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View From The Chair

edition diluted the comments of our misinformed surveyor by including a
second opinion from another surveyor. There was an example of much
better journalism in PBO in July 2020 when they ran an article on lifting keel
yachts and highlighted the excellent “British” example of the Southerly 28.

With the recent announcements relating to vaccines, there is of course
plenty to be hopeful about. I have managed to nearly get to the end of this
“View” and have avoided using both the C words, Covid and Christmas. I
will be spending Christmas in the UK for the first time in 4 years as it would
not be prudent to travel to Africa to be with my daughter, and I will
celebrate New Years Eve this year with some gusto. Black humour
abounded in 2020, but the idea that I enjoyed most was that staying up to
midnight on New Years Eve was a good idea, not to welcome in 2021, but
to make sure that we see the back of 2020 !
So Fair Winds and Good Tides to you all for 2021.

Nigel Campling
SOA Chairman

Vendee Globe facts and stuff

The Vendée Globe is the only sailing race round the world that’s
solo, non-stop, and without assistance, and it is all systems go
for the 9th edition on November 8, 2020. Beginning in 1989 with
13 entries, the start line on November 8th has 33 skippers set to
take off from Les Sables d’Olonne, France.

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