Tuesday 18th May

Vaquero
Tue 18 May 2010 10:54
Plymouth - 50 21.8N 4
07.9W
The jobs-to-do list is suddenly looking rather
short. After so much preparation and fettling it feels rather
strange to have to admit that I am nearly ready. The last two years seem
to have disappeared in a flurry of activity aboard - always
something to be done, checked, altered - the jobs list constantly
getting longer and never rally time to sit, relax and enjoy the boat. But
now it's all done, time to stop worrying and get on with it. Time to enjoy
the benefit of all that hard work.
![]() And perhaps this is the time to thank everyone for
all their help. Singlehanded sailing it may be, but there's been a huge
collective effort to get me and Vaquero to the start line of the Jester
Challenge from my base at Suffolk Yacht Harbour. Huge thanks to everyone
there for their help, it's impossible to mention everyone, but here's some of
you - John Parker and his talented team at Quantum Sails for superb
sails and great canvaswork; Mark and Tim at Mr Stainless who patiently and
quickly make up weird stainless contraptions for me to the highest standard;
Jason at French Marine who is so tolerant of my complete mechanical
ignorance; Julie and Amy at R&J for all their help with all those trivial
bits and bobs; Big Nige, Johnny and Sam at Rig Magic for lots of sensible
advice and practical skills; Chris and the ever cheerful James on the boat gang;
Mick the magic GRP man; Richard in the chandlery for his help in sourcng gear
quickly; and of course a huge thank you to Jonathan Dyke who runs this diverse
collection of talents and makes Suffolk Yacht Harbour what it is, a wonderfully
relaxed place to work or visit and a true centre of excellence, and who has been
helpful in so many ways. And finally, of
course, the biggest thank you to Clarke & Carter for allowing me the
time off to have a go at the Jester Challenge, and especially Steve Carter
who has been so supportive. Whether I succeed or fail remains to be seen,
but I know that without all your help it would have been impossible for me
to be here in Plymouth ready for the start next Sunday.
Other Challengers are now slowly starting to arrive
and the international flavour of the entrants is starting to become apparent
with entries from Switzerland, Russia and France already here. When I
arrived on Sunday morning it felt rather lonely on the pontoon but at least it
meant I could concentrate on the boat without diversion - plenty of time
for socialising at the weekend.
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