It is summer in the southern hemisphere. In fact, tomorrow is the summer solstice. I’m not planning to attend any particular ceremonies, sacrifices or druid knees-ups but I am planning to sail as much as I can during a break from matters of great pith and moment.

This year I have a new objective: prove to myself that I can sail singlehanded. This does not mean that I have to tie one hand behind my back but rather that I leave the dock with no-one else on board. Boat handling when single-handed has its challenges. This should be exhilarating. Or frightening. Or something of a disaster. Or, it may be successful. I haven’t left shore alone on a boat since my salad days in a dinghy. These days, I’m sailing the following (former) ocean racer:

Should be interesting.