A day out on the Royal Yacht ‘Bloodhound’
Life as a broker sometimes opens up opportunities that more than make up for the days spent in the office. In summer 2007 I was lucky enough to be invited on Royal Yacht ‘Bloodhound’ for the first sea trial after her complete rebuild. Lying in Poole quay on the UK South Coast, ‘Bloodhound’ was looking absolutely stunning sitting amongst a number of new Sunseeker motor yachts.
There is no doubt ‘Bloodhound’ was the star of the show as she outshone millions of pounds worth of motor yacht. The weather conditions were perfect with a gentle breeze and bright sunshine, we set off down Poole harbour and out to sea for her first sail since she returned to the UK from the Channel Isles in a storm five years earlier.
This yacht is absolutely beautiful and a joy to sail, as soon as the sails were up she powered up majestically and showed us why she is feared by all the competitors she has sailed against in the past. My favourite moments of this amazing sail were the time I spent helming her, especially on the way back up Poole harbour in a rising breeze when we held over ten knots for a considerable time. The picture is of me at the helm, taken by one of the many members of the press. Simon Walworth February 2008
