Just an amazing film and thanks to Kim Leachman for it. We were running just behind them and to the right down Southampton Water when this accident happened. They were very lucky to get out alive.
On that day, Ben, his wife Miarka, and back then their very young daughter Amanda and I were all on a boat watching the race, and after the finish the owner and I set off the long way round to Shepperton on the boat (270 miles).
I remember the day well... Young Amanda was horribly sea sick
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"I Agree with everything you say really!" - John Cooke to Jon Fuller - 26-01-2013
Rounding out the contingent that day were Angela, Linden (the boat owner), his wife Cecily, their very very young daughter Sapphire and Lotta, Amanda's Swedish au pair.
I have most of the race on video tape including the aftermath of the incident when Unipart was being towed in. Also some very up close and personal shots of the raceboats as we were very close to the racing line. I'm sure that 'Plant and Tools' was no farther than 10 feet away and Macavity and Clarke International passed within 20 feet.
I always liked Linden's Flipper 909. Wouldn't mind having it now.
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I thought that having more patience was a result of my getting older. Turns out that I just don't give a sh*t.
That race was actually bloody dangerous. So many boats on the start line at the top of Southampton Water and I do remember looking ahead before the accident and seeing an armada of yachts coming out of the Hamble across our run line and wondering how the hell we were going to get through them at high speed - but we did. The Yachties were not pleased!
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I had a look at my old video earlier today. 22 Class I, II and Cruiser Class boats in the first start and 25 plus Class III in the second. It was very crowded out there with spectator boats, yachts and all manner of craft throughout Southampton Water.
What was also interesting was that Southampton Docks were open to the public for race viewing. It was a very different world then.
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I thought that having more patience was a result of my getting older. Turns out that I just don't give a sh*t.