Header image: Henri Lloyd in St Katharine Docks before the race start

They left me behind

The day of the race start itself was one of mixed emotions for me. Mum’s post describes it chronologically. What she doesn’t say is that she and others kept finding me in tears.

  • Yes, it was very exciting,
  • yes, there was a great atmosphere and
  • yes, they were supposed to leave me behind.

It just felt so wrong when they were in the lock almost within touching distance and I was on the land side of the lock, waving them off.

These were people I’d trained and spent most of the previous month with, and here they were departing. I know my time will come!

Once out of the lock and on the river, four of the boats led by GREAT Britain passed through Tower Bridge and went upstream to parade around a bit. By now we had found the correct spectator boat – our tickets weren’t valid on the VIP one – queued to get on it, found seats on the upper deck, and had hot dogs all round for lunch. I don’t know why we had seats, most of the time was spent standing up taking photos!

Tall Ship and GREAT Britain

Tall Ship and GREAT Britain

We followed them downriver as far as our spectator boat would take us – back through Tower bridge, past Greenwich down to the Thames Barrier – where the spectator boats all lined up to watch the yachts pass on their way out to sea. It was interesting to see the photos Dad took and compare them to mine. His were of each of the yachts whereas mine were much more partisan, concentrating on Henri Lloyd! I was distracted by the tall ships on the way down the river as well as seeing them on the way back up. I guess you can’t get the square rigged ships out of me completely!

On their way

On their way

As much as today had been billed as the race Start, it was all ceremonial. You couldn’t have had 12 70 foot yachts racing down the Thames, so there were no sails. Race 1 was due to start the following morning off Southend after an overnight anchor. I was back at work by then, and there wouldn’t have been anything to see as the start was so far from land.

We, and the others who had been left behind, finished the day drowning our sorrows sorry, celebrating the start, in, again, the Dickens Inn before sharing an Indian meal somewhere in east London.

At the Dickens Inn

At the Dickens Inn – Courtesy of Kevin


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  1. Anna on 8 November 2013 at 16:57

    The race means a lot to you Anita. Yes indeed your turn will come. I’m very glad weren’t sailing in Typhoon Haiyan.



    • bbllr87 on 8 November 2013 at 18:01

      So am I. What they have been sailing through over the last few days is bad enough. After a storm hit them earlier than expected, two of the boats have had to divert course to Port Elizabeth, South Africa, so that casualties could get the medical help they need, and that is before they get to the Southern Ocean proper. My thoughts are for them all to keep safe.



  2. puffinld on 11 November 2013 at 16:27

    This is the leg that Dickon found hardest and wouldn’t want to do again!



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