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Time To Take To The Water AgainEarlier this year before I left Cyprus, I volunteered to support my old school, Pangbourne college's, attempt to win the Arrow Trophy, an annual yacht racing event where 20 plus yacht from different school take part in a weekend of racing in the Solent.
I have now returned to the Uk after a 15 year absence, swapping barmy sunshine for damp and misty autumn mornings, now with just days to go, I am sorting out suitable clothing. the forecast predictions at the moment are temperature around 15C, Overcast conditions with rain, seas 1-2 metres with winds around 15 knots on Saturday becoming lighter for the match racing on Sunday.
I am travelling down to Southampton on Friday to join a mixed scratch team from my school, at Sunsail's base in Port Solent Marina. The Yachts we are using are modified Benateau 40 CR, and we will have a crew of 12, this will be a change for me as in the past in Cyprus,we have had a shorthanded crew and used an asymmetrical spinnaker rather than a conventional spherical spinnaker which can be challenging to use in gusty condition.
We will have a little time to settle in and get to know one another, sailing across to Cowes and the event starts in earnest at 1000 on Saturday with fleet racing. On Sunday there is match racing for the top 4 boats with the remainder of the fleet competing two final races.
Looking forward to meeting the rest of the crew and a great weekend of sailing under the Devitt and Moore flag.
