Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, is the center of gravity for racing in this part of the world. It is also a cruising center, with visiting boats sometimes numbering in the thousands. Training is also big here, and this fleet from the United Kingdom Sailing Academy is busy all week long.

Training is ongoing in dinghies as well. These two groups of Lasers are being towed out towards the Solent for a day of racing. Notice the pontoons across the way to which the yachts are towed. These are not connected to shore, so access to your yacht is by dinghy or water taxi. A common system here.

A chain ferry runs across the Medina River, from one side of Cowes to the other. We’ve seen these in several locations. The strong tidal currents – running three to four knots during springs – makes this system necessary.

Ratsey and Lapthorn is a historic name in the sailmaking business. They have been in this building, across from the ferry, for more than a hundred years.

Another institution is Beken of Cowes, the preeminent marine photographers going back to the 19th century. Only in the last decade have they gone digital. The same Beken family is still snapping those photos.

We are always intrigued by local signage, this and the next viewed on a two mile walk to Queen Victoria’s Victorian (what else) mansion, which is now open to the public.

The Brits are into precaution, with lots of warning signs. We particularly liked this one.

We are learning new expressions. Like "chuffed" which means (we think) excited or proud. Then there are "real Cornish pasties". Some of the Wind Horse crew think pasties are worn in Go Go clubs. Guess the Cornish are into pasties too.

Maybe the most appropriate sign for the current commotion in Washington. Translation – Barney Frank, the congressman who held Fannie and Freddie above reproach, and stood in the way of trying to rein in their excess for the past 15 years (along with stalwarts from both sides of the political aisle) has left the poor taxpayers with a bag of worms.

Since we are on a political bent right now, there seem to be clubs of each persuasion each town.

Maybe appropriate as conservatives of both the US and UK are feeling hemmed in. We are informed by local sources that the UK Conservatives are to the left of the US Liberals.

Back to the waterfront, for those of you too young to know anything but a travel lift for hauling out, this is how it was done in the olden days (40 years ago). Railroad tracks with cars and big cable winches to haul the boats up the incline.

Speaking of the olden days, this paddle wheel steamer is still plying the waters of the Solent.

We have been into articulating bowsprits for a long time, ones which move side to side. This is the first time we have seen a vertically articulated sprit, ideal for the crowded harbors.

Jolis Brise,a famous gaff headed cutter, with a more traditional bow sprit. Consider what these gaff headed racing yachts looked like with their fisherman staysails set above the gaffs.

And then compare them to the latest IACC, Volvo, and Open 60s (above). Pindar is a Juan K design working up for the soon to start around the world race. We’ll have lots more on these amazing boats shortly.

Another square headed main on an Open 60. Square heads are very efficient in terms of plan form and center of area. They produce more horsepower with less drag than more conventional configurations. But when setting and dousing, handling the last bit of sail is a pain. However, the hardware to release the upper battens from the sail track is now easier to use and if we were doing a performance cruising sailboat we would consider this approach. Note that swept spreaders for aft support (like on the Sundeer and Beowulf designs) are required with roachy mainsails.

Roxy is Dee Cafferty’s ride for the upcoming race. It is the winner of the last race (as PRB) and a handful for an entire crew, let alone a singlehanding woman.

They are testing, and taking sponsors for a ride today, Note the kick up rudders on the stern, masthead running backstays, and circular traveler for mainsheet.

A few miles across the Solent from Cowes lies Portsmouth. The big city for us country folks. More to follow.