La Grande Huit means literally the Big Eight.

I am excited to announce my entry into the next mini race later in August.

I spent my May bank holiday of course racing in my mini; competing in the first edition of the Solent 650 racing from Lymington, around the Isle of Wight, around Wolf rock and back into Plymouth.

The boat is prepped. Lunch is on the table and I am sitting next to my co-skipper Christa ten Brinke waiting to go.

In Brittany, on Saturday  the crowds will descended on Concarneau for the start of the next big transatlantic race, the AG2R.

 The Atlantic mini season has kicked off with all the promise of a wild year ahead; a closely competitive fleet, a demanding course with tide, rocks and some interesting navigation, all topped

It has been a strange old week; things have not been following the grand plan and I have found myself in different places doing different things with different people, going with the flow has been

 A recurring question left on the comment page of my website over the last year or so has been the question as to how I am funding this sailing campaign.

The Calendar 2012 from whatever angle you look at it is going to be a massive year for sailing.

The last five days have gone past in a blur.