Leapt out of bed this morning before seven to see if we could get down to the Needles to see the first of the boats in the Round The Island Race pass. Just as we parked up Leopard and Concise 10 came into view, and it was the perfect start to the day. Leopard went on to take line honours, and Concise was the overall winner.

The sun was shining and we had a really top morning on the beach. It's when all the 'regular' boats start coming through that you get the real beauty of this race, it's an incredible spectacle.

Later had a nice bike ride with Popsie and Greg in the forest which was also great fun. Rounded off with a lovely dinner cooked by Lewis!

Have to do it all over again tommorow with a 7.30 start as we are sailing, or at least the boys are racing all day and I am ground crew.

Way to Go!

Tearing downwind whilst racing at Lymington the boys make it look deceptively easy to stay upright. The boat achieves best speed if it's flat on the water, and this is a very tippy boat so streamlined that it's capable of exceeding the wind speed! Go #aquaholic29er

Fashion Icon

Happened to chance upon this image in one of my Flickr contacts images, and since it looks like my Mum and is painted by her favourite illustrator thought it should go on the blog!

Rene Gruau

Thrills and Spills of Dinghy Racing

This is the start line for the medium fleet race at Lymington Town sailing Club yesterday. I quite like the drama here, it gives a good flavour of what racing is all about. In the background you'll see the fast fleet, who start just ahead of these guys but have a much larger course - you can just spot Lewis and Greg through the masts!

LTSC :: Sunday Racing

I was on duty today at LTSC so it was a perfect chance to get some photos of the boys in action; this was taken during the first race of the fast fleet which the boys won! That'll do nicely as a Father's Day treat. Not always easy getting both their faces in shot, and the boat looking suitably respectable. New sails arrived on the weekend which has given the boys a big lift, although not used them yet!

#aquaholic29er

Going for Gold

We had a great day at Weymouth on Sunday watching the medal races for the ISAF World Cup event at WPNSA. The best sailors in the world have been competing for the chance to represent their country, and this is a key qualifier event. Which gives the boys a good insight into the process, and the pressures of the game. We mingled with the guys and girls, we chatted and collected signatures, and we watched the action. The backdrop says it all really - no pressure or anything boys!

One of the highlights of my day was finding the house where William Thompson lived in Weymouth - he was a naturalist and the first photographer to make photographic images of underwater life. The sea beds around Weymouth are well known for aquatic life, and to think he was achieving this over 150 years ago is amazing... very interesting article here

Larking around

Of the many photos I have taken of the kids some stand out instantly as keepers and others lack an adequate description of the event. Sometimes it's simply that I have a better picture, and the others get left idling in a folder.

I salvaged this one as it captures something of the chemistry that exists between Mip and Greg. Whilst he loves being a "big boy", increasing so these days, he just loves regressing to small child land with Miranda, and she knows how to press all the right buttons.

Portrait of Lewis

Portrait of Greg

Feva Coaching

We've been down to Calshot for a swim this evening, and Greg and Miranda played happily in the water for nearly three hours. They had a surfboard and a paddle, and they clowned around for ages. This picture is from last Friday when we did similarly except they did some dry sail coaching, as we are trying to get Mip sailing.

Old before her years

Looking remarkably mature here I thought, Miranda thought this was 'an embarrassing photo'... you decide?

Snuggle Time

Maggie is a big pig, and although she has an adorable face, it's pretty scary to be close up with. Popsie however is always unfazed as she cuddles and tickles her, whilst hurling cheek towards Alice the Ginger (grumpy) goat...

June, and it's ...raining!

Last week it was all so different, which was just as well; half term and all that.

Today we enter the summer season, and it's precipitating profusely, the gate is banging in the wind even though it's bolted shut.

Lewis has his GCSE English tomorrow, so let's hope he gets asked some questions to write about sailing or summer breaks on the beach!