Working Working Working

I am working for a living! Yes, thats right, I have a regular job, temping....at a Life Insurance company....but it is like the Job Description says....it is temporary! The best jobs in the world are the temporary ones.....One of the guys I am working with sent me these two photos today, well that is a lie, he sent me about 50, but I liked these two the best!

Sam and I are off to the other side of the planet on 28th November, we booked the tickets about 6 weeks ago....but the Airline have been pretty darn shocking....We booked the tickets with a 'real person' over the telephone. He (Billy) was extremely helpful, and spent a considerable amount of time helping us get the tickets just right. Once everything was exact (thanks to Billy) Sam and I both phoned the Airline to give them our payment details....then, this is where the mess started.....Billy that took my payment told me that the tickets could arrive anytime up to a week before we leave....They come in the post in a week....so Sam thinks, ok, well mine should follow in a couple of days, two weeks later she calls them. She calls them just to check.....cause remember the guy said to me they could come anytime up to a week before our departure. (I wouldn't even have checked) They find my tickets on their system, then they find hers, but it seems that someone has pushed the wrong button after she has made the payment over the phone......and now the ticket we booked for Sam apprently no longer exist between Singapore and Christchurch in New Zealand. Now call me old fashioned, but if an airline or for that matter any customer service provider skrews up....admits they have skrewed up....then they rectify it...............???? Not this Airline!!! NO SIR EEEEEEE!!!

Sam is working, so doesn't have as much time as I do...this was backover 4 weeks ago....so I call Billy, (she has tried calling the reservations team, but they are unhelpful and she is told that they have booked her another seat via Sydney, on a different day and the travel time is some 26 hours...bearing in mind its a 9.45 hour flight to Christchurch from Singapore)....so Billy looks it up, and is flabergasted! I mean, he is shocked with what has happened. He tries to fix it, but also finds that the seats are no longer available. I spend hours on this, lots of phone calls. We look at all the scenerios, I even get on the internet and try to find alternative roots to help him out. In the meantime Sam's bank account has been debited with the £1100. The Airline take the money without authorisation!!!! Now this is pretty shocking!!!!! They can't even tell us why this happened. (She has receieved the tickets today!!!! which are for a different day of departure than mine, and a 26 hours trip via Sydney to Christchurch.......) Again, call me old fashioned, but if Sam and I were a married couple would the Airline consider sending us on different flights to another part of the world on different days? Ridiculous!

So, it goes on, in the end, Billy tells us, they will purchase the ticket for her in Business Class....and we get the boo hoo story of its gonna cost them £1300. (er, who cares....Richard Branson doesn't he is a millionaire!) He also tells Sam, her and I will get 5000 extra airmiles on our Loyalty accounts.....Now, at this point, we thought the matter was done and dusted! Sorted....move on.....(at this point she is minus £1100 without tickets)

Then she gets a call from a guy called Gerry?! Supervisor at Virgin Reservation?! Perhaps? He says Billy is not allowed to work on our case any more.....miraculously they have found a cattle class ticket for her between Singpore and Christchurch on the same flight as we originally booked!!!! Hooray for the Airline...they save themselves £1300 and live off the interest of Sam's money which remember they have in their account now......still no tickets!!!!! For our trouble Gerry promises Sam that we can have 5000 miles each on our loyalty plans, we can use the lounge at Heathrow and in LAX....and we can both get an upgrade to Upper Class on our return section from LAX to London.....well, we think, this is consolation for the heart ache (we are off racing in Phuket, Auckland and Sydney and have team mates waiting for us...hope none are flying the Airline.) I reakon I have spent some 20 hours sorting this out....and Sam another 20. So we think, fair enough, at least they have come to the party, sorted the tickets and given us something to smile about!!!

Oh no! Today, she is called by Gerry again.....she has recieved the tickets in the post....with the 26 hour flight via Sydney....she has to return these to the Airline and they will reissue the Tickets correctly...fairynuff you say! Oh and he then mentioned, no upperclass tickets for either of us.....Sam can be upgraded to Premium (via standby...cough) on the return segment from LAX to London, or, she can have 5000 airmiles on her loyalty account....like she said...what the heck is she going to do with them?....I get nothing! Oh we can still use the lounge.....or....and this was the prize winner....she can have her money back. A full refund....that is sooooo generous of them isn't it.....never mind we are going to compete and would be letting down a team......and wouldn't be able to get tickets cause all the planes are full.......yea Sam, take the money back...lets be like the Airline, promise something then take it back!!!!!!

