A Royal Wave

I thought we had already bid farewell to Derry-Londonderry after the most stunning firework display on the final evening. I have high standards after attending the 2008 Olympic closing ceremony in Beijing yet somehow these rivalled it. As a comparison, what they lacked in quantity and size they more than made up for in style. There was a considerable delay before they could start - the stunning evening meant it was still far too light at 10pm but it was certainly worth the wait.

The next morning, following several group photo-calls and announcements, all crew were back on board and ready to set sail. As a means of thanking Derry-Londonderry for their awesome hospitality the twelve Clipper Race boats paraded up and down the river in front of the crowds. You would not have guessed it was a Sunday morning the turnout was that impressive. You might struggle to believe me but this send off made our New York departure pale into insignificance. I now know why The Queen waves in such a modest manner; my arm began to fatigue.

After a short motor down to the start we were in for one final treat - a truly incredible display by the Red Arrows. We watched in awe. I still cannot comprehend the level of skill and accuracy needed to fly with such speed and precision. Then it was our turn to sail at speed and with precision as we turned our attentions to the race start. It is nothing like a horse race in the gates or a running race where all competitors form a straight line. First you must work out the exact start line yourself using the markers on either side of the estuary and then set your watch to match the ten minute countdown gun. There is no room for errors as all twelve boats jostle for the best position whilst judging the wind and distance to the line. A false start would be penalised with a seven-hundred and twenty degree turn (not easy in a seventy foot sail boat) and an hour added to your time for every minute you spend the wrong side of the line.

It may seem strange to some that the start is so crucial when embarking on an eight-hundred mile race but if you could hear the screaming and shouting coming from each boat you would soon realise the importance. Getting above your rivals means you can find cleaner wind which results in in a significant advantage on the way to the first northerly marker. Jamaica Get All Right worked well as a team and despite a few barked commands from our skipper we had a smooth and successful start. Let the racing begin.