Cowes XOD Division
The Cowes Division set sail again in 2008 and has grown from just 3 boats to
22 in 2015. The fire at Medina Yard in January 2016 saw 5 of our fleet
destroyed, a tragic & sad day for all, but the Cowes fleet is made of stern stuff and undeterred has fought back. We have welcomed X105 and X171 (replacing X75 and X52) into the fleet and that brings our numbers to 19 for the 2016 season.
We are fortunate in Cowes to have mooring options for all. The pontoon
berths in Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club are currently home to 14 boats, where
a competitive, collaborative and friendly atmosphere ensues on the dock both pre and post racing, with that days racing debated and discussed over a drink or two each weekend. Alternatively both the Cowes Yacht Haven and the trots are also home to some of our XODs.
The Cowes Division is very active, from late April – October we race each
weekend in the highly competitive Cowes Combined Clubs Association’s
Cowes Solent Series and Cowes Keelboat Championship, providing a mixture
of ‘round the cans’ and windward leeward racing, with a start time on
Saturday of 13:20 hrs and on Sunday and Bank Holidays 12:20 hrs.
The five yacht clubs of Cowes alternate race duties each weekend delivering
a fabulous mix of courses and very keen racing. In addition many of the boats
sail in the Island Sailing Club’s Tuesday night Series between April and August
culminating in a famous Bang and Go Back race complete with fancy dress at the end of August.
Highlights of our season include our regatta, The Telegraph Bowl,
organised by RORC on the weekend before Charles Stanley Classics Week in
July then followed by Cowes Week in early August.
The Class Captain of Cowes is Reg White, X105 Blue Phantom, with Paul Kelsey, X171 Xactly, as Vice Captain. We welcome any visiting XODs and are often joined by other fleets for the Cowes Keelboat Championship weekends, which are committee boat starts often on Bramble Bank. For those who would like to visit for a little longer, you can usually find a berth at Cowes Yacht Haven or a visitors berth at CCYC. Give Reg White a call if you intend to join in with us for any racing.
For all Cowes Keelboat racing contact CCCA Cowes website with daily
rates for single entries.
Tuesday night racing contact www.islandsc.org.uk