Transat Training

Despite the rain this week Brian and I managed to get offshore Thursday morning bathed in sunshine. The conditions were perfect for some downwind sailing right from the entrance of Portsmouth Harbour. We headed across to France testing different downwind sails and before we knew it, we could see Barfleur and were eating our sandwiches. We had averaged 18 knots across the Channel and now were able to sail along the French coast at Cherbourg and on towards Alderney. We sailed from the edge of a cloud line at Alderney and witnessed a beautiful sunset before reality hit us and we turned round heading upwind back towards Le Havre again. It was a wet, windy and bouncy night but enabled us to get to grips with efficient team work for tacking and then after some hours off watch we were both recharged and ready to head downwind across the Channel back to the UK. With the spinnaker set and the breeze and seas both building, our speed average remained high and we were back as quick as a flash and on the dock in time for lunch. It was awesome sailing and we both got a real buzz from it. We even managed to race the Brittany Ferry and beat it back to Portsmouth.

Brian is heading off to Malta next week to race in the Middle Sea race and I shall keep getting Aviva prepped for the Transat Jacques Vabre, but it is not just us on the water at the moment. We are both ambassadors for the Charity 'Toe in The Water'. A tri-service initiative, using competitive sailing in the rehabilitation of injured servicemen and women, and these sailors will be on the water at the weekend in J80 yachts competing in the Autumn Championship, which marks the start of the Garmin Hamble Winter Series. "Good Luck to them all and sail fast in Malta Brian!"

Dee
www.deecaffari.com