It’s been a busy time since the launch of the Ambassador’s scheme this summer. I’d just arrived back from 8 months based in Spain and Portugal training for the Olympic trials and had definitely begun to imagine myself on Compton Beach every day with babies in tow. Alas it wasn’t to be; firstly our house was still behind schedule and still being renovated (aren’t they always late and over budget?) so we had nowhere to live and I found myself commuting between Cowes and Belfast where granny was holding the fort. Secondly I was lucky enough to skipper one of the Extreme 40’s at Skandia Cowes Week (you might have seen them causing chaos up and down Cowes Green), then onto Amsterdam in rather cramped docks. The Extreme 40’s are the flying catamarans, quite scary at time and a whole world away from what I’m used to. It gave me an opportunity to honour a promise I made to Mark King of Level 42 fame at the Ambassadors reception. I said I would take him sailing for free, if he might consider playing at a charity event for The Ellen Macarthur Trust! He left with a red face from too long in the sun and slightly wet, but had an amazing ride. The catamarans are a great vehicle for corporate hospitality, everyone grins and are a spectacular billboard for sponsors. Claire Locke (another IOW Ambassador) also steered one very admirably around a very busy pre Cowes Week Solent. In the morning we go joy riding with guests desperately trying to give them a thrill without giving us too much of one. In the afternoon we were racing, the rules require you to take one guest on board per race. They all got to experience the stress and chaos first hand. Since then it’s been non-stop presenting for CNN Mainsail. We’ve covered the Rolex Fastnet, TP52’s in Sardinia, interviewed the Aga Khan. (He asked about the new Squadron dock, of which he allegedly contributed). Then onto Shenzhen in China for mainland China’s first ever-big boat regatta, and have just come back from Barcelona, covering the Barcelona World Race, which is run by Cowes firm OC Group. All are very different areas of the sport, the most interesting being the rapid development of sailing in China. The event is small in numbers by our standards (70 boats), but the organisers are investing heavily by purchasing ten Beneteau 40.7’s, spending $2 million dollars on fireworks and the prize being shown live on TV for two hours. Undoubtedly there were difficulties; immigration was long and challenging as was the lack or media ribs and drivers, however you got the feeling that it would be sorted by next year. For those that can afford it the culture is very inspirational, the women were always beautifully dressed in designer wear, the cars European, the development of the marine industry for sure is on the same roll. They do however still serve chickens feet at the cocktail parties…yuck! Back in Cowes now for a while, finally in our house (which is nearly finished!), my little girl’s first word was Red Jet, which tells you something about the view. Her second was digger which tells you about the outside mud garden which seem to be continually arranged into new piles, any garden designers in the ambassadors programme………
Shirley Robertson OBE, Isle of Wight Ambassador.