Blowing out the candles

(Skandia Life) Cowes Week is 175 years old today

Skandia Life Cowes Week is 175 year old today, making it the longest running, regular regatta in the world. It has been held in early August every year, bar the two World Wars, since 1826.
The first race, held at 0930 on 10 August, was for a gold cup to the value of £100 - held under the flag of the Royal Yacht Club. A second day of racing was held with prize money of £30 for first place and £20 for second. There was a ball on the Thursday and 'Fireworks on Friday', a tradition still maintained today.

After World War Two, seven clubs and the town regatta committee participated in running the event over a period of eight days. At this time the regatta included rowing and swimming events.

Cowes, today one of the yachting capitals of the world - if not THE capital with the America's Cup Jubilee this year - owes its name to the building of a small boat called Rat O'Wight on the banks of the River Medina for the use of Queen Elizabeth I.

In 1820 the Prince of Wales, a yachting enthusiast, was crowned King George IV. Under his auspices the Royal Yacht Squadron was formed 13 years later, and it was here that the first yacht racing took place at Cowes.

Racing continued every year from then, in predominantly big cutters and raters in the 19th century. From 1914 on it was the handicap classes and local one-designs that began to thrive before being superseded by the 6-, 8- and 12-metre classes.

After 1946 ocean racing classes started to predominate, especially after the first Admiral's Cup was held in 1957. For many years offshore races were run at the start and finish of the week to attract the ocean racers to the regatta.

The Cowes Combined Clubs was formed in 1964 comprising the Royal Yacht Squadron, Royal Thames YC, Royal London YC, Royal Southern YC, Royal Southampton YC, the Island Sailing Club and Cowes Town Regatta Committee. In 1996 this group was joined by the Royal Corinthian and Cowes Corinthian Yacht Clubs.

A typical Cowes Week now has 20 starts a day, running for eight complete days. The entry list has now built up to over 1,000 competing yachts of all types from traditional to modern cruiser-racers and keelboats, all through to high performance One Design classes and Thames barges.