Date 20 June 2005

Location off Boston

Weather light wind and cold

Heading pointing east

A great start to the day. We had a large crowd in good spirits to see the fleet off from Rowes Wharf, Boston, on Sunday (19 June 2005). The sun was there although the breeze was icy. After our traditional blessing of the fleet we left the dock in a pre-arranged order to our chosen team music. Spirits were high on all the yachts. This leg to La Rochelle is relatively short compared to the other legs on the race so it can be considered a sprint. A quick dash across the Atlantic and another party in La Rochelle to celebrate being in France and returning to Europe.

All was looking good. We had about an hour and a half of time before the start gun. We set off along the first part of the route under engine to see what the breeze was doing there. There was a consistent breeze that looked as if it would hold.

We sailed back into the start area with a full mainsail and a No.1 yankee and staysail. As we were busy deciding where we wanted to be along the start line, we noticed that the breeze was dropping. The start gun sounded and we stuck to our plan and crossed the line in the first half of the fleet. We had to tack all the way out of Boston Harbour. A port tack was the making tack and a starboard tack made you the right of way yacht. So positions chopped and changed all the way out of the channel. As we all cleared the channel the wind got lighter and we all stopped.

This was a deja vu from the last leg. We couldn't believe it. Already the wind had died. The forecast was for the breeze to be light but not to die completely. We were at the mercy of the tide's drift and watched as we all pointed in different directions but travelled in the same direction. All night we have been able to count the entire 12 masthead lights. We knew that sailing this leg was going to be close but we didn't realise it was going to be as close as this from the start.

Dee Caffari - skipper Imagine It. Done.


Dee Caffari/Yachting World, 21 June 2005