Cowes Week
Best of both
PHOTOS PAUL WYETH/MARTIN ALLEN/COWES WEEK
Whether you’re a racer, cruiser or cruiser-racer, Cowes Week holds wide appeal, as Georgie Corlett-Pitt found out from the current holder of the Sailing Today Trophy, Adam Ridett
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owes Week is famous the world over. Seven days of round the cans competition on the prime sailing spot that is the Solent attracts everyone from the grand prix racers of IRC0 and IRC1 to the diminutive yet ever-popular XOD. There’s hot competition to be found in every one of the 35+ classes – but there’s also plenty of opportunity for family fun. For Adam Ridett, co-owner (with Phil Moore) and skipper of Beneteau First 40.7 Challenger, this is as much a part of the attraction as anything. But last year’s regatta gave him all that and more, as he and his mixed crew of family and friends took victory in the Performance Cruiser B class and were awarded the prestigious Sailing Today Trophy. Many of the team have sailed together for as long as 15 or 20 JUNE 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting
years, regularly competing at regattas around the Solent, but this win came as a real highlight amidst the uncertainty and upheaval of covid. “Of course, the crew lifting the trophy, celebrating together with family, with friends, is the best feeling!” Adam says. He smiles as he recalls the moment with pride, before going on to explain, “For us though it’s not just about the winning overall, it is also about enjoying the moment when we finish, getting together as a family, with friends and enjoying the social side of it as well.”
ABOVE
Close racing in the Performance Cruiser B fleet, with Challenger well positioned as the windward boat
BELOW
Adam and his crew of family and friends celebrate winning the Sailing Today Trophy
Close competition
Despite what the title may perhaps imply, Cowes Week’s three ‘Performance Cruiser’ classes offer far more than the casual racing you might expect. So close was racing on the water at last year’s regatta that Adam says they only managed to secure the overall class win in the final race, ahead of Richard Strong’s Hanse 445 Solid Air and long-time-rival Pete Newland’s Beneteau First 40.7 Anticipation. “In the end we just nabbed the win, but that is what we want. We want close racing!” enthuses Adam. “Without competition, it’s not a sport, it’s a procession. So for us, the more people, the harder the racing, the better.” But much as he clearly loves close competition, Adam isn’t tempted to upgrade to a grand prix racer anytime soon. He loves the flexibility to race and cruise that his current