My Amateur Porn/Stripper Name is Velouria Benz.
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No Racing But Mass Singing at Kiwi Corner

Another hot, intense but mostly windless day in Valencia.

Much to their chagrin, Alinghi had no chance to wrap it up.

And, on NZL-92, frustration they could not take advantage of light conditions.

But, on shore, singing rival Cardifff Arms Park.

Grant turned 50 today.

The “word” went from one end of the crowd to the other. Although ex teachers worried about how it could all be done together, there was no problem because the bloke on the microphone on the other side of the canal said one …. two …. three …

After “happy birthday,” there was the most intense cheering ever heard at kiwi corner.

Then, in case Grant didn’t hear the first time, another round of “Happy Birthday.” Sung with gusto and genuine joy.

In the open area at ETNZ there is white board where visitors can write greetings to the team.

Happy birthday Ryan Hunter from Christchurch. He is 30 years old today.

For a while it looked like the seabreeze would fill in but, although it was stinking hot in the woolshed (with more humidity than usual) there wasn’t enough blue sky to do what was needed.

CHEER-UP TEAM NEW ZEALAND

Peter Jackson or Stephen Spielberg could not have planned a clearer scenario than the one in Valencia.

The constipated Swiss (with no banners, few flags and an apparent inability to sing or cheer) are to the north; wild singing and dancing kiwis are to the south.

Orcs to the north (with their mate Butterworth); hobbits to the south. Good versus bad. It’s that simple!

Hence, when the ACM announcer today told kiwis on the south shore to “cheer up” he completely missed the point.

Everyone is cheerful as usual.

Today there was a very positive atmosphere and Spanish staff at the fancy Senzone coffee shop at kiwi corner had kiwi flag tattoos on their shoulders. Because most of them look like they escaped from the cover of Vogue magazine, this was worth seeing.

This in sharp contrast to the atmosphere a few days ago when authorities set limits on the number of yelling kiwis permitted on the deck dominated by Sooty McMillan.

The crackdown followed an incident when, late in the day, three enthusiast gentlemen from parts unknown (but all good swimmers) jumped over the railing and tried making it to enemy territory across the canal.

ACM is a private for-very-big-profits corporation owned by Ernesto Bertarelli who, it is safe to say, has had a gutsful of kiwi exuberance (and may not like the fact most are good swimmers).

Today the security guard who yesterday stood in front of Mandy Barker was back but had that “only-one-more-day-of-this” look on his face.

But kiwis are careful to say “gracias” and, in the end, the guard was on our side. By Tuesday he will have a flag tattoo on his shoulder.

Just along from Senzone is an open-air coffee shop-cum-pub which now plays Crowded House and Split Enz music on a very cool sound system.

Hell, no racing, let’s dance!

Even in 30 degrees !

After all, this is Valenzia !!

BRAD TURNS HIS BACK ON NEW ZEALAND

Today back Brad Butterworth deliberately sat with his back to kiwi corner so he didn’t have to endure the sight of all those New Zealand flags.

But nor did he wave or acknowledge Alinghi fans on the north shore.

Certain advocates of globalisation predict the end of the nation.

Nations are irrelevant in a globalising world, they claim.

Rubbish ! Maybe it helps to be from a small island country surrounded by water. But, ever since arriving here, we have drawn people into conversations about what it means to be a New Zealander in the 21^st century.

The results of this investigation are encouraging.

First, the young ones are passionate, patriotic and generally well-educated and able to acknowledge where they acquired skills and knowledge enabling them to perform in a globalising world. Unlike in the Excited States, young New Zealanders, thank god, know something about the rest of the world.

The 60 year olds on their “gap year” are good-humoured, energetic and have fun with people unlike themselves. Racism evident in New Zealand 30 or 50 years ago has, it seems, faded to almost nothing (and people are always looking over the railing for taniwha).

Last night we reported Brad is building his $2 million hideaway on Waiheke Island. Today we heard it is not just Coutts en route to Oracle. Brad and others in the tight-five will also go that way. On the other hand, only a few weeks ago, Jochem Schuemann was headed to the German syndicate when, in fact, Karol Jablonski got that job.

It is hard to read Butterworth but, having watched him for months, a few things are certain.

· The kiwi flags are disturbing. So he doesn't look at them.

· There is no evidence of warmth or joy between him and Ernesto

· The cow bells probably annoy Brad as much as everyone else at the Port

· Brad looks like he wants this to be over as soon as possible

LIZZIE MELVILLE SCORES

For the last five weeks, Dave and Lizzie Melville have been parading around the Port with their monster Buzzy Bee banner.

