Waiting for sailing

The first full week of August is always noted in the diary as it is Cowes Week, the annual sailing regatta that attracts sailors and visitors from far and wide.  We were delighted to take our own visitors a couple of times last week, for them to enjoy the sights, sounds and spectacle.  

We were there in good time to see the yachts in the Artemis Round the Island Challenge set off - there were a number of notable guest sailors on several of the yachts, including younger members of our Royal Family.

Whilst N and I set up camp on the Green, our visitors headed off to sample the delights of the wonderful eclectic range of shops in Cowes (they returned several hours later with a goodly selection of bags denoting a successful time!)
N and I indulged in tea and home-made cakes from our favourite kiosk (those cakes are just yummy!), spread out the rug and settled down to watch the race starts.  We waited.  And waited a bit more.  And we listened to Cowes Radio informing us that the wind was a bit on the light side.  Oh dear.  Not good for a sailing regatta.

The Cowes Radio rib keeps those on-shore and afloat up-to-date with everything that's happening

By 2 o'clock (and after another Cowes Week tradition, baguettes from Tiffins) it was obvious, sadly, that racing was unlikely, and sure enough, a few minutes later, the abandonment flag was hoisted at the Yacht Squadron.  It was a shame not to see any racing but we had nevertheless had a very enjoyable time just watching the activity on the water.  The weather was glorious - very warm and sunny - just not enough wind for racing.  There is always something to see, and plenty of people wandering along the Green and Esplanade - we caught up with a couple of friends we'd not seen for quite some time.

We met up with our visitors on the Parade and cooled down with a pint of something cold and refreshing.  In the tent was this very colourful display case so I had a closer look.  Entitled The Shore Archive it is the work of artist Mary Flynn and has 'been created to raise awareness of plastic pollution in our oceans'.  Every item in the installation has been salvaged from Island beaches, 11 beaches in all and collected over 179 days.  It was quite staggering, and rather sad, to see so much plastic rubbish cleaned up from our local beaches.  I imagine some of it has simply been thrown away on the beach, or left behind (so many odd shoes!) or washed up.  It was a very graphic and sobering reminder of the problem of plastic rubbish.  Next time I go to the beach I must remember to take a bag with me and I will pick up any discarded plastic I find.  I know there are organised beach-cleans on the Island from time to time, and we have seen the annual 'Bag the Bruck' on Orkney beaches.  I think it's time I did my own little bit.