On a very dismal Saturday morning we set off for Draycote, It was p****ing it down. We got there in good time and found a flurry of ISO rigging activity going on. I must admit I was a bit apprehensive as to what we had let ourselves in for, but then all that Stuart and Mike (1008) had told us could not be true, or could it?????

So the merry band of ISO sailors were:-

606 Robin Ashton, Douglas / Phillip Ashton
808 Nigel Ashton, Sue Ashton
1008 Stuart Watts, Mike Kay
1162 James Goddard, Sam Read
1013-(Borrowed from Pete) Ben Twist, Sue Munday

I know what you are thinking; bloody family outing wasn't it? No! I was having enough problems remembering first names, but when Pete gave me the attendance list I realised that calling everybody Ashton would have been just as good as calling the fellas Ron and the Ronettes Sue - if you see what I mean?

Saturday started with very light winds and much wet stuff from the sky. Pete and Bob did a really good talk on rigging and tuning; we all listened carefully and took copious notes ready for the end of session test!(only teasing!).

We changed, completely modified everything on the boat, and were on the water by 10.30 - like heck!
And so started the session. It was hard work; race after race is a brilliant way to learn. We had never put 808 through so much. Nothing broke, but sheets, ropes, knots all failed when they shouldn't have. Blisters appeared, knees went and came back again, cramp came and went and we still wanted more. All in all the day was brilliant. Even the wind treated us nicely (20-25 mph winds were forecast), but instead they increased steadily throughout the day to a good force 3. A gust went through at 30 mph though, causing a few bottoms to point skywards. There was one causality, 1008 bent her boom.

Then it's back to the shore for a de-brief (it's a funny phrase that always reminds me of rugby club bar games! ) with the dreaded camcorder. What we got was constructive criticism, several bo*****ings, RYA phrases that I have never seen in any training manual, praise (yes, Pete loves us too) and giggles. There was much amazement at Mike Kay's superb triple full body twist, somersaulted dive into the pond, off of the upturned hull of 1008 in the 30mph gust! Clearly a vote of confidence in his helm, but apparently just to check to see if the dry suit seals were working properly!

Most of the sailors were booked into the Dun Cow Inn at Dunchurch, Bob managed to book into another local hotel as Dunchurch was full. We assume everyone went to bed early with a mug of cocoa to dream of sailing, in a bed with fresh Dyneema sheets. Mmmmmm Don't think so.

Sunday morning, and very impressive it was to see everybody down at the club keen and eager rigging the boats ready for a promptish 10:00 start, straight on the water once safety boat cover was confirmed, only 4 of us today though.

Again 808 joined after the first race had finished, some lame excuse!!! The day was great, winds probably a good 2 - 3, there was even sunshine in the afternoon.

All we can say is that we could feel the improvement we were making with every race we started and came last in! We felt more and more in control and increasingly confident with the boat. 808 was no longer a monster that needed taming, we had tamed it, we had listened to the advice given, had some superb coaching and individual tuition from Pete and Bob.

We had our final video de-brief, much boat packing up, forcible extraction of £25 for the weekend (best £25 we've spent in a long time), and then for many the long trek home. Pete did a little extra duty on traffic flow and car parking in the boat park. With a few well-rehearsed choice phases, like **** and ******ing and girls blouses he sorted out the matter. In a flourish he hitched up ISO 1013 to his Ford Anglia, mumbled something about it being a "bit dark over our mothers" and it "being grim up North" and in a flash, just like Harry Potter, he was gone.

A big, massive, large and phat thanks (see I can talk street even at my age) go to Pete Lindley and Bob Ladell. Also Boss Sailor Chris Gandy for driving the limo coaching rib and to Stuart Watts.

And for all you training virgins out there, go on you know you want to!

Nigel Ashton ISO 808