A (very) brief guide to Cowes Week

The stakes at Cowes Week — traditionally the last event of the season — could not be higher. In fact, the stakes are so high that historians joke that the origins of world war one can be found in this sailing regatta. Over a century ago, the rivalry between Kaiser Wilhelm and his uncle, the future King Edward VII, came to a head off the Isle of Wight, where the two royals would compete against one another in increasingly large and fast yachts. Complicating the matter were the German emperor’s British cousins, who are said to have made fun of his deck shoes and poor sense of humour. In 1895, the Prince of Wales reportedly punched his nephew in the face, knocking him to the ground after being mocked for losing a race. One hopes that any rivalries this year will be confined to the racecourse and not expand to the battlefield.