Swallows at Cowes Week 2025
Published 16:09 on 11 Aug 2025
After a pause of several years, twelve Swallows entered for this year's Cowes Week, eleven of whom participated in the on Sunday 3rd August passage race from Itchenor in a grey WSW Force 5 gusting into 6.
Although Cowes Week Ltd had kindly arranged separate committee boat Swallow starts in a custom Swallow Cowes Week, from the Monday to the Friday, Monday was lost for all fleets to Storm Floris.
Racing re-commenced on the Tuesday with the usual highly-competitive Swallow racing taking place across two races in Osborne Bay. Wednesday saw the too-often seen 2-hour postponement flying at the flagstaff as all waited for the breeze to fill in. So, we then saw a Cowes Week first(!), the fleet being towed (as once we did at ISC!) to the start area off Gurnard to await the breeze. When the shifty Force 3 to 4 Northerly arrived at 2pm, a further two windward-leeward courses were possible. The breeze then started to die after about an hour making the racing even more tactical.
Incidentally, to show how shifty the conditions were, at the same time Chimet was showing a Force 3 Southerly(!)
At this stage Osprey was leading the Week overall followed by consistent performances by Savala and notable incursions by Ptarmigan, Spectre and Skua.
Following a superb dinner at the RORC on Wednesday evening, a further two races were possible on Thursday, one on Friday followed by a sparkling sail home.
It was a great week impeccably organised by the National Swallow Class Association Chair, the NSCA Committee and ably supported by the Cowes Week organisation.
Passage race podium:
- Osprey
- Spreadeagle
- Skua.
Cowes Week Podium:
- Osprey
- Svala
- Skua.
Last updated 10:21 on 13 August 2025
