The yachts competing in the RNSA(P) Wednesday series could be forgiven for thinking it was the start of the Autumn not the Summer Series as they made their way out of foggy Portsmouth harbour to an equally foggy Gilkicker. The visibility at Gilkicker was sufficient to identify the transits of the start line and the SOOD Jolly Jack Tar decided prudently to set a basic leeward / windward course in Stokes Bay to keep the small fleet out of the shipping channels.

x Pinch yourself -you're in the North Sea! Such was the brilliant sunshine over the May Bank Holiday for the Little Ship Club Calais Rally which has been going since 1928. Following the recent death of the inimitable Norman Hummertone MBE who had presided with great aplomb over the Event in 2017 at the age of 97 we were on our own with with the heavy burden of making it as much fun as it had always been.