Iain Percy and life through the keyhole

Iain's views on the Admiral's Cup, sailing Farr 40's, the Warsash Spring Series and early days at Stokes Bay SC

It's great to read on the site just how well Ben is doing as part of the OneWorld team, I think they are beginning to see what a great talent they have got their hands on.
I've spoken to him a lot over the last few months and he is really beginning to enjoy getting his teeth into such a huge project. The rest of the Brits have not had such a successful time down under but let's not forget the amount of catching up that needs to be done, we are still very much on the steep section of the learning curve and I'm sure the results will come.

I have been perturbed by the doubt that now surrounds the Admiral's Cup. It looks like the event, that has been so predominant in the sailing world I have grown up within, will not be happening the first year I am able to compete. Fortunately the sailing calendar this year is full for the Farr 40. For anyone who is unaware their worlds will be held within our shores and it will be one of the best big boat events for many years.

I have been spending a bit of time aboard Farr 40s with a view to the above-mentioned Admiral's Cup and have recently competed in my first two Warsash Spring series races. I've always wondered why there are so many marks scattered in the Solent, the course reads like a short novel, tradition I suppose (but it doesn't half make you dizzy).

The racing generally, big boats I mean, is all a little different and I'm having to learn on my feet, but I'm lucky to have good people around me who have all mastered the art of constructive criticism. At the end of the day the principles are the same and you just need to remind yourself of that and not try anything too different.

The biggest race to date has been the one for the lunchtime seats at the Square Rigger and our crew have consistently performed; we came in a clear winner in race one when a lucky shift came in the form of a ripped sail and early retirement, and last weekend we were again among the chocolates. All I can say to the unlucky standers is to keep at it, as your time will come!

I went back to Stokes Bay Sailing club on Saturday night and had a really nice evening with some of my fellow members down there. My big friend at the club is a guy called Nick Harrison. Anyone who has had anything to do with Laser sailing will know Nick as he has been sailing the class to the highest level for over 20 years.

When I was 16, Nick took me under his wing and over the next few years we spent countless days on the water, battling gales and snowstorms. As I was saying to the club on Saturday, when I look back over my short sailing career it is to those times, out with Nick and the rest of the guys, that I attribute much of my success. It is the beauty of sailing in Britain, we might not have as many grand yacht clubs as America, but we do have more enthusiasts and more enthusiastic clubs.

On a completely different subject on Friday I am host to Lloyd Grossman as he looks through my keyhole (if you pardon the expression). I tried to explain that my humble abode, complete with smelly sailing kit, might not be quite what they are looking for, but they insisted and so I've got five days to tidy up. I'm going to scatter inconspicuous clues all over the place as the panel is bound not to have a clue who the hell I am. That reminds me - I'd better take down that dodgy calendar...