
I
described last week as a lover of furniture. (As an aside where do ladies deposit their
Because rather than one of those backless, children when going sailing? Perhaps some
frontless,eveningstraptypeswiththekevlar answersonapostcard?)
sails that require the speed and agility that I lost I was greeted byAmy and taken to meet the
years ago, I choose to sail a sturdy but beautiful crew.Theskipperintroducedhimselfas“Stacey,
wooden GP14! She and I enjoy a harmony that amanwithagirl’sname”andremindedthenew
canaccomodateourrespectiveagesandmoods! girlsonboardtoavoidcephaliccontactwiththe
ItistruetosayIhaveplayedwiththebigboys boomanddigitalcloseencounterswithwinches.
before.Onthebigboatsofmyfather,70footers The boat’s owners were on board too, Martin
offriendsandcharitableorganisationsIhaveset ElwoodandRobLutenerthelatterofwhomwas
sail on many a jolly but not encountered the agooddealhappierwhenmySailingNewsshorts
seriousbusinessofbigboatracing. werecoveredbymyHenriLloydteamoilys.Rob
The first trip was to Valencia to see how it is and Martin met with Stacey together with other
donebythereallybigboys!Havingplannedthe crew members Blickey, PJ and Mike when they
trip,atthekindinvitationofmyhostBobTabor, sailed the Fastnet Race in 1999, and they have
to coincide with the last few days of the Louis beensailingtogethereversince.Theremainderof
Vuitton Cup I was disappointed when the Kiwis the crew comprised Mark Cartwright, Clive
rather rudely stole the party at the beginning of Macey,Andrew Bassett (or to give him his full
ALL HANDS ON DECK: Debrief on The Henri Lloyd sponsored “Cutting Edge”
theweek.Undaunted,wesetsailonAdastratosee title, Geezer) Jo Wilson, Tom Wilson, and the
a practice race taking place in the bay. We got other“newgirl”KirstenTait. “otherhat”.Therewasaconspiracytosteal going ofthehabitatfortheprocreationofSwans(ofthe
quiteclosetotheracers,inpursuitofpicturesand Weheadedofffromthepontoontogetsetfor down. This time, happily, a conspiracy to steal 45footvariety).
editorial(intheopinionofsomeabittooclosein therace.Havingremovedthefinalsailtie(which places, wind and water...by stealth but keeping An inspirational display of nerve and will by
fact). We were shooed away by some animated to be fair is the only useful part I played), we justwithintherules. StaceyandPJaswecreptourwaythroughahuge
latin types in a powerful and noisy rib. I’m not hoistedthesailsandthecrewstartedtalkingrace After a huge effort, the crew working like holeinthewindputCuttingEdgeinthirdplaceas
entirely clear what it was they said, but “move tactics. The crew wanted to win. It was today, clockwork and some expert kite flying by Paul wecrossedthefinishline.
away Oxford” it wasn’t. That trip to Valencia apparently, “all in the start” which we perfected James,CuttingEdgegained15placesononeleg Inspirational I say, as I think I may have just
kindledtheinterest! in a dummy run. The guns went off and the alone. discovered a new way to spend my seriously
The second trip was to inspire me even more. countdownsbegan.Patentlythiswasnottheday The “Italian Job” crew had nothing on these lackingsparetime.
By kind invitation of Amy Bradley Watson at togiveuptheanti-depressants;wewereoverthe boys!Theracewas,Iwastoldafterwards,alittle Soaswellasgoingdigital,SailingNewsisgoing
Henri Lloyd, I was off to join the Henri Lloyd line! Oncehavingcrossedthelinelawfully,itwas bitmorestressedthannormal,whichmayaccount LARGE.Welcometotheyachtiesamongyou–but
sponsored Farr 45 “Cutting Edge” for a day of timetoimplementplanB!Ithenenteredaworld forsomemoreofthatpiraticalterminology.Mark havenofearIremaindedicatedtodinghies!
racing at Cowes. I travelled down to the Isle of that is all too familiar to me when wearing my certainlyseemedtohaveanindepthknowledge publisher@sailing-news.co.uk
CadetsgowildinCowes
WE AREN’T SAILING:
Landlubbers practice
hiking in safety
Early morning Wednesday and the crews Along the seawall running past the Yacht boats that was pretty tricky. I would much
arrivedforbreakfast.Sausage,baconandegg Haven there were people of all ages gazing prefertomanoeuvremylittleTopperinthat
rolls were most popular and the cafés were on,especiallytheyoungerchildrenwhowere sortofcrowdonthelinethana45footer!
keptverybusy. fascinatedbytheracesandtheguns! Asthedayendedalltheteamshaddebriefs
The crews then hurried off to their boats To add to the confusion and commotion, onboardtheirboats,wewentandjoinedthem
and began to rig for the days racing. Our there were lots of Ferries and Seacats that ontheHenriLloydCuttingEdge.
publisherwasinvitedtocrewfortheHENRI- interferedwiththeracingandwhentheboats Withallthoselargeexpensiveboatsonthe
LLOYD boat, Cutting Edge, so my brother werecomingofftheirmoorings. water,thecompetitivestart-lines,ninety-nine
and I wandered down to the Yacht Haven InoneoftheWhiteGroupraces,whenthe differentbuoystoknowandtworacegroups
wheretherewerethestartingguns. start gun went, EVERY boat was over the comprisinginexcessofthirtyfiveclassesof
Dame Ellen MacArthur (left) was line! All the boats prepared for the re-call. boat each with different race starting times,
there with her ear muffs on already! Meanwhile, outside the inside line, the together with miles of sailing area, I think I
Whenthegunwasfiredforthefirstrace biggest boats were just starting. They were willwaitafewyearsbeforeIattempttojoin
oneboatwasovertheline,sotherewas all crowding around the start line to make intheracingatCowesWeek!
another gun for that boat’s recall. sure they got the best start but with the big Phoebe Lambert
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