Not a good story as such - but did event in someone elses boat as a qualifier for Fastnet. Before we left Solent - trashed a headsail and lost a sail bag. 25+ hours in what were generally cold windy conditions. You mention the Littlehampton mark - for someone new to offshore after a long sabbatical - it was about the only time we were close to other boats in an around the cans scenario - as we got an overlap and it was exciting getting the gybe in tight with a load of other boats around. Our main instrument display packed up early on due to suspected electrical gremlins - but it was breezy near french coast at night with full main and a small jib - gusting 30+ knots? - the subsequent 18 mile beat in the v.early hours against choppy waves designed to test foul weather gear was character building. I thought if the Fastnet is going to be 5 days of this - cold,hot bunking,irregular sleep etc - its a serious project....however a few beers at the race finish and some food and a shower got us all in good spirits for the motor back to Solent. We left at 8pm sunday - sails all packed away and down below and about a couple of hours out of Le Havre - engine faltered but still ran - feathering prop. Luckily after reversing a bit it seemed to clear things - we think it was a lobster pot - but it was pitch black so were really none the wiser. If it had been terminal - unpacking and rigging sails in light winds on the nose would have been tedious. Anyway - there is always someone worse off - about same time as we had prop tangle incident - we noticed someone close to us sailing in towards finish - they must have had an eventful race - full points for perseverance! Anyway back at work - i have forgotten about the cold and fatigue - looking forward to Myth of Malham!
