Mr Schulz, why are your sailing trousers red?
When I sailed across the Atlantic 20 years ago, I was told in the Caribbean that when I was back home, I could wear the red sailor's trousers by which you recognise sailors who have sailed across the pond as a consolation for having to live on land again. Later, when I saw such trousers by chance, I actually bought them. However, I only learnt the true story of the so-called Cowes trousers later.
Tell us!
When blue water sailing became popular in the 1970s, many British sailors started their Atlantic crossings in Cowes. So they also bought their sailing clothing there. And Captain Currey, who incidentally also offered the first stainless steel rigging knife, sold the red trousers. And that's how they arrived in the USA. The Americans were mightily impressed by the fact that all the Englishmen wore these red trousers after crossing the Atlantic. And so it became a story. But never a rule.
And where did you get the story from?
From the inventor of the trousers himself!
Captain Currey?
Yes, his name was Charles Currey and at the age of 77 he delivered my original Cowes trousers to me by dinghy on board my "Regina Laska" when I visited him and tied up to a buoy in front of his house in Chichester Bay on the Solent. Incidentally, he was the third Charles Curry.
Who were the predecessors?
His grandfather Charles I had defused mines during the Second World War and needed a knife to cut the parachute he was dropped with. And it had to be non-magnetic. So he invented a stainless steel knife. After the war, he produced a stainless steel rigging knife under the Captain Currey brand, which became a hit and is still available today.
And Captain Currey number two?
That was his son, Charles II, a boat builder who even won Olympic silver in the Finn dinghy in 1952.
And how did the invention of red trousers come about?
They were originally impregnated and sold as particularly moisture-resistant sailing trousers. Incidentally, they were also always available in beige and blue. But the red ones became famous because of the American story. And that's where the name Cowes trousers came from.
And what do you like so much about it?
I just think it's nice to keep traditions like this alive. Incidentally, the company is now in its fourth generation. The current Captain Curry is called Louisa and is a woman.
The 60-year-old professional skipper Leon Schulz is an instructor for the British Royal Yachting Association and has been helping sailors on their way to becoming certified RYA yacht masters for 15 years. More information: reginasailing.com