It was made by 12 year old Lizzie who today sported NZL-92 (AJW .. they are temporary) tattoos.

Lizzie is a student at Baradene College in Remuera who lives in St. Heliers, Auckland.

By now, Lizzie’s Buzzy Bee has been seen several times on New Zealand (and foreign) television. It is carefully done and arouses a lot of attention as it moves through the Port.

Well done Lizzie !

WHO WANTS NEW ZEALAND TO WIN

Almost everyone!

The much-vaunted European solidarity against New Zealand never amounted to much and has now completely collapsed.

There are many ways of ascertaining where supporters reside. But none more important than on the tow out.

For example, here comes the Shosholoza syndicate boat (yes, with black South Africans amongst the whites).

While Sooty and his Waikato extraverts chant “All Black, All Black, All Black”, South Africans dance and wave kiwi hats and flags.

When the Oracle spectator boat arrives, Sooty chants “Bring Back Chris” and those aboard wave New Zealand flags.

The most mysterious are Italian super-yachts and the hush-hush Group of Six.

The leader is Mateo de Nora who lives in Monaco but has a $2 million property in the Bay of Islands. When TNZ nearly fell on its spinnaker pole during a 2003 financial crisis, Mateo came to the rescue.

When Grant needed to fly a boat to Europe, Mateo’s phone was ringing and, in recent weeks, the Italian made sure ETNZ staff understood their efforts are appreciated.

Mateo owns the exquisite Imagine which has been serving as an ETNZ VIP and spectator boat.

Whether Mateo and his other affluent Italian mates had a run-in with (or were ignored by) Patrizio Bertelli is not known. But they like New Zealand and, in all their rigging, there is not a single Swiss – or Alinghi – flag. Only ETNZ flags.

New Zealand is admired and respected. Why? Many reasons. Here’s a few:

· Standing up to the Excited States and declaring New Zealand nuclear free won plaudits in Europe

· Taking France to the World Court for testing nuclear weapons in the atmosphere won friends in the rest of the Europe

· Over-the-top creativity (such as in Lord of the Rings) is appreciated by Europeans

· Italians still remember, appreciate and celebrate the friendly Prada – Team New Zealand contest in 2000. A lot of friendships were built then and remain now.

· New Zealanders fought to help rid Italy of fascism. It is not forgotten.

· The Italian fascination with good food and wine is paralleled in Aotearoa.

· Italy is a smallish country with big neighbours. Sound familiar.

When you write your final exam you can do better than this. But, in the meantime, give the Italian benefactors another glass of Hawke's Bay sauvignon.

HOW TO BE A YACHT DESIGNER

Almost every New Zealand youngster would like to helm one of these monster boats and the rest wouldn’t mind the challenge of designing them.

ETNZ designer Nick Hutchins is an interesting example of how to get in the game.

His parents sailed to Europe for the Cup on their 55’ boat. So Nick has the first requirement – a nautical family and childhood messing around in boats.

As a pupil at Christ’s College, he was a math whiz and, for a final assignment did a project on the (not easy to understood) formula for Cup boats.

In this formula there have to be trade-offs. Too much there and there will be cutbacks in other places. The challenge is to get almost all the weight into the bulb and as little as possible above the waterline.

After high school, Nick had a look at Naval Architecture schools in the South Pacific and settled on the University of New South Wales (in the suburbs of Sydney).

Today Nick Hutchins was off Malvarossa Beach, Valencia, watching how NZL-92 behaves in light winds.

GO DADDY GO !

Early arrivals at the woolshed watch video clips from earlier races and “backgrounders” on Cup personalities.

Eventually the broadcast goes live to the race course with a show anchored by Martin Tasker and Peter Lester. Their voices are heard but they are never seen.

Before the ten minute gun goes, they show the amazing Virtual Eye “flyover” of the course, followed by a line-up of sailors.

Pairs of photos pop up – for example, the bowman for Alinghi, the bowman for NZL-92.

Tony Rae has been at this game longer than most New Zealand sailors – having been involved in every New Zealand effort since 1987 with KZ-7.

In Valencia he has solid family support from his mum, dad, wife and kids – all of whom do their share of shouting at kiwi corner and camp in the woolshed during the race.

Tony has young children and, today when his image popped-up on the screen they shouted.

“Go daddy, go!”

"Go daddy, go!"

"Go daddy, go!"

What was Michael Fay thinking when, not long ago, he thought sailors would be distracted by wives and kids?

