Cowes Week off until 2021
Cowes Week has been cancelled for only the first time since World War II, after a decision that restrictions imposed because of COVID-19 make running it impractical. The regatta has run annually since 1826, and the only previous interruptions were during wartime.
Competitors already entered will be invited to roll over their entry to the 2021 regatta, when Cowes Week will be back between 31 July and 7 August.
Regatta director Laurence Mead admits it is a “huge disappointment.”
“We desperately wanted to run boat racing if we could, but we felt the risks to the public and island were not manageable in the time frame available.
“I was confident there were ways of getting on and off boats but if social distancing hadn’t come down to allow people to sail on a boat we wouldn’t have had proper racing, and we didn’t want to run a lower quality event. We did think of moving it to four days at the end of August, but in the end we didn’t want to have a diluted version.”
Instead, Cowes Week Ltd is turning its attention to planning for 2021. “Subject to COVID-19, it will be as normal,” says Mead. “We are talking to a high profile class about bookending Cowes Week, and we have interest from various international classes.
“In terms of culture, Cowes Week is very much a Corinthian regatta and not an international championship so there are all sorts of things we can do to create a family atmosphere ashore with lots of activities. We are going to have 35 starts a day off the [Royal Yacht] Squadron so all the action will be right in front and spectators could have a great fun couple of hours.”
However, the effects of the pandemic have hit the organisation. “We have had to take a long, hard look at the costs for 2020 and close the office and lower the costs to survive, as it’s a once-a-year regatta – all our income is over a week, but our costs are over a year,” he says.
“This year is surreal, but we just have to accept it and move on. Next year we look at new ways of running the regatta. The cannons will fire, the sun will shine and the wind will blow.”