Variety is the Spice of Life

One of the things which I love about my job is the variety. Over the past few years the variety has been slightly lacking as I have exclusively focused on racing. It is no great secret that by the end of last season I was burnt out with the desperate need to tweak my routine slightly.

It is very easy in anyone’s career to slip into a rut and plod along year in year out, finding security in our daily routine that does not vary sufficiently to inspire and enrich our lives. At the end of last season I recognised that things needed to change and I identified introducing variety into my life, (socially, career wise and sporting) as the special ingredient.

The Open 60 project at the tail end of last season now seems like a distant memory. What it did do though is provide me with the foundation to re structure my lifestyle in a very positive way. Sailing with Steve White on the Spirit of Weymouth inspired me and made me realise how much more there is to life and sailing than just following my annual routine, which was starting to loose the glamour, motivation, fun and fulfilment that it had previously provided.

A few weeks ago I was in Barcelona with a friend enjoying a working holiday commissioning a new yacht, over Easter (instead of competing in the Red Funnel Regatta) I was instructing a Coastal Skipper course for previous clients who had all become good friends. Another week and I was in North France to collect and deliver a catamaran back to Hamble, the yacht had been wrecked a few weeks before, sunk, been salvaged and had subsequently received a temporary repair which would hopefully get her home safely. Albeit without any electrics, gas, cushions, bunks…….!! Every weekend between I was out training and racing with my new Spring Series team, most importantly, I once again loved every minute of it.

This week is providing me with a very special experience. A few years ago an old friend of mine, my cabin mate from when I sailed around the world in 1996, bought the lighthouse on Neist Point on the Isle of Skye. I have planned to visit Jane for the last couple of years but never found the time to do so preferring to blame work commitments and a busy lifestyle. A wonderful opportunity came up recently when Sailing Logic asked to provide a Volvo 60 for a TV commercial to advertise the new Volvo XC90; the location…..Dunvegen, Isle of Skye! I obviously jumped at the opportunity to be involved. How exciting.

Driving out of Glasgow reminded me of the TV advert for Peugeot. The one where the driver wanted to get to Glasgow but at every junction the all knowing and highly accurate Peugeot GPS system would send the driver in the opposite direction to every sign post for Glasgow. Very confused the driver reluctantly trusted the in car system. After a while the Peugeot went around a final bend and stopped to admire the most amazing view overlooking the Lomand National Park. The GPS’s final words were ‘now enjoy.’ The driver admiringly looked at the long winding road that could be seen for miles before disappearing into the mountains.

Now it was my turn to enjoy this most amazing country side. I kept thinking ‘this is amazing’ and as I progressed further North to one of the remotest places in Britain it just continued to get better. The scenery up here is nothing short of breathtaking and my excitement continued to grow as Neist Point Light House gradually drew closer.

After a six hour drive it sunk in just how remote Jane’s home really is. I parked the car at the top of Jane’s drive situated on top of a headland in one of Scotland’s most remote outposts. Next was the long walk of the garden path; a cliff path that provided a fifteen minute walk to Janes’s front door.

I was greeted by a beaming friend at the front gate with a warm and welcomed hug closely followed by a chilled glass of bubbly looking out toward Barra, perched at the bottom of a lighthouse. A new experience for me made better by the seasons first sighting of a pod of Minke whales as they surfaced under the cliffs of Jane’s home, a very special moment.

Sadly, I had to depart before the sunset (that will have to wait for another day) to attend the production meeting for the next day’s filming. Then back to the lighthouse for a glass of Talisker and a bit of a catch up before bed, the alarm clock set for 4am to get me to the boat by 5am. The next day is going to be yet another experience; I am going to be a film star! More about that tomorrow!