Not only did the Rae kids tell dad to go, like other New Zealanders in Valencia, they seem unfazed by the fact it is match point.

“It is just another boat race” (Peter Blake), says a poster in the woolshed.

GETTING OFF THE MUSHROOM BOAT

Your agent is preparing to extract a confession and compensation from Lufthansa and the mighty Star Alliance (for a flight cancellation, losing his bag and other cruel and unusual punishment at Madrid airport).

Hence, here we are on the Malvarossa strip with Hans Schuetze, Attorney-At-Law in Hanover, Germany (who also detests Lufthansa).

Spaniards eat, but not at the same time as New Zealanders.

So the only people in the restaurant are your agent, his high-powered German lawyer and an ETNZ navigator with a baby and young wife.

Yep, it’s Ian Moore, the Irish navigator on NZL-84 – the mushroom or “B” boat.

Today in the woolshed we sat next to his parents who live at the head of an estuary about 12 miles from Belfast in Northern Ireland.

Ian went to the University of Southampton where he fell among sailors and met people like ETNZ’s head designer Andy Claughton.

Being on the B-boat is like doing an apprenticeship. But, with a U.K. syndicate under construction and a possible chance to jump from the New Zealand “B” to the British “A” boat, he must think carefully about building a career.

Ian’s dad has a VHF radio broadcasting America’s Cup Radio on Channel 71. He asks why we are taking notes and, once given the reason, insists we listen to his radio.

America’s Cup radio can be heard on the Web (through a link from americascup.com) and would be a valuable adjunct to the television broadcast – particularly for those enduring Versus television commentary.

Mr. and Mrs. Moore have another son who manages a boat yard. Mrs. Moore has her own business sewing upholstery, sail covers and other things for boats. The dad has gallons of saltwater in his veins.

They are proud grandparents and happy with what Ian has learned hanging out with kiwis.

RACING RESUMES TUESDAY

Over by the Veles a Vents building ACM have built a raised platform (on a barge) for the Cup presentation ceremony.

In an example of how counting chickens early, people fussing over it (taking off covers) today.

There is a lay day tomorrow (Monday).

The next race is on Tuesday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANT

Hey Grant, life begins at 50 !

Happy birthday!

It's all going down at the America's Cup in Valencai

IF ANY ONE CAN, A KIWI CAN

It has been an exhausting – near overwhelming – day at Port America’s Cup.

But while struggling away from kiwi corner en route to the No 19 bus your agent, and hundreds of others, could not miss the irascible and amusing Sooty McMillan from Tauranga strutting up and down yelling:

“If any one can, a kiwi can.”

“If any one can, a kiwi can.”

“If any one can, a kiwi can.”

Again, Alinghi won a race they should have lost.

So, ETNZ is only one race back from being eliminated from the 2007 America’s Cup.

Yesterday the torn spinnaker sealed the deal. Today NZL-92 was in front and it looked like victory was imminent. But they were out-sailed.

Here on the night before it could all end, it is tempting to recall other times kiwis were down but stood up and flailed the enemy.

There is a Hawke’s Bay contingent (including your agent) at the Port and today we discussed difficult days immediately after the earthquake.

Gallipoli comes up in almost every sentence and young New Zealanders are intensely interested in this appalling event in kiwi history.

Most families have endured fires, floods, accidents, drownings, and other seemingly hopeless situations where people had to prevail against adversity.

We would like to go on. But, although Grant will say something in the morning, they don’t need a speech.

Many of them have been at sea when sails split, keel bolts fractured or mighty waves brought tons of water aboard.

They do not have to be told what’s needed tomorrow.

But, having said that, Sooty is not as crazy as he seems. He is right.

“No one can like a kiwi can.”

Kiwis are used to having their backs to the wall and there have been extraordinary moments in New Zealand history when they came out fighting.

It ain’t over until it’s over and we are looking for Dean to clean Baird out at the start and for ETNZ to take the race tomorrow.

In 1983 it was Big-Bad-Dennis = 3 and Australia II = 1 (not 4/1 as said yesterday). From a single victory, the Aussies went on to win.

So sir, you point is?

Tomorrow is another day and sailors don’t need speeches. They know what has to happen.

FAMILY HEART BREAK AT THE WOOLSHED

The woolshed has become more important than Te Papa for enacting New Zealand cultural practices.

It is an extraordinary scene – not adequately captured by steady-cam shots dropped into television broadcasts.

Sailors have families.

That means there are wives, husbands, mums, dads, aunties, uncles and a lot of kids in Valencia.

