Position 50:09.7N 5:03.4E

Been a busy few days.  I got down here on Wednesday.   It was quite surreal driving down - leaving Sarah and Monty and work and home, I wont deny I found it pretty tough.  I didn't help things by looking at a forecast for the weekend, which showed a couple of big low pressures coming in off the Atlantic - this really scared me as I don't particularly want to head straight out into the teeth of an Atlantic gale.  I'm not doing this for heroics. 

When I arrived, I was met by Ian Munday and his race team, who were incredibly welcoming - bundled me straight onto a launch which took me to RCYC so I could register.  Everyone has been incredibly welcoming and friendly.  I hadnt really appreciated the fact that Emilia will be a bit of a celebrity, as she's the youngest ever participant in the race.  It wasnt my intention to break a record, and it's made me question whether or not we're being a bit daft!  But everyone says this will be an experience of a lifetime for her, and we met a lovely couple who are sailing together in this race, but the father sailed with his 16-yr old daughter in the last race and they were all effusive about what a positive experience it had been.

Anyway, there are lots of very well-prepared boats here, and a lot of extremely experienced people.  It is rather daunting!  I went to the barbeque on the Weds night and that was lovely as I had a number of chats with people feeling equally nervous. The forecast has improved a bit but we are still going to be beating out for the first three days, and the sea state is going to be rough. 

Thursday was spent doing jobs on the boat - all quite calm although I need to remind myself to eat and drink and look after myself.  Nutmeg is pretty well-prepared as far as I can think - it is down to the sailors now!  In the evening there was a lovely formal dinner in the Falmouth Hotel, which was super-friendly and enjoyable.  The best bit was that Sarah and Emilia managed to make it by 2215 so were able to hasve a drink and meet a few folk.  Poor Milly is exhausted - she's come straight from Rouen where she's spent the week on a French homestay so talk about culture shock!

Sarah stayed the night but left to drive home at 0800, and Emilia and I did some jobs - fresh food provisioning, trip to the launderette, and then moving the boat out of the inner harbour.  We also had a late safety inspection - we were the last boat to be done!  All fine - we were missing 1 flare (now bought) and a rope to tie the 2nd bilge pump handle on.  We are now rafted alongside Mervyn Wheatley's Bowman 42 - Mervyn is legendary for his AZAB and OSTAR adventures, including being rescued by the Cunard ship Queen Mary after being rolled in a storm during the OSTAR last year.  Hopefully we wont have any of that fun on this race.

Just been to the race briefing, and it all feels a bit real now.  It is sunny and calm but it looks like we are going to have 3 days of F5-6 headwinds, and moderate to rough sea state.  After Tuesday the wind clocks round to the NW and we should have some fast wet reaching conditions.  We got a photo of all the female sailors taking part in the race - some legends in there with Emilia, including Susie Goodall, who was rescued in the Southern Ocean after pitchpoling in the Golden Globe Race earlier this year; and various others with heaps of experience.   Emilia seems to be pretty calm and taking it in her stride, which is good.  Her father is trying to put on a calm face!!