It has been another couple of frustrating weeks back out in Turkey. I arrived back here after a great week skiing with my family, excited about finally getting out on Turkish water.

That afternoon we wandered down to the boat to fix a goose neck fitting to my mast, as we got near the boat, I realised some thing was missing, the Crane! Steve just burst out laughing. It was one of those moments where you had to laugh or cry. It turns out the Turks had decided the crane needed to be bigger, so had taken it away to sort it out! There is no other way to launch my boat so I have been marooned on the shore!

So for the last two weeks each day I have wandered down to see if it’s back and today it arrived! The only downside is I fly back to the U.K tomorrow and not back for a month!

On the plus side the weather has been awful, cold and wet, so maybe they were doing me a favour. Today the sun came out and it looks like they have actually replaced the dodgy old crane with a brand new one so things are really looking up!

So I fly home tomorrow but I’m not back in the U.K for long, only a couple of days to sort things out before driving to Palma and then Hyeres for The Princess Sophia Regatta and Hyeres regatta. This is the first time the 2.4’s have been invited to compete out in Palma and I’m really looking forward to it. It was always one of my favourite venues when I used to compete in the 470, so it will be great to be back. Also it’s my first regatta since the Games and I’m really fired up about getting back on the water racing!

I’m hoping for warm sunshine, great winds and a good start to the season!