Cowes Week is a renowned sailing event that dates back to 1826 and is now the longest running annual regatta in the world. The legendary sailing event is held on the Solent, a busy commercial waterway, and is a tasking piece of water to navigate with strong double tides.

2010 saw over 890 boats and 8500 competitors take part in up to 40 race starts per day for classes of cruiser-racers, one-designs and keelboats. A week’s worth of world-class racing was in store for the thousands of spectators who lined the beaches and coastlines of the Isle of Wight and southern England.

GO AWOL’s own avid sailor and competitor Emma York was out on her boat The Project for the third year running. The Project is a Sigma 38 which is one of the biggest one-design fleets in black group at Cowes week. With a record number of Sigma 38’s entering the 184th Cowes Week there was a lot expected of The Project. Emma commented at the end of the week “There was a lot expected of us going into this year’s Cowes week as we have won the fleet the last four consecutive years. We were all hoping for a good result and there is nothing better than finishing a race with a bullet from the canon at the Royal Yacht Squadron. As a team we sail very well together and know our roles, but it has to be said our skipper is a legend and pushes the boat hard to keep us up the front.”

The first week of August was a mixed bag of weather for the sailors producing some rain, mist and variable winds. This all lead to seven days worth of tight competitive racing in a variety of conditions. The Project took the Sigma 38 fleet win with a total of six first place scores out of a possible seven, which also resulted in a third place overall in black fleet.

Emma will be back on board The Project for the Little Britain Challenge Cup, a construction industry run regatta being held from Cowes in September.