Eleven Dragons entered Cowes Week 2023, ready to battle it out round the cans in the Solent. It looked to be a very breezy and unpredictable start to the regatta but all fleets and classes were given the green light to proceed.
Wet, wild and windy Solent conditions greeted the Dragons for race one, decisively won by True Story helmed by Martin Payne with crew Tim Tavinor and Robert Morris. They were followed nearly two minutes later by Bluebottle and Jerboa.
As expected the wind and conditions were too much on a few days meaning racing was abandoned on Sunday and Wednesday for all fleets.
It was close racing across the five race series with True Story not leaving the top three and with local Cowes Dragons Jerboa taking the race win on day three and Bluebottle winners in race four.
Ladies Day winners Jerboa featured in the Cowes Week highlights report:
Gavia Wilkinson-Cox and her all-star crew aboard Jerboa including another female sailor Abi Tuttle showed their true colours on Tuesday in the Dragon class with an overall win, breaking Martin Payne and team’s domination of the fleet so far this week aboard True Story. Wilkinson-Cox said she was delighted: “Super pleased because it was in my new boat, so a first win at Cowes in that, plus, as the organiser of the forthcoming Dragon Edinburgh Cup 75th anniversary here in Cowes in a couple of weeks, I am delighted that this week is turning out to be a good warm-up.”
Big winds and Solent chop favoured some boats with True Story relishing the conditions to finish the series with 1st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 1st results. It was also achieved with a few crew changes throughout the week with Robert Morris joining the team on day one, Nick Bilcliffe from Hong Kong contributing in race two and Killian Boag stepping in to sail with Martin and Tim for the rest of the week.
Tue Story’s owner and helm Martin said of the week; “It was great to sail with Timmy Tavs, despite the strong winds cancelling two days, it was excellent racing and True Story did us all proud.”
During Cowes Week, Martin, who goes by the nickname Stavros, achieved the ultimate victory. While he has previously placed second as a crew member, this marks the first time he has won as a helm. Congratulations to Martin and all Dragons racing at Cowes Week.
Cowes Week 2023 results
| Pos | Boat Name | Sat | Mon | Tue | Thu | Fri | Total |
| 1 | TRUE STORY Stavros | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 8.00 |
| 2 | JERBOA Gavia Wilkinson-Cox | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 17.00 |
| 3 | ECSTATIC Eric Williams | 4.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 18.00 |
| 4 | BLUEBOTTLE Graham Bailey | 2.0 | 4.0 | 12.0 RET | 1.0 | 2.0 | 21.00 |
| 5 | FURIOUS Owen Pay | 6.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 23.00 |
| 6 | BERTIE Simon Barter | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 25.00 |
| 7 | SANKA Dave Ross | 12.0 DNC | 8.0 | 6.0 | 9.0 | 7.0 | 42.00 |
| 8 | ANARCHY Eric Zon & Paul Bennett | 8.0 | 9.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 42.00 |
| 9 | DREKI Glynn & Darran Williams | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 12.0 NOD | 10.0 | 43.00 |
| 10 | GLAURUNG Richard Cullen | 12.0 DNC | 12.0 RET | 12.0 RET | 6.0 | 8.0 | 50.00 |
| 11 | POWERPLAY Peter Cunningham | 12.0 NOD | 12.0 NOD | 12.0 NOD | 12.0 NOD | 12.0 NOD | 60.00 |