Race start weekend 30/31 July 2011

Finally the weekend that would see the Clipper boats setting off on their big adventure arrived.

I went to Southampton for the weekend with Eleanor who was keen to have a tour of Welcome to Yorkshire. On Saturday morning we met up with my friend Brenda and her husband and went down onto the pontoon – all very normal for me but exciting for visitors.

I have forgotten what it was like the first time that I had to climb on board – the high side, the deck covered in ropes and trip hazards, the difficult stairs to get down below, the cramped (cosy) living and sleeping area for a crew of 16. There was a combination of shock, disbelief and admiration that anyone would be mad enough to want to spend any time in those conditions!

Brenda, Eleanor and me on deck

It was strange being at a marina with the boats and not being part of the sailing preparations. The Leg 1 crew were very focused on the last minute jobs and repairs to be done, crew briefings and so on.

Ocean Village Marina was a hive of activity with stands for various sailing related ventures and the Clipper stage where a variety of bands, dance troupes etc were performing until late in the evening. To close the festivities for Saturday there was a magnificent fireworks display across the marina.

On Sunday we arrived at Ocean Village to find it already very busy. There was no public access to the pontoons so there were lots of people lined up along the wall in front of the boats, many of them having tearful farewells with family and friends who were due to set off on Leg 1. It made me think that this is how it will feel for me in a few months time.

The crews went up onto the stage in turn with their boat songs playing loudly, the crowd cheering and clapping for them, but there was an extra special loud welcome for the crew of Welcome to Yorkshire as we are the English boat! The skippers were asked some questions about tactics (none given away of course). Then it was a return to the boats to get ready to leave. I think the crews must have been feeling very nervous and just wanting to get going by this stage.

Welcome to Yorkshire Leg 1 crew on the Clipper Stage

This is a video of the race start from Ocean Village:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w4cfJwZJU4&feature=share

Goodbye Welcome to Yorkshire!

The boats slipped their lines in turn and set off for a parade down Southampton Water to the Solent. We had places on a spectator boat which followed the yachts along with a multitude of other boats – motor boats and yachts being led by the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. It was a marvellous sight.

The weather was sunny with enough breeze for the yachts to get a decent start for the race which was good. Our spectator boat had supporters for several of the race boats so we made our way around the fleet and were able to wave and cheer at all the different boats.

Once the boats had crossed the start line and rounded the first marker buoy they headed off into the English Channel with 40,000 miles and almost 12 months of sailing ahead of them. The next time I see Welcome to Yorkshire I will be in Australia!