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Last night I embarked on a pretty long journey after a very tiring day. I travelled from Liverpool to Southampton via Watford and Clapham and eventually arrived at the Ibis in Southampton at 11.30pm. I collapsed into bed but in true busy day style was still awake re-thinking the events of the day until well past 1am. 

I was however treated to a lie in which is unusual these days and I was able to take a leisurely stroll down the sea front and enjoy a Starbucks in peace.

So why was I in Southampton on my own and why had I made the journey. It was because a couple of months ago I received an invite from Sunsail to be their guest at Ladies Day during Cowes week. The plan was brunch, racing, and canapés. I’d never ever been sailing, always wondered if I would like it and thought this was a perfect opportunity to try it out. I’d also always wondered how much room you actually got on a boat and whether my Mini Travellers would like it! 

So we got the Red Jet over to Cowes at 9.45am and hoped that the sun would shine and the wind would blow. It did neither!

 

 
The sea was like a mill pond and the sky was pretty grey. There was however really good pastries and a decent cup of tea for brunch.

There was also a fabulous crew (including me who actually did a lot of watching others crew) including  

Camilla from Cruising Association

Emma from Sailing Today

Georgie from Yachts & Yachting

Monika from Mum on the Brink 

Rosie from A Rosie Outlook

Plus Lucy, Chloe and Pippa from Sunsail and our token male and Skipper, Nick. 

We chatted, we stalked other boats, we took pictures of men dressed as women (!) and we chatted some more.

   
    
 
Lunch was good. Nick our skipper even found us some beer, and for me I spent a day relaxing in some very good company out in the fresh sea air.

  
It was disappointing yes that we didn’t get to do any actual racing, but there isn’t a great deal anyone can do about that. For me I worked out that I do like being out on the sea and don’t get sea sick when the sea is like a millpond, so all it means is that I will have to go back and try again! 

  
Sunsail do courses for all levels of competence and apparently do courses where the whole family can learn together. So maybe when my girls are older and they want to learn to sail, we can all take a course together. For now I will stick to relaxing on a boat with a beer in hand and soaking up the sun (or maybe just some fresh air).

Thanks for a lovely day Sunsail!