By a Flying Fifteen competitor.

Monday - dawned wet and breezy ashore, when we got out to sea there were large swells and enough wind from the SW to blow your socks off. The first leg was to Firth buoy on a beat, we sailed and sailed but no buoy was to be seen - we must have been a mile offshore before the race was abandoned for a new buoy to be laid - Firth buoy was never found. The new race proved successful. In the Flying Fifteen and Cruiser Fleet there were no catastrophes but there were one or two with queasy stomachs and a few who chose not to sail.

Tuesday - similar weather - the Start Line was well out to sea where there was a real squall from the SW. Deep swells and the word screaming about before the start was an apt description, the wind was seemed furious and wanting to blow the tops off the waves. Looking forward meant lashings of spray and a mouth full of sea water. There were some of pre-start retirements. Just after the start we took a wave over the bow which filled the cockpit, sailing free so that the bailers could suck some 18" (45cms) of water out the cockpit took ages and we lost a lot of ground. At one stage the spray was being flattened by torrential rain. Beats to Heston then Torr Point, was followed by a run to Firth and down to Donald buoy - we had 2 laps. Amongst the fleet we had trawling and tangled spinnakers and one man over board. Great fun was had by all.

Wednesday - started bright and breezy with a Force 4 forecast and from the north. We sailed under foresail alone, against the tide, down the channel. It was gusty and an RS Feva, sailing down behind us capsized, its mast almost falling into our cockpit. We went under the wooded shore at Starvation to raise the mainsail and even there, it was gusty and variable. Offshore there was a strong breeze but with fewer gusts, away from the shore. Throughout racing occasional dark clouds brought with them a squall of wind which moved everyone on at great speed. Spinnakers on the runs were the order of the day and sailing the mile run between Torr Point and Firth buoy meant high speed, with a roll and sailing by the lee much of the time. The sea was flatter with the wind coming from the north and off the land. A good sailing day.

Thursday - an ideal sunny, breezy day, a Force 3 to 4 from the N/NW. We had a leisurely downwind run to the start and chose the spinnaker alone to pull us down. We were lazy and did not even use the pole whilst it pulled us down like a great parachute with little or no attention at all. The seas sparkled and the racing was good for everyone - winners and losers - we all enjoyed the sailing.

Friday - sunny with lighter winds northerly initially then veering round to the east. A much easier day for sailors but we are never satisfied and a bit more wind would have been welcome. After of racing the return up the estuary was such, that a tow was gratefully received.