I have to admit, by mid-morning the weather man was correct. Rain started to set in, gusts became intense – and by late morning the M25 drive home was disgusting and slow !! Currently typing at about 4pm, sitting snug at home with 45mph gusts outside 🙂

Our morning coffee line was busy watching three K1 keelboats in their race being blown completely flat…. and perhaps the racing at the America’s Cup has us all inspired,… Suddenly after bacon rolls, Hugh and Dorian donned their sou’wester gear, got their C rigs out and popped their One Metres in for a spot of match racing from the North Beach!!

The bottom of the north steps were twenty feet from the water’s edge (I’d have sworn the Club Manager just three weeks ago had shown me that the steps reached the water on that day…) so as new boy I was intrigued to see how launching from the beach was going to work. I went over to their cars without full rain gear, but quickly got cold so made it back to the Club to watch from there (!). Watching through the steam coming off a mug of tea has its merits.

H & D ignored the steps, and walked down the slip to the north beach. Then to my astonishment, H waded in wearing wellington boots, and launched both the One Metres. So tip number one for me – “bring your wellies, just in case”. I’m guessing OK for One Metres, but Marbleheads need a spot more keel depth.

Depends on slope of the beach probably, not to mention the height of your wellingtons, but it looked OK for our noble race officer just there. It caused quite a stir in the clubhouse crowd watching Hugh wade in, but HS suddenly pointed out the obvious, “You could wear your dry suit and dinghy boots”. Good point actually, if I can remember where they are.