A major blow has been dealt to the Isle of Wight economy and sailing in Cowes as SailGP announce that Cowes has been de-selected as the host location for 2021’s event in the United Kingdom.
When Plymouth was dropped by the Royal Ocean Racing Club as the ‘finish’ venue for the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race, replaced by Cherbourg in France, there was speculation as to how Plymouth would, in the future, feature on the sailing scene.
Following a successful SailGP event at Cowes in 2019, the Isle of Wight was due to host the 2020 UK round of Sail GP in August but due to COVID-19 all the SailGP events for 2020 were cancelled.
A decision by SailGP has now been made to have Plymouth as the UK venue for the 2021 season.
Following events in San Francisco and New York, Plymouth, dubbed ‘Britain’s Ocean City’, has been selected to host SailGP’s Season 2 European debut when the global league’s events restart in 2021. Following the season opener in San Francisco in April and New York in June, the championship will return to UK shores on 17th/18th July for the third event in Season 2, featuring the world’s fastest sail racing.
In 2019, the UK event at Cowes in SailGP Season 1 – which was, according to SailGP, witnessed by 24,000 spectators and delivered US$24 million in economic impact to the community while reaching a total global audience of 231 million – saw some of the most dramatic scenes of the year. In front of packed crowds at Cowes the U.S. SailGP Team capsized in spectacular fashion and both Great Britain and Australia made history by eclipsing speeds never before seen in sail racing.
Will the waters of Plymouth Sound offer such exciting racing as the Solent’s waters off Cowes?
As a background to the event… Plymouth is known as a renowned sailing venue and is expected to bring similar excitement for fans, who will be able to view the thrilling action from the water or shore (grandstands on Plymouth Hoe) whilst at Cowes there were problems with grandstands and the use of the seafront at Egypt Point.
Famed for its rich maritime history and planned home of the UK’s first national marine park, Plymouth can certainly accommodate more people and this event will be in partnership with Plymouth City Council, with support from Associated British Ports, English Cities Fund and Sutton Harbour Group. Plymouth SailGP will also form part of the city’s Mayflower 400 commemorations, marking the anniversary of the signature voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to America.
Plymouth was selected following a competitive 6-month-long bid process involving 5 other UK cities.
Excellent news! Our infrastructure isn’t geared up for the increase in spectators viewing this event, and ferry prices are extortionate for visitors too. Maybe our Council will get additional money next year from the promised ‘Island Deal’ – oh wait, that was a CONservative sound bite, so probably only the gullible will believe it!
Shame the councillors are happy to get their fat paycheques every month with very little interest in the Island. Another event lost to a better place than ours!
Look at the state of Cowes, it’s completely run down and full of tut shops. it’s a good assessment by SAILGP.
Full of shaven headed chavs, and low life, as will be the whole Island as the ONLY game the council wish to play is build on everything, receive thank you’s from developers, then coin in the extra council tax to then take larger salaries for the rest of time, from a larger pot, thus making such, not look as bad.
Will definitely agree with you on this one. For years Cowes was well known for hiking prices by dubious outlets especially Cowes Week. Not all shops,pubs and restaurants but quite a few that had no morals. Think being completely run down is a bit hard. 2021 will be a hard year financially for Cowes even though it’s bad enough now. Hopefully it will return in 2022 but don’t hold your breath.
I tend to agree. Cowes has, as much of the UK has, relied heavily upon old status, tradition, Royal links to RYS, etc to think it can ‘continue’ indefinitely on that same tired path to attract people here.
Whilst the ‘old’ money may love the pomp, new, money, with less concern about ‘tradition’ and likely having made it’s cash in dubious ways, care more for glitz, polish, the future not clinging to the past.
Change or die, and the UK and the Island will choose the latter.
Our Council has seen an easy way to feather their nests by not worrying over such, and, instead, just use Wight as a huge building site, which no doubt ‘grateful’ developers will thank them, and even IF in words only, they can then demand a larger salary from an engorged pot of council tax, from all the thousands of extra homes here.
Cowes was the sailing Mecca, I know how much the RBS ploughed into Hospitality – And I could buy anything for the boat or clothing in Cowes High St.
It’s pretty grim there now, maybe it’s just how things change over time, more likely high rents, low footfall and failed retail – Many High St are the same.
Going to need the diamond races know more than ever
Traditional events will fade and just more masse building will take over to fund the council. Easier and more lucrative to own cheap land, grant planning, get a large thankyou from developers by raising the land price several hundred fold, then gain an income from c.tax for the rest of eternity.
Not really.
The 2019 event brought 24 million US dollars into the community – utter BS
Good get rid it was a lot of disruption for no gain and council can’t afford to lose all the parking spaces for all the time it takes to put up and take down the structures
You could say that about all the yearly events here but I won’t. Don’t agree with some but they bring finance to local shops,outlets etc., Also people of all ages enjoy many if not all of these events. From walk the Wight to Cowes week. From the scooter rallies to car boot sales. Etc., etc., it brings enjoyment to most. Southampton Boat show was attended by people near and far. Cowes week was almost like a tradition for many Isle of Wighters. Yes a bit of disruption but doesn’t the positives outweigh the negatives. What floats your boat ( no pun intended)
I hear that Cowes council do not like the sailing community. Does it matter what they ‘like’ !.. it provides great revenue and jobs to the Cowes area.
What has happened with the development of west cowes from the floating bridge (oh yes .. dont start me on that council tax burner and who is accountable ??) to UKSA… why has that not started? Why do we hear nothing. Why is my council tax ludicrously high and the only main revenue… sailing and holidays … for cowes is ignored…
Come on… losing Sail GP is a huge problem..and possibly the start of bigger ones. The council need to start loving the sailing fraternity…. they bring revenue.. jobs… and a big difference to this expensive island to set foot on.
PS why does my council tax pay for the dredgi g for the ferries to get in… why dont the ferry companies pay it as they give no islander discounts!…come on island echo…start a campaign on these things?
When I last visited Cowes in Cowes Week some years ago I looked for a decent restaurant where I could get a good quality Lunch, but found that the only ones were closed. I give up!
Was it firework Friday?
Don’t make me laugh successful for who. Please tell me who made money out of it because everybody I spoke to said their takings were no higher than previous years. Take away loss of revenue from the parking spaces that were unavailable and it seems it was another white elephant
Hey Gungdin.. the whole Island has been run down… even worse with Covid… as an excuse !