Today the gloriously pregnant Mandy Barker brought their little one to kiwi corner where the plan was to wave the flag and let Dean see his daughter during the tow out.

Fortunately, Billie Barker and other team women (such as Joan Cowie) were there to ensure this would happen (and to keep little ones back from the edge).

But with NZL-92 on final approach to kiwi corner, a private security guard placed himself right in front of Mandy.

People asked him to move but, with no knowledge of English, a minor was quickly becoming a major annoyance. As well, Mandy didn’t have a flag (but was handed one by your agent).

By making “helming” movements, the otherwise alright (and handsome) security man came to understand the situation and moved over.

Here’s the boat, Dean is scanning the shore, makes eye contact with his wife and mum, smiles, waves and points at his daughter.

Mission accomplished !

Widely-shared understandings shape kiwi corner exuberance. These are the rules:

· All ETNZ boats – not just NZL-92 - get cheered (one day your agent was rebuked for being silent when a weather boat went past!).

· Official ETNZ spectator boats (mostly carrying sponsors) get cheered

· Italian millionaires who have supported ETNZ get cheered (by those knowing the inside information).

· Commentator P.J. Montgomery gets a special “P.J.,” “P.J.” “P.J.” cheer and reciprocates by bowing, waving and throwing kisses.

· Any Oracle boat gets told “Bring Back Chris,” “Bring Back Chris.”

· South African boats have to listen to “All Black,” “All Black,” “All Black.”

Grant makes himself visible and acknowledges those on shore. According to exceedingly well informed sources – such as the man himself – he is moved by the nature and level of support. He is genuinely moved – in the most authentic way possible – by ETNZ supporters in Valencia. He said so when accepting the Vuitton Cup.

Today’s race was a heart breaker and, amongst wives, families and others, there were tears and distress.

The woolshed is a noisy, boisterous and mostly wonderful place. But, there was an uncharacteristic silence during the down wind run to the line. Today the problem was aggravated by fatigue.

But what happened after the race was telling. Even your agent momentarily considered heading for the bus so as to get this missif off and be in bed before midnight (for a change).

Team wives and women with kids must have also been tempted to bolt. But they didn’t. Led by the redoubtable Billie Barker (Dean’s mum) they all went out into the heat and back to kiwi corner – along with an engorged tribe of enthusiastic New Zealanders.

After the race team kids had a new one-word chant.

“Tomorrow!”

“Tomorrow!”

“Tomorrow!”

“Tomorrow!”

“Tomorrow!”

Don’t whine if surf knocks you down. Stand up and do it again!

WHAT ARE BUTTERWORTH AND COUTTS THINKING?

Brad. Butterworth showed no emotion on the tow out or in today.

Even though cow bells were clanging and Alinghi supporters bellowing on the north shore, Brad never looked there. Nor does he look at kiwi flags to the south. Instead, he talks on the phone, scratches his head and looks straight ahead.

We talked with TVNZ’s John McBeth about this.

“Brad, yea well, he’s always like that.”

Now we hear Butterworth is building a $2 million house on Waiheke Island “to get away from the rat race.”

And although his buddy Coutts has a fat offer from Oracle he is buying property in Queenstown and Whangaparoa and wants to start a 2^nd New Zealand defender syndicate to go against ETNZ.

Are these guys on drugs? Or off their medication?

The one person who will never land back in ETNZ is Russell Coutts. And nor will be find sponsors for a new syndicate.

Has he ever heard the saying “once bitten, twice shy?”

As for Brad, he is clearly discomforted by kiwi passion in Valencia.

Coutts says he is weighing his options but, because he will be unable to find sponsors for his own syndicate (and lacks energy for the chore of fund-raising) he will end up with Larry.

Within minutes of the announcement saying Coutts and Ellison are engaged, you will hear a hullabaloo in Auckland.

The noise will be cheers from Emirates Team New Zealand.

THE BIG RED SAIL

The NZL-92 spinnaker is the size of two tennis courts and yesterday’s hole about as big as a 25c coin.

Sometimes, it is possible to complete the leg (or even the race) with a hole in your sail.

But yesterday the hole was on a pressure point and, as the world saw, bob is not your uncle !

RACE SIX

It was beautiful on the Mediterranean today and, at the start, there was a long dial-up with Alinghi to the right and NZL-92 to the left.

The dial-up ended 1 minute, 50 seconds from the gun.

With 1 minute to go NZL-92 was leading away from the line. Alinghi called for a penalty and the woolshed erupted !

