Gosport to London

The Jamaica Clipper is now safely berthed in St Katherine's Dock in the shadow of Tower Bridge having been safely delivered on Friday afternoon along with the 11 other Clipper yachts. We set off from Gosport on Monday afternoon with a practice race across the Channel to France then back up to the Isle of Wight then eastwards past Dover, north and then west up the Thames estuary to Southend Pier where all the boats rendezvoused for a carefully planned procession up the Thames past the Millenium Dome, Greenwich and Canary Wharf.  We were expecting a quiet entrance to St Kats but were really surprised to see quite a crowd there to welcome the boats in, and after some very careful manoeuvring all were safely moored up.  Sails were packed up, decks were cleared and hosed down but before too long the local pub was bursting with thirsty sailors having a well earned drink. I headed back to Edinburgh but am back on board on Tuesday for a busy week of boat preparation as well as a reception at the Jamaican High Commission, official naming ceremony, race briefings and of course the crew party before we get down to the serious business of Race 1 to Brest.