It's 10.30, Saturday morning, the day of the JP Morgan Round the Island Race - the first boats started at 7.30am this morning - a total of 1779 boats competing. I was on the Island last night as a guest of JPM and there was a great atmosphere. I got the last ferry back at 00.15 this morning and there were still hundreds of crew members partying hard - I bet there were a few sore heads this morning. Sadly I couldn't do the race this year but I am going back this evening as I've been asked to give a talk at the prize-giving dinner.
So, what’s new? Well, it’s been a busy week (again). Last week I was delighted to be asked to give my support to a new Sailability group, but this time, on my home patch..!! It’s remarkable to think that, despite there being more than 150 Sailability groups around the UK, despite the charity RYA Sailability and the RYA being based near Southampton and, despite the Solent being home to some of the best and most famous sailing waters in the World, it seems crazy that there has never been a Sailability group in Southampton – the nearest has been Langstone (near Portsmouth) in the East and Ringwood (New Forest) in the West. Well, that has now been remedied with my Rotary Club, HambleValley, presenting two special Access dinghies to the local authority run, Southampton Water Activity Centre on the River Itchen where they have decided to set up and manage their own disabled sailing programme. It’s pleasing for me on a personal level too – it’s the very first place that I sailed again, some 7 years after my accident.
Talking of my accident, if you have read my book, you’ll remember three characters I shared a hospital ward with 25 years ago, Dave Howard and Tim Clare. Well, we still keep in touch and see each other, usually at the rugby at Twickenham. It was Dave’s 50th on Thursday so he had his party at Ascot which was quite an experience. It was Ladies Day and the Queen and Princess Royal were there looking very smart – which is more than I can say for some of the other, so-called “ladies”. Blimey, lots of sights and plenty of sore eyes – the “fashion police” would have made hundreds of arrests. Elaine had to put my eyeballs back into their sockets and roll my tongue back into my mouth on several occasions – I’ve booked my tickets for next year…!! I will confess to a flutter but my reckless selection process for placing a bet, mixed with Elaine’s cautious approach, meant we left Ascot £2.50 richer – though Elaine will tell you it would have been £55 richer were it not for my reckless 100-1 punts.
We left Ascot headed straight for London, specifically the magnificent Apothecaries Hall in the City. I was guest speaker at the annual dinner of the Guild of Fuellers, my friend and ex-Round Table Chairman, Mike Husband, now being the Grand Master of the Fuellers – does that make him the Grand Master Flash?? A great night and a great honour to speak to such an illustrious group in such a prestigious venue. I was justifiably shattered by the time I parked the car on our drive at 02.00 am.
Well, the sails are now off Impossible Dream and are back in Hampshire with Hyde Sails who are giving them the once-over and we are now only waiting on the electronics to be fitted before ID makes her way back to the Solent.
Right, I need to crack on – I’ve got my speech to write for tonight.