At the start line, NZL-92 crossed at 11 knots and SUI-100 at 9 knots.

Immediately after the start, NZL-92 was 6 metres ahead.

For a while it looked like Alinghi might take the kiwis to the layline (in a mirror image of yesterday’s start).

There was flatter water today and, in the post-start drag race, NZL-92 was pointing high trying to squeeze the competitor.

Eventually Alinghi tacked away and the woolshed again erupted. However, three quarters of the way up Leg 1 they were even.

The kiwis got a shift and, at Mark 1 were 14 seconds ahead.

NZL-92 retained her lead on the run and was still 11 seconds ahead at Mark 2. After the rounding there was a big separation between the boats (why ???).

Two thirds of the way up the beat, NZL-92 was pointing higher and getting better pressure. On Alinghi Brad had Murray Jones up the mast saying good pressure was coming. SUI-100 started a tacking duel and, when NZL-92 attempted a slow-speed tack, the “Swiss” slid into the lead.

There were cheers and then silence in the woolshed. SUI-100 extended to a 26 metre lead and that was the race.

By Mark 3 Alinghi was ahead 16 seconds but soon extended to 100 metres.

There was an exciting gybing duel on the run home but SUI-100 retained their composure and won the race by 28 seconds.

Conclusion? The boats are even but today Alinghi sailed the better race.

PASSION AS COMMODITY

On the tow-in Ernesto waved, Brad looked ahead.

Over at the Alinghi compound they exploded fireworks.

Whereas New Zealand passion in Valencia is authentic, whenever Alinghi celebrates it involves “paid-for” partying.

Ernesto hires everything – even passion !

However, we should not be mean.

Today we saw a Swiss flag!

ELENA WEARS KIWI COLOURS

We are trying to set-up 20 year old Elena, the Spanish (Galician) commentator, measurer and race official to meet an ETNZ designer who can tell her how to launch a career in this game.

And here she comes – dressed in ETNZ gear – and accompanied by her father and brother – also match-racing umpires, judges and measurers.

“Your family must be unique. You all do it.”

“No,” she says (and the father agrees) “there are many Spanish families where everyone is a race official.”

The entire family are hiking over to kiwi corner to show solidarity with the good guys.

So much for the “Cup must remain in Europe” discourse!

It is not just the Iglesias family from Galicia. Certain policemen, the hotel cook, the bus driver, all the guys on Desafio Espanol, most Italians and thousands of other Europeans (particularly Spanish) want New Zealand to win.

Or, “Switzerland” to lose.

No wonder Butterworth and Coutts are sniffing around for a trail that leads to what used to be their home.

Schnack-Net is a project of the UBC Technology and Education Research Network

May Bank Holiday Race to St Vaast

It was just like the old days, when Cougar were still Xploiter and Team Whistler's pre-race routine was soaking up the sun outside The Castle in Gosport, over a leisurely lunch and a few pints, before departing for Cowes to complete the crew and enjoy a pre-start pizza supper…

It looked like a bun-fight at the pin end of the line, so we opted to start over towards the shore in clear air to leeward of the fleet, a position we stuck with down the Solent as it seemed to pay off and we ended up at the front with Aviva and Heaven's Above V. At the Forts we delayed our hoist as Aviva seemed to be sailing quite low under theirs but, as the wind backed a little we popped ours and headed out round Bembridge Ledge.

Aviva and Tai-Pan headed off below us, sailing down the rhumb line but we were tracking quite well, just ahead of Electron and Annokia, sailing on the high side of the fleet as the light went and we settled down for the Channel. As the tide turned the rolling sea eased somewhat, but the residual swell was rocking us about, especially as the wind dropped, making it difficult to keep the kite flying and allowing Xara to creep up and past us…

As the light grew the next morning, the guessing game of trying to identify boats from their lights was resolved, with Tai-Pan just below us, Electron further inshore, Aviva inshore and well ahead and Annokia coming up behind.

Once again it seemed that our passage planning was about an hour out (poor navigation, an overly optimistic Skipper - or perhaps just because the wind had eased…) and we ended up making a couple of gybes across the building tide towards the line, which we crossed with Tai-Pan and Annokia chasing.

Sitting at anchor we were trying to work out where we had finished, checking who was in and scanning the horizon for those still racing. With remarkable eyesight for someone of his habits, the Skipper spotted a smudge appearing out of the haze "do you think that could be a boat?" he enquired. "Well, it's not likely to be a lorry or a car out there" responded Velcro, who should save that one up for his wedding speech!