13:52 – Ross steps into the water at Colwell Bay armed with his largest slalom quiver, a 9.6m GA Vapour and 130 litre Tabou Manta and 46 F-Hot fin ready for an 80 odd mile marathon. He probably would have switched last minute for his 8.4m had I not insisted we take a spare sail just in case in the boat; oops sorry! The weather forecast was calling for 15 to 18 knots but it was already gusting well over twenty in the Solent and looking pretty choppy upwind. Overhead the sky was overcast with patchy clouds but a few glimpses of blue showing on the horizon seemed to promise that the sun would shine at some point on our journey. I am all loaded in the 5.5m RIB with driver James Meaning and assistant Caroline, all nice and dry and ready for this epic adventure.
