Tim Ford

Last sail with Tim & Miranda, handing Tim the wheel as expected so we could sail all the way up to Spanish Town. Docked in VGYH for the weekend.

Quick motor round to Peter Island.

Sailed Marina Cay to Norman Island in 5-30 kts of wind and some heavy rain showers. Picked up a mooring for the night.

A tough upwind sail with a couple of squalls gusting through at >35 kts. Wind was largely sustained 20-25kts combined with some torrential rain at times. Ended up moored at a pretty choppy Marina Cay.

Not a big distance so just used the self-tacker heading across to JvD. Dropped anchor in Great Harbour for an hour but anchor was dragging so didn’t hang around after the crew had been ashore. Motored round to Little JvD and took a walk up to the Bubbly Pool.

Snorkel & coffee at N side of bay at Cooper Island. Sailed down, heavily reefed to The Indians for another snorkel but found it most disappointing with very few fish! Sailed headsail only round to Soper’s Hole for the night.

Windy downwind sail but managed to fly the Code Zero for a while with gusts at 20+ kts. Early, and excellent, dinner at Cooper Island, followed by some rum tasting in the Rum Bar.

A blowy sail from Trellis Bay after picking up Tim & Miranda from the airport the night before. 2 reefs in the main and a couple of wraps on the jib, in wind gusting over 25 kts at times. Took the shortcut into N Sound and picked up the last free white mooring ball at BEYC. Rented a car for the next day for an island tour, then had an Oil Nut Bay lunch with Moose followed by a fun-filled happy hour at Saba Rock.

Early morning delivery trip to Desty’s at Hamble Point Marina. Motored all the way, with a refuel stop in Yarmouth.

Downwind start so we set the big red Gennaker as we came into the start line and carried it all the way to the finish. Managed a bad spinnaker wrap around the forestay when trying to gybe off Lulworth, that took 10-15 minutes to resolve. , but once past St Albans head started to slowly work our way up from the rear end of the fleet. By the finish in Studland Bay we had stormed through a good number of boats who were having to fly white sails into the finish line.