It was midmorning in brilliant sunshine and high winds as I boarded a large ferry in the port of Toulon to watch the departure of the Voile de Légende. Disappointed at first with the choice of chase boat it soon became obvious that a smaller vessel would have led to some serious accidents, let alone keep up with the fleet. Despite the size of the ferry It was difficult to move around, there were TV crews everywhere blocking doorways trying to anchor themselves and their equipment, against the movement of the large swell that surrounded us. The world and his wife were onboard, media included, and the organisers had supplied them all with a packed lunch. Fortunately most of the spectators seemed content to occupy a seat and watch from the comfort of the saloon, but as there were ships making sail from port to starboard I tried to gain a different perspective, with the entrenched camera crews forcing me to change decks as I tried to pass from one side of the ship to the other. It wasn’t a spectacle to be missed. You just have to love the French, they know how to organise a party!
