27th July – 2nd Aug: Cowes Week
The 2024 Cowes Week was disappointing, at least with regard to watching the sailing from NCI Stone Point. Often there was a lack of wind with the sailing only starting in the afternoon, and then distant from Lepe.
The first day, Saturday, set the tone with a Committee boat setting a starting line to the west of Lepe, something I have not seen before during Cowes Week. We saw some of the IRC and other larger classes motoring down to the start but little more after that. Their black sails are not photogenic!
The next day, Sunday 28th July, the racing was postponed waiting for wind, and then what racing took place was in the central to eastern Solent.
On the third day, Monday 29th July, the racing was again in the central and eastern Solent until the J70’s approached and used Lepe Spit Cardinal Mark as a course marker.
The only photos I took on the fourth day (Tuesday 30th July) were not of yachts but of HMS Queen Elizabeth! The next day was no better, racing was again in the eastern and central Solent and we could only see the end of the racing off the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes.
With the weather still dominated by light winds, and no watches booked, I did not go to Lepe on the Thursday. The last day of Cowes week 2024 (Friday 2nd of August) looked more promising with regard to wind. Unfortunately I had arranged to get an estimate for repairs to the aft deck of Seatern that afternoon so could not stay on past the morning watch. On or two of the IRC yachts came past Lepe and Solent Rescue were charging around in the distance, but if racing came that way I was not see it. A disappointing week for taking sailing photos!