Derry to Den Helder

Massive send off in Derry as mentioned before we then motored down the loch to the open sea where The Webbo supporters were on the start line. We were 1st over the line even with me on the helm! Unfortunately we had the yankee 2 up and many boats had the 1 so it was not long until we were overtaken. We were 2 days sailing up the West Coast of Scotland, one of which I was on mother watch made much easier by the fact Mandy had baked fruit cake and chocolate brownies which I could present at lunch time and dinner! It was quite rough but I had the long lie in on mother watch, after Derry it was good to get some much needed sleep. It was more comfortable as we reached across the top of Scotland and although it was misty we could see the islands. Being the summer it was light for most of the night which made the double night shift easier. We made some tactical decisions which did not really pay off but it was a shit or bust situation podium or 7th we used to say! As you know by now we came in 9th but it was quite exciting 5 boats finished with in an hour and a half of each other we were 10 minutes behind Yorkshire. It was a real drag race with kites up to the finnish. I have to say this was our last chance we felt to get a podium and a number of us were really disappointed.  The Scottish cost line was very beautiful and we saw lots of sea birds including puffins. The feeling the trip is coming to an end is all too real and people are talking about missing each other and life at home jobs etc. Amsterdam the last blow out and yes we have done the culture Van Gough museum , bike tour and canal tour as well as the less salubrious areas!!!!!  One more little trip across the channel about 3 days and back for the celebrations in Southampton. Nearly all over and then what.???