Lutine started well, mid-fleet and with the Spinnaker up in approximately 20 knots of breeze. Due to the navigating prowess of Graham Spark and Peter Davison, we found ourselves overtaking those yachts who had opted fir a better wind angle over the flooding tide. Averaging speeds of 8.5 knots, Lutine set her course out of the Solent.

Navigation again proved to be key when 25 nm later, we rounded the Owners Light Buoy (smartly!) to set off to the Rustington Mark. At this point, a jibe had to take place - we waited for a lull in the increasing breeze before taking the opportunity to jibe the spinnaker. However, a couple of strong gusts came through and the spinnaker backed onto the pole, causing a rip at the foot. Spinnaker down, the number 1 Genoa up, and Rustington was soon rounded as we hardened up towards our destination, Dieppe.

With the weather helm increasing as the wind speeds increased to a steady 25 knots, we decided to put a reef into the mainsail as the watch system kicked in, with Peters watch disappearing for a nap whilst Kevin's watch took over.

Californian surfing style, Sue Davison was the first to take Lutine to 16.2 knots, and soon became known as our downwind sailing expert! Not to be out done, Peter Young followed suit soon after. A minor altercation with a fellow competitor who, having been held for a good three hours decided to change course and luffed us, the decision was made to give way.

At the finish line, we beat him within a minute and forced him to miss the line - we crossed at 20:52:30, thereby completing our race across the channel in just under 13 hours.

A late supper, then we were all to bed, so as to ensure that we could at least enjoy a little bit of Dieppe before heading back to the UK on Sunday lunchtime, for a very pleasant sail home.

Lutine race details: Crew - Peter Young, Kevin Milligan, Jan Karwoski, Geoff Cowling, Peter, Sue and Edward Davison, Isy Peterkin, Liz Lotz, Malclom Harvey and Graham Spark

Lutine raced in Class One, Crossed the line at 20:52:30, Elapsed time of 12:42:30, Handicap of 1.097 giving a corrected time of 13:56:28 11