The America's Cup is boring brilliant!

After the America's Cup World Series (ACWS) I had that familiar feeling of any sailor from the UK following the oldest sailing competition: disappointment. Yet again our entry was slow, losing every single race.

But recently things have changed and the score in the Prada Cup is currently:

I have been waking up and checking the interwebs for news and twice now been mind-blown by seeing the results. Then I stream the America's Cup YouTube videos of the races while waking up over a cup or two of coffee.

But I also remember this is just the beginning, and the other teams are also working equally hard to improve their performance. So don't get excited yet but enjoy the screenshots above.

BTW, for the commentators, a tip and plea: please remember that England is not the UK or Britain and not to confuse these terms! This is a rather sensitive point at the moment given that Brexit has put up trade barriers between Britain (which is England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland (which together with Britain makes the United Kingdom) and that the Nats in Scotland are always looking for excuses to feel angry with those south of the border.

Update: Today definitely wasn't boring. Hope American Magic are soon back in the water:

What are your 2021 Sailing Fantasies?

Not those sorts of fantasies! Doh! Go have a cold shower!

What I meant were holidays, vacations, escapes from the endless lock-down and Covid-19 restriction. In London we are in Tier 4 (complex, basically Stay-At-Home) and due to enter even more lockdown (really Stay-At-Home) so all that is left is dreaming.

But where would I go if there were no restrictions? Well three ideas come to mind:

1. Head North

As you might have spotted, I have the high-latitude bug and its intoxicating. Clear air and skies, stunning wildlife and scenery that is totally off the beaten tracks, like the photo above. Can't wait to go back.

2. Somewhere Photogenic

Another hobby of mine is photography and it would be great to combine this with sailing. I hear great things about the Lofoten Islands in Norway, but there are so many other places I'd like to visit.

3. Somewhere Warm

It is currently freezing in London and even though I'm a "head north" type, there a lot to be said for heading south until the butter melts. I once saw an article in Yachting World which had this image of a yacht sailing in Bora Bora and it seemed to be the stuff of dreams, clear blue seas and warming sun:

But of course that yacht is way outside my price bracket and there's no currently chance to leave London let along fly half way round the world. 

Sigh.

Time to be patient and wait for my turn to get the vaccine. Until then will just dream of better days while watching YouTube sailing channels:

What would be your sailing fantasies?