Evie Rogerson, a 10-year-old Optimist sailor from Hamble has turned her passion for sailing into an exciting new venture with the launch of The Crazy Cow. Her first product, Top Tactics, is a set of model Optimist dinghies designed to help sailors of all ages and abilities improve their racing tactics through hands-on, visual learning.
The idea began while Evie was training and dreaming of competing in international regattas. She wanted a way to practise racing at home — to visualise the start line, the marks and the situations that happen out on the water. So she created her own kit of boats, marks and course cards to help think through race strategies. What started as a homemade tool on the living-room floor quickly became something much bigger: a unique coaching set that sailors and coaches everywhere can use to make racing tactics clear, simple and fun. Evie spent months refining the design of Top Tactics to ensure it’s user-friendly and durable for all levels.
“I created Top Tactics because I wanted a way to practise racing and understand situations off the water,” said Evie. “My hope is that it helps other sailors, like it’s helped me, to better understand racing and feel more confident when they’re on the start line.”
The Top Tactics set includes four Optimist dinghies, a committee boat, racing buoys, pin marks, flags and course cards, with the option to expand fleets by purchasing additional boats. The models are made from robust plastic, designed for repeated use in both coaching sessions and at home. Plans are already in motion to expand the range to other classes of boats.
The name The Crazy Cow has special meaning for Evie. When she was 7-years-old and just learning to sail, her instructor gave her a small cuddly cow to take on the water for courage. That thoughtful gift became a lasting symbol of confidence and fun in her sailing journey — first as the name of her Optimist dinghy, and now as the inspiration for her business. Today, through The Crazy Cow, Evie aims to pass on that same sailing confidence on to others.
The Top Tactics kit is available now at www.thecrazycow.uk, with worldwide shipping options.
