Zara Phillips swaps her horses for the open waves as she joins sailing team for Cowes Week challenge

By Georgina Littlejohn

Royal sailing: Zara Phillips is snapped on board the Artemis Ocean Racing yacht as she and her team prepared to take part in the annual Artemis Challenge at Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight


Think Zara Phillips and you think jodhpurs, crops and horse riding competitions.

But today, the young Royal proved that her sea legs are just as competitive as she swapped the equestrian life for one on the open waves.

Zara was taking part in the Artemis Challenge, which saw a fleet of six yachts sail round the Isle of Wight to win money for charity.


She was one of a handful of celebrities taking part in the high adrenaline race around the island and through the waters of the Solent.

Zara, 29, joined skeleton racer and Olympic gold medallist Amy Williams, 27, on board the Artemis Ocean Racing, to help helmsman and double Olympic medalist Simon Hiscocks and his team.

They were competing against British yachtsman Mike Golding, and British sailor Dee Caffari, who was joined on her boat Gaes by former rugby international Martin Bayfield, who is also Robbie Coltrane’s body double as ‘Hagrid’ in the Harry Potter films.


Messing about in boats: Zara and Amy Williams get to work on the grinder as they gybe down the Solent


Are we doing this right? Zara and Amy get a fit of the giggles as they work as a team


His co-stars Oliver and James Phelps, who play twins Fred and George Weasley, teamed up with GMTV’s Emma Crosby on board sailor Steve White's yacht Toe in the Water.

But while Zara might be the reigning eventing world champion in her field, victory was not meant to be for her and Amy, as they came in third behind Golding's first place, winning him £10,000 for the RNLI.


Good atmosphere: Zara, pictured before and after the race, said it had been great to finish on the podium


Zara said: 'It was a really good atmosphere on board, we had a good team and we all worked really well together, it was easy for us as the crew know the boat so well.

'It’s great to finish on the podium and to have made it round the Island.'
Amy added: 'Zara and I were a good team on the grinder, helping to pull the sails in and out, I am so tired now, it was a great upper body workout!

'I can’t believe that the guys we were sailing with actually sail these boats on their own, round the world, there’s just constantly so much to do. The teamwork onboard was amazing, and I think I picked up a few things. I would definitely come sailing again, it was a brilliant day!'


Happy days: Amy and Zara smile as they watch the sail go up


The end is near: Zara and her team work hard to make the finishing line

source: dailymail