As this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week came to its end on Saturday evening, organisers Cowes Week Limited (CWL) reflected on another highly successful regatta, which was marked by an increase in overall entry as well as visitor numbers, plus online interaction figures, which already surpass the totals seen for the whole of 2012.
With the exception of a forced lay-day on Tuesday 6 August, the conditions provided some champagne sailing throughout the Week and at the overall prize-giving on Saturday evening, there were many happy faces. Stuart Quarrie, CEO of Cowes Week Limited commented: “It’s been a fantastic, very rewarding week. The weather gods have been smiling on us and it’s a testament to the huge efforts of our entire team that this year’s regatta has been so successful”.
Martin Gilbert, CEO of title sponsor, Aberdeen Asset Management, added: “There was a terrific buzz around this year’s event and there was a tremendously exciting atmosphere. Our guests all had a great time and it felt like the event achieved even more positive press coverage than in previous years. We’re all tired but happy after the week, it couldn’t have gone any better.”
Stand-out performances of the Week included Lady Penelope from the East Coast racing in the Squib class who not only won her class, but cleaned-up by also taking the Overall White Group Trophy and the Aberdeen Asset Management Overall Winner Trophy. Commenting on the White Group win, Malcolm Hutchings said: “We are overwhelmed. It is fantastic to have finally won White Group after three years of trying and we are particularly pleased to be taking the trophy back to the east coast”. Local Islander Adam Gosling racing in IRC Class 4 with Yes! took a class win and the winning title across the Black Group fleet.
Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2013
The number of crews participating in the Aberdeen Asset Management Under 25 Trophy grew significantly following the introduction of the youth initiative by Aberdeen in 2012 and over twenty boats raced for the Trophy this year. The crew of under 25 year-olds racing the J/80, J.A.T claimed glory at the end of the Week.
The Young Skipper Trophy this year went to Alistair Barter on the Sonar Bertie who was runner-up to Paralympic gold medallist Andy Cassell’s Jenny in the overall results for the class.
The largest class to race at the regatta was once again the XODs boasting a fleet size of 80 boats, and it was John Tremlett and his crew who took overall victory in the class for the first time with Lass, having enjoyed top results over many previous years in the Victory class.
The Big Boat Series lost a day of their three-day schedule on Tuesday but enjoyed some great racing on Wednesday and Thursday with Niklas Zennström’s sailing yacht Rán just beating the US newcomer to the event, the mini maxi yacht Bella Mente, in the class results for the Series. However, despite just missing out on overall glory, Bella Mente was awarded with the inaugural local letterbox Newcomer Trophy at the end of the Week; a stunning new addition to the regatta silverware collection which they were delighted to take back to the US.
Full results information is detailed on the official event website where a replay of the live commentated footage from throughout the Week is also available until the end of August.
Highlights ashore throughout the Week included:
▪ A packed schedule of family activities in support of Family Day (Sunday 4 August);
▪ A celebration of women in sailing on Ladies Day (Thursday 8 August), which saw the presentation of the Ladies Day Trophy to Paralympic gold medallist, Helena Lucas, racing throughout the Week on her SB20, Volvo. Helena also claimed an overall 3rd position in the end of Week class results; plus
▪ A very special evening of entertainments on Friday 9 August with a display from the awe-inspiring Red Arrows (thanks to funding support from local letterbox), as well as from the de Havilland DH.110 twin boom, twin-engined 1950s–1960s British two-seat jet fighter, Sea Vixen, with both displays followed by the traditional fireworks display.
The post-event survey is now online inviting competitors and visitors to the regatta to share their feedback to help organisers make further improvements to the regatta.
Entries are now online for the 2014 regatta and anyone entering between now and the end of the year will not only take advantage of a Super Early Bird entry fee, but will also be in with a chance of winning a fantastic range of prizes including a rebate on their entry fee, free berthing in Cowes and a host of other benefits and goodies provided by the regatta sponsors and the main event venues.
