Cowess week race - got to helm a J-109

One of our suppliers was kind enough to let me go racing for a day in cowes today.

Fantastic fun, we had a breeze gusting 30 knots in the morning, and I got to helm a J109 ( Asymetric kite, carbon pole, fast cruiser/1 design ) Managed to broach ( well no-one let go of the kicker or main! ) but got some nice speeds on the clock.
http://www.yachtcharterguide.com/yacht.asp?ID=773
Great boat, next time I have £125k free, I may buy one :)

It was also the trafalgar fleet review, hundreds of ships, and we got buzzed by 3 chinooks flying in formation with about 15 smaller helicopters - quite a frightening sight really.

Didn't make the island, Ellen McC will have to wait to be trashed until next year :)

Didn't make it, the wind was a continual W or WSW, and as we were heading from Sandwich, that meant on the nose. A lumpy sea meant that it was going to take 40hours to make the island, and arrive about 12 hours before the race.

So we bore of 70 degrees, and headed for Bolougne instead :(

( Incidentally making for a very easy channel crossing for the first time ! )

More pics and trip notes to follow when I get back.

Dave takes the wheel!

Fw: Dave takes the wheel!
Originally uploaded by lazarette.

en route to the exciting port of calais :)

Round the island - here we come !

We're in, www.roundtheisland.org, next week. Can't wait. Am busy buying all the damn expensive safety gear you need - about 20 flares according to the regulations !