03-08-2025
Challenging winds and thrilling races on opening day of Cowes Week 2025
THE opening day of Cowes Week 2025 began with challenging winds and thrilling races.
A forecasted wind shift, due to Storm Floris arriving from Iceland, led to a two-hour delay for all race classes.
But the wind gradually increased, allowing the first starts from the Royal Yacht Squadron line at 1.24pm.
The J/70 class, with 36 boats, was the first to start.
Island sailor Bruce Huber, sailing Endeavour, took the initial lead, with Sardonyx running aground.
Endeavour won the first race, followed by Lady Khumbu and Jelvis.
Faye Chatterton, on Lady Khumbu, said: "A bit wacky and wonderful as it always is, tide against not a lot of wind... we managed to sneak around the fleet to third from pretty deep off the line.
"It took a lot of patience."
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Jelvis won two more races, securing a comfortable overnight lead.
The XODs started at 3.25pm, after a general recall, and six boats were OCS on the second start.
Fraser Graham's Astralita, skippered by John Tremlett, emerged victorious.
Adam Bowers on Silhouette described their day as "Classic Cowes Week... short tacking up the green to start then a float around The Solent in quite tricky conditions."
The IRC Zero and Cape 31s started at 2.25pm, followed by other IRC classes and the J/109s at 3pm.
The Cape 31s dominated, with Julian Metherell's Bullit winning the Queen's Cup.
Bullit trimmer, Rhos Hawes, said: "We had a little wait round for the breeze to come, then it was short tacking up the mainland side, sunny, building breeze — a glamour introduction to Cowes Week really."
Family Day is scheduled for today (Sunday), with plenty of activities onshore.
A 24-knot south-westerly wind is forecasted, with gusts up to 33 knots, promising another day of exciting races.
