HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Sarah Grace goes to sea
Chris Yerbury and Sophy White
Sun 1 Jan 2006 16:19
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Santa 'Did us pround'.  We had fantastic bulging stockings...... Somehow or other it seemed to make Christmas here very normal.
We have just staggered back from the beach, after lots of lolling around a barbecue, and swimming and eating.   There is a good crowd here, with loads of kids.   Chris raced John Marshall the 14th (9 years old) in his Oppi, and they had a tie finish.  He comes from a great family of sailors from Canada. 
On the way back in the dark we were towing the empty  Oppi with all the John Marshalls in a rib, and the Oppi capsized, in a sudden blow.  The littlest one called Henry (6 years) shouts 'Dad the rudders sinking, 'and leaps out of the rib into the dark.  The middle one, William, shouts,'Henry hasn't got his life jacket on', and leaps out of the rib after Henry.  There is a strong current.   Mum (Lucia) shouts, 'Come back,' and leaps after Henry and William.   Dad (John Marshall the 13th) is trying to rescue the Oppi.  Eventually everyone is rounded up and the dinghy bailed out.
At least it is so warm that everyone isn't cold by the time they are hauled back into the rib.
We are all still slightly dazed by our arrival on land.