UKRacing Articles
From Seven Cutters to Seven Hundred Boats
The Cowes story began on 10 August 1826, when seven cutters gathered off Cowes Castle to compete for a gold cup worth the princely sum of £600 — a fortune at the time. There were no racing rules, no handicaps, and no race committees — just wind, tide, and nerve. At the firing of the start gun, they weighed anchor and tore off down the Solent.
© Michael Hodges
Two Hundred Years, One Timeless Race — Cowes Week 2026: Where History Still Sails
18-05-2026
One of offshore sailing’s greatest odysseys is back. The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) has officially released the Notice of Race for the 50th Anniversary edition of the Round Britain & Ireland Race, confirming that the 1,805-nautical-mile epic will set sail from Cowes, Isle of Wight, on Sunday, 9 August 2026.
Online entry opens 3 November 2025, inviting an international fleet of monohulls racing under IRC, multihulls, IMOCA 60s, and Class40 one-designs to take on one of the most demanding offshore courses in the world.
10-12-2025
Last weekend, the storied waters off the Isle of Wight roared to life as the GoGPS Cowes International Powerboat Festival delivered another adrenaline-fuelled weekend of offshore excitement. Against a backdrop of choppy seas, fierce competition, and crowds lining the coast, seven boats battled across the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes course, delivering drama in every wave. When the smoke cleared, Good Boy Vodka emerged victorious—marking a stunning breakthrough in this legendary event.
30-08-2025
Good luck to all taking part in today's the Round the Island Race 2025, 7th June. Organised by the Island Sailing Club, this annual spectacle draws over 1,700 boats and 16,000 sailors, making it one of the largest yacht races globally and the fourth largest mass participation sporting event in the UK.
07-06-2025