Boats shouldn't wear grass skirts.....

Last Tuesday I gave a talk to Stafford Coastal Cruising Club about my experiences during various Round The Island Races. Thus far, all my skippering experience in this event has been on chartered boats. One charter operator I used for a while was very honest and helpful when I made clear my concern that the hull should be clean in preparation for the race. This year, however, we used a different operator who also assured me that the boat's hull would be clean. On hand-over it became clear that it wasn't. The official on hand at the time 'didn't know anything about sailing boats'; apparently he was a 'motor boat' man, and was there just to do the paper work for hand over. Anyway, to cut a long story short we made do with the boat as it was, with its little grass skirt growing around the hull at the water line. It wasn't as bad as the boat shown below, which featured in my talk at the club, but it wasn't good either.

Needless to say, we didn't win the race in 2014! Next time might just be in our own boat, properly prepared and with all the right kit. Should be an easy win then, don't you think?