The wind is filling the sails and we beat away with the fleet behind us. Closest to us is a multihull, possibly Richard Tudors boat. More sails appear behind us and before long the whole race fleet seems to be tacking across the Sound of Mull.

Fortunately we don't race against the multihulls, only boats in our own class. The multi's start to outpace us and the crew begin to settle to their tasks. Ian feels that Stormcruiser could or should be doing better. I can't remember how the discussion ended but Mike starts to wind up the backstay. Not easy when the mast is under tension from the sails and 25 knots of wind! Little by little the adjustment is applied and we pick up extra speed.

Salen is the landing point for all the runners, the whole fleet will pass through this tiny harbour and then vanish back down the sound of Mull to turn south to Jura. First comes the formidable run up Ben More. Craig and Brian are given a thirty minute warning that we are closing on Mull. The activity intensifies, the dinghy is inflated, Ian steers Stromcruiser in with his eyes on the chart, the depthsounder and everything else that requires his attention.

I try and keep out of everyones way as we execute several jobs at once. Mike attends the sails, Scott drops the dinghy over the side, the runners pop up from below decks and we avoid other boats already moored or manoevering. As Scott gets into the dinghy the painter is whipped from his grasp. Stormcruiser is still travelling fast and he couldn't hold her. Ian executes a dainty turn, pulls us back to the dinghy and the runners get in as if it was planned to happen that way.

Runners from a school youth team clamber back after running Ben More.

We watch the runners head off along the track as we seek a mooring. Boats arrive at regular intervals and dinghy transfers are taking place all around us. Slowly the boats settle and the kettles are boiled for the first brews of the race. Things are never dull and we hear shouts, quickly becoming more strident. A yacht is dragging it's anchor and performing circles amongst the packed moorings. No one appears on deck and a collision is coming. A head shows itself on the rogue boat and someone dives for the throttle. The crew had gone below and left the engine running and in gear.

We settle back to enjoy the view and I get a few minutes below. I had done my first stint of cooking and I felt that I was going to be ill. Unusual for me to feel off colour, a short break has me A1 again and I get some hot food. The evening weather is perfect but the wind is dropping and changing direction, no matter, it will be the same for everyone.

As the crew sort out the boat for the next leg it becomes apparent that our runners are a little overdue. We can see Scott near the race marshalls caravan, he seems to have been there a long time. Runners from other boats arrive back and their boats set sail. They look beautiful in the evening sunlight but we are becoming concerned about the whereabouts of our runners. As they arrive back we have moved down the fleet and Ian is keen to set sail and start the chase.

Craig struggles to get over the safety rail as his legs cramp up, he hangs on the rail for seconds then gets aboard. The boys flew up Ben More, getting shouts of encouragement from other runners. On the way down Craig got hit by cramp, as did many others, and made the best time he could back to the boat. We can see other boats way ahead of us down the Sound of Mull. "No problem" said Ian, "we'll see them all at Luing".

The team is pleased to be sponsored by Aztec Camping and have also received support from Victorinox, Recta and Maglite.