And they're off - just...

TJV monohulls survive a drifting match start reports James Boyd in words and photos

Inevitably the breeze did not hold and within minutes had veered round to the south east putting some of the boats hard on the wind and some becalmed. As they headed back towards Le Havre and the Paul Vatine mark, the race course became a minefield of calms and shifting breeze with all the Cowes Week phenomena of boats hard on the wind on the same tack sailing in different directions. While Sill had looked good to start with, she along with the other boats starting to the west and in the middle of the line were virtually becalmed.

Nick Moloney and Mark Turner try and get to breeze by the shore