Streamed on the internet around the world at http://www.cowesradio.co.uk and listened to by many thousands of competitors and spectators attending Cowes Week on 87.7fm through speakers on Cowes Parade, the Green and through personal earpieces on the boats, the reporting and programme content provides an eclectic mix of regatta highlights, interviews and entertainment. More crucial information is included for competitors, with dedicated and detailed local weather reports, tide times and the all-important race results being broadcast.
Throughout each day, a major highlight is the opportunity to listen in to the live, on-water commentary from Dick Johnson on all the sailing action with minute-by-minute information 'fed' to competitors from a fully instrumented commentary boat and Simon Vigar in a privileged position on the Royal Yacht Squadron platform.
Cowes Week is among the UK's longest running and most successful sporting events - staging up to 40 daily races for over 1,000 boats and is the largest sailing regatta of its kind in the world. Getting the boats to the start line on time and announcing the courses is an essential part of the Cowes Radio service. The 8,500 competitors and 100,000+ spectators can tune-in throughout the day for sailing, social and personal chat. The rest of the world listens in on the website and emails in requests and comments.
25 years ago when Dick Johnson was at Yachting World the first Restricted Service Radio Licences were created for short term use at sporting events such as football and athletics stadiums. The small print having been studied, the bigger arena of the Solent and Cowes Week came into view. The Radio Authority admitted it might have been outside the intention of the new licences, but was within the wording. Regatta Organisers, Cowes Combined Clubs (CCC), immediately saw how radio could enhance the event for the participants and help the organisers. Approval from the Royal Yacht Squadron was secured.
Way back then, Dick knew only one person in radio - Steve Ancsell who hosted a weekly sailing and boating programme on the now defunct Radio Victory. Steve 's media company Airwaves had the expertise and equipment that enabled the first Cowes Radio in 1985. Steve controlled activities from a caravan under the Royal London Yacht Club's flag mast. Dick stood by the RYS guns with a radio microphone transmitter and binoculars - chatting about whatever went on.
Cowes Radio was born and has gone from strength to strength. A much loved part of the regatta scene – with Dick, a rusty walnut colour, a great favourite of one and all.
Cowes Radio has also been present at notable occasions outside Cowes Weeks, such as various Admiral's Cups and the America's Cup Jubilee. Although the official radio station appointed by CCC, it remains independent of the organisers of Cowes Week and survives through its sponsors and advertisers. The majority of staff are radio and television professionals who take a week of their holidays to come back year after year.
Comments Steve: "A huge dept of gratitude is owed to all the supporters of Cowes Radio over the last 25 years: major sponsors, especially Nanny Cay, eDigital Research, Skandia of course and many, many more. Raymarine the providers of sailing instruments for the commentary boat; advertisers; the exceptionally talented and loyal reporting and back-up teams. They are the ones who make it possible for us to be on air year after year".
