A year ago I went on a blind date and met Lucy on the Algarve, we quickly connected and I decided to bring her home to upset the wife. My mate “Little Ray” offered to help me and not being satisfied with a twosome enquired as to who else would be coming with us? I answered that I wasn't overly concerned as I had built a 42 ft Ketch and for 7 years had sailed it around the world mostly solo or with young ladies chosen for their looks rather than sailing abilities. Ray then looked embarresed, (such a rare event, on reflection he might have been suffering from wind), there was a lengthy silence then he said; “those activities were 30 years ago”.

I was upset, upset and UPSET. Whil’st I may not have my youthfull good looks, have very little hair, a grey beard and a very slight belly; I do not believe I am totally finished! I still have a lot of experience and maintain solo sailor habits such as bathing once a month and staying sheltered below, resting my eyes whilst sensing every motion of the boat. The Ditch Crawlers that I hang around with swear I am sleeping whilst they cram in the cockpit either imagining that they are actively sailing the boat or are too seasick to go below.

The Jester Challenge came up and I thought I would show Ray that I am not past it yet. I havn't told anyone I am entering and when the race starts I will tell Her That Must Be Obeyed that I am popping out to B & Q and might be some time.

The last time I left the Azores we got 5 miles out then had NO Wind for 72 hours, I was reasonably content as I was on a 9 month sailing honeymoon; but what will I do this time? The trip finished with a Force 10 in the Irish Sea and a small yacht foundering in the vicinity. The round trip to the Azores contain as many hazards and difficulties as one is ever likely to find on a circumnavigation. Knowing this; what on earth am I doing? For 35 years I used to say that sailing was a very expensive drug which I never used to enjoy, but could never kick the habit. In recent years, things have become even worse in that I am now enjoying it! Particularly when the boat really starts moving!

I sail from Southend in the Thames estuary, where I keep the boat on the mud, a 115.6 second walk from home. I always sail shallow draft boats, I had a love affair with Cats but the romance ended when she dumped me in the water and capsized. I am now into Lift-Keel boats, I had a Superseal 26, a great boat, very responsive, fast and lively, but just a fraction too small. Lucy is a Kelt with good accomodation and is fairly fast but not too responsive. I keep looking for my ideal 30ft fast lift keel boat and am not sure it exists? I saw a 30 ft Yachting World Keelboat a few weeks ago, it only weighed one ton and I thought if I put a couple of floorboards over the cockpit I would have a fast offshore race boat, but unfortunately it sold and is being converted into a motorboat!

I flashed out some money the other day and bought the Southby-Tailyour “Blondie” book and realise what an inspirational man he was. The yachting “Establishment” is too conservative, set in their ways and money orientated, it is so refreshing to have the Jester Challenge, very much along the lines of how it all started when I was a kid.

Plymouth is the start of several races including the alternative Dakar Car Rally, where £100 scrapped cars cross the Sahara ending in the Gambia. I entered that rally four years ago and hope this race will be as successful.

I wish everybody a safe and enjoyable time.