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200 Years of Cowes Week | 1826–2026
Langley’s Gladiator Sailing Team joined the 200th anniversary of Cowes Week August 1-7, marking two centuries of competitive Solent sailing with a memorable week of racing and camaraderie.
The Gladiators were joined aboard by wounded, injured and sick (WIS) armed services personnel from the Invictus Foundation, as the countdown to Invictus Games 2027 in Birmingham gathered pace.
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On Wednesday, with wind speeds getting up above 20 knots, multiple Paralympian and Invictus medallists Dave Henson and Josh Boggi, both seriously injured serving in Afghanistan in 2011, joined the team.
Team Boss Anthony Langley said:
“Neither had ever been on a sailing boat, let alone a Grand Prix racing yacht. Amazing, they were an inspiration to us all.”
Langley also received a personal message from Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, Founder and Patron of Invictus Games, who had hoped to sail with Gladiator but was unfortunately unable to join the team.
In accordance with a long-standing royal association with Cowes Week, the historic event was attended by HRH The Princess Royal, who joined the bi-centennial celebrations.
Gladiator finished third in the elite IRC Class Zero – the premier class for the largest, fastest and most technologically advanced Grand Prix racing yachts competing in the regatta.
The Gladiator C boat is now being retired and Gladiator B is to return from the USA to be IRC optimised for the Admiral’s Cup in 2029. 2027 will see the B boat competing again in the Solent.
Next up Gladiator A returns to Lanzarote 24-29 August for the Royal Cup, the fourth engagement of the 52 Super Series.
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About Invictus Games
The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport event first held in 2014, for wounded, injured and sick (WIS) military service personnel, both serving and veterans. The word invictus is Latin for ‘unconquered’, chosen as an embodiment of the fighting spirit of the wounded, injured and sick service personnel and what they can achieve, post-injury. The Invictus Games were founded by Prince Harry in 2014 . Inspiration came from his 2013 visit to the Warrior Games in the United States, where he witnessed the ability of sport to help both psychologically and physically.
About Cowes Week
Since 1826 Cowes Week has played a key part in the British sporting summer calendar and is one of the UK’s longest running and most successful sporting events. It now stages up to 40 daily races for around 500 boats and is the largest sailing regatta of its kind in the world.
About Gladiator Sailing Team
The Langley Holdings Gladiator Sailing Team is one of 13 teams from 8 different nations competing in the annual 52 Super Series, the world’s premier mono hull yacht racing circuit. The Gladiator team also competes in other yacht racing in the UK and the USA, bringing on aspiring young sailors in big boat racing alongside seasoned professionals. In common with Langley businesses, the 52 SUPER SERIES represents the very best technology in its field, attracts talented, dedicated people and is conducted with the highest standards of integrity.
About Langley Holdings
Langley Holdings plc is a privately owned UK-based engineering and industrial manufacturing group, principally producing capital equipment for diverse markets worldwide. Langley businesses are either outright market leaders, or occupy strong niche positions in their respective fields, providing advanced technologies in a solutions-based approach. The group operates in two principal areas: Power Solutions and Diverse Industrials. The group’s operations are based in Germany, Italy, France the UK and Norway, with 16 production facilities in Europe, the UK and the USA. The group has more than 40 subsidiaries worldwide and employs 4,600+ people. Langley Holdings was established in 1975 by the current Chairman & CEO, Anthony Langley and remains entirely in family ownership.
