I decided to go home for a bit. The non stop alcohol fueled, public house hosted mostly-work-but-more-play party that is the currently economically depressed London, was getting the better of me, so I am here. Here has standing headroom and a bath, which is a pleasant novelty, not to mention the fast internet connection which is pure bliss for the digitally impatient.

Using the internet connection I have been following the start of the Volvo Ocean Yacht Race, putting my virtual money (I don’t really gamble) on Delta Lloyd, who are at the moment becalmed. This is why I don’t really gamble you see, well, almost never, I do on occasion put a quid on the lottery, or use some pocket change to buy a scratch card when I’ve been to the super market. Last week I won twenty quid on a scratch card, then yesterday I went to buy some bits from Tesco, and put a whole pound on a lucky dip!

I haven’t checked the results yet, but here’s what is going to happen; I am going to win, just £24,000 though, and with that I am going to quit work and take my little Corribee south, around to the coast to Dorset. I’m going to sail her up the Avon in Christchurch and get her lifted out, where I shall do a little work over the winter to convert her into a solid ocean boat. Namely, fill her with foam and make Kudu unsinkable. Obviously I shall take my time over doing this since there’s no rush to be anywhere in the winter. January will see a trip back to London for the boat show, where I’ll buy a couple of solar panels and a Rutland 503 wind turbine.

Once I’ve fitted these, I’ll probably take off for a couple of months, heading to Cornwall. I do like it there. I’ll come back to the boat for around March, when she’ll be lifted back into the water, and I’ll head out into the solent and turn right. I’ll go as far west as I can be bothered and then turn south, right accross Biscay for some late winter adrenalin. When i’ve scared myself sufficiently, It’s a short stint toward Gib’ and into the Med, where my year of sun will commence.

I really don’t want to check those numbers.