What a fabulous first day! Well, at 0700 it was raining, the sky dark and foreboding, and the mood on the pontoon was that of resignation! 0730 things got a whole lot better. Danielle got the clippers out and set David up with a slick no 2 hair cut, Janie was in hair wash heaven and we all had that final and very important shower, hit the computers and said our farewells. The sky cleared, the band and clowns performed on the pontoon and the carnival atmosphere was amazing. Yachts were very busy with final preparations as were we with a last minute technical hitch! Almost last to leave we passed the crowds on the breakwater who cheered, wished us good luck, and played the bag pipe lament of ‘over the seas to ... St Lucia’ Bonobo performed like a dream, dare we say, powered through the fleet to the start which was marked by a Warship, water cannon, horns and fun. The ARC organisers did a great job - imagine organising some club 250 yachts, Skippers Crews and 40 or so Kids which was a record entry and what a spectacle ! The days sailing with NE steady winds, sun, a sea temp of 25 deg, Crew adjusting to life at sea, and no sea sickness was the best start we could have asked for.
David/Peter/James/Richard/Janie/Simon