Sailing Magazine
By Richard Crockett
Now here’s an interesting piece with a smattering of humour which shows the other side of Cowes Week, or maybe it’s just the side of Cowes Week that few own up to!
It was published without credit, and sadly, for the life of me, I cannot recall whom the author is! Maybe he or she, is a genuine “Saffer” – not that it matters, although the subhead says: “by a Rooinek marooned on the Isle of Wight!”
The article opens with these two paragraphs: “And you thought the start of Cape to Rio was a busy day in Table Bay! Imagine an area the size of the Langebaan lagoon and stuff some1600 yachts of all sizes into it!
“And not at anchor pal, no way. These are fuelled by wind, adrenaline, blind Brit optimism and cheese ‘sarmies’. From 26 footers to maxis, this fiesta of GRP, wood and composite holes in the water, makes its determined way across the green-brown waters of the Solent in search of momentary glory.”
And it closes like this: “If you are looking for an elegant yachting holiday, rather try Langebaan. If you want an experience that rivals a Kaiser Chiefs soccer match in Hout Bay, come to Cowes in season.
“Golly, but I miss Table Bay!”
READ THE IN-BETWEEN BITS HERE: Pages from 2002 09 – SAILING Magazine – OCR
