25th anniversary of Cornwall Offshore Group Series (COGS) in 2025
by Tim Rowley 20 Feb 23:12 NZDT
Way back in the summer of 2000, Falmouth sailor Damien Bloor had the idea to get all the local sailing clubs together to start an offshore race series. It would incorporate a number of longer type, coastal and offshore races they already ran separately into a single series. The original model was the JOG series founded in 1950 and based in the Solent where the emphasis was placed on good racing, social events and generally having fun.
The clubs, rather than the racers, were to be the members of this new series. This structure allowed the races to operate in a very simple, low cost manner. By not running the races themselves, the association need not be affiliated to the RYA or any other body, nor deal with a host of other compliance issues. Individual clubs would remain the Organising Authority and continue to run the races.
Sue Mantle, the RCYC Rear Commodore Sailing at the time, agreed that it would be worth trying to set something up for the 2001 season and invited representatives from all South Cornwall yacht clubs to a meeting COGS was born.
The series included The Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, Royal Fowey and Mylor Yacht Clubs together with the Flushing, Helford River, St Mawes and Penzance Sailing Clubs. Walter Amos accepted the very necessary but traditionally thankless task of managing the handicapping system, Keith Mountfield donated and ran a website, and Oliver Cramp took on the role of Press Office. Trophies and sponsorship came from many generous local companies with A2 Rigging and Mylor Chandlery continuing their support to the present day.
The initial 2001 series was launched with just four pre-existing races, each run by a different participating club. The very first race, from Falmouth to Fowey. St Mawes ran a race to Plymouth via Eddystone, Helford ran the Helford to Penzance race,and the Royal Fowey ran another from Fowey to Helford. Boats entered under PY or IRC handicapping, but the inter-club championship was run under PY alone, requiring a cunning conversion factor!
In all, 33 boats entered the inaugural COGS series with 15 coming to the line for the first race as part of an overall 71 boats taking part in the RWYC Triangle race. A race report in the Somerset County Gazette noted that "this was quite a turnout made even more impressive given the degree of socialising that took place at the RCYC the night before"!
It's a credit to all those involved that COGS has continued to run every year, unbroken even by Covid, and is currently experiencing a renewed level of support whilst many other handicap race events struggle to maintain their numbers.
The race programme has expanded over the years, from the initial four races to fifteen spread across three separate series. COGS now runs a coastal series with six passage races, an offshore series of six longer races and a three race bay series newly introduced in 2024.
The typical COGS fleet still accommodates a wide mix from dedicated race boats to family cruiser-racers, equally split between IRC and YTC. Perhaps surprisingly, COGS races are well suited to less experienced racers. Although all-round sailing experience is of course important to manage the coastal and offshore courses, the nature and length of races means that contesting start lines and mark roundings is less significant than in shorter, round-the-cans racing.
Looking ahead at the coming season, we are absolutely delighted to be in our 25th unbroken year of racing. Special mention has to be made of Johnny Walker and his team who, who were able to keep COGS alive through the Covid restrictions.
For our 25th season we will again be running all three race series but with a sixth new race added into the offshore series. This new offshore race hosted by St Mawes, will be run as an overnight passage from St Mawes to Salcombe, which as been added in response to requests from several IRC boats including St Mawes member Afrita, for an additional longer distance event to aid qualification for this year's Fastnet. Conditions permitting, the IRC boats will take an extended route whilst the YTC course will be more direct.
St Mawes SC have kindly agreed to run this new race and we are delighted by the enthusiastic welcome from Salcombe YC where we will enjoy our post-race celebrations, debate those "could've, would've, should've" moments, regret the "if only" wrong choices, and laugh about the downright mistakes. There's always the next race!
Finally, a few words about our sponsors. We were delighted to receive a very significant increase in cash support from sponsors in 2024, enabling us to fund post-race catering, additional prizes and a very well supported end of season prize-giving dinner.
We'd love to have you join us in the coming season; you can be sure of a warm welcome whether your an old hand or new to racing. Novices will find the YTC class most appropriate; it's very simple to enter and we'll be delighted to guide you through the steps. Passage racing is surprisingly not so different from cruising - it's all about getting the best out of your boat.
A detailed knowledge of the racing rules is not necessary and, if you wish, we'll be pleased to link you up with one of our regular skippers to provide some gentle mentoring. Come and join us in '25! See cogsracing.org.uk