Cowes and Isle of Wight

Wednesday June 26th - Friday June 28th Isle of Wight

New York (Yacht Club), Newport, Isle of Wight, Cowes and Solent are legendary sailing locations. They all are related to massive J boats, which were used in America's cup in the beginning of 20th century. Next we were to see Isle of Wight, Solent and Cowes. In my mind they are covered in gold leafs and full of classic sailing yachts made of varnished mahogany and teak.

Not quite.

Solent is a strait between Isle of Wight and England. America's cup began as a race around the Isle of Wight and Solent strait is at least one third of the distance. The exotic quality of the area is the tidal currents. When the wind is weak and the current against the boat, the anchor is the fastest way to get forward. Staying put is a speedier alternative than allowing the stream to take the boat backwards. Many crews have drank even more cups of tea while waiting for the current to change.

Hamu at Cowes

The first night after Falmouth we sailed and motored. The wind was mostly from the aft and not very strong. Next afternoon our distance to Cowes was still long and tide against us, we anchored at Swanage. The Solent strait in the dark, full of ships and tidal streams would have been the alternative.

Next day we motored to Cowes in a nice current, filled the diesel tanks and spent the night. In my dreams Cowes is bigger than London and the peers have more varnished beauties than the shores have shells. Not quite. Mostly there is fiber glass boats. It didn't take long to walk the main shopping street end to end. Happily most shops have something to do with yachting and they know the subject. Just like at home in Lauttasaari. If you consider Lauttasaari at Cowes, it seems exotic. When in Lauttasaari, Cowes is exotic. At our shores in Finland we have had vikings, H boats, folkboats, shark boats and mR boats. The same vikings went to Cowes. In addition they have had the Royals, Lipton, Mylne, Fife, J boats... Both places are holy. For some reason Cowes reminded me of Hanko in Finland.



From England to Finland 2013

Hamburg VII 2013