The 11th May 08 saw Paulene and I quickly leaving the Sunday service for our small sailing boat 'PennCirrus' to see 'The Artemis Transat.'
I had looked on the internet and found the start time of the four yearly transatlantic solo sailing race. The boats were to leave Sutton harbour at 10:00hrs and parade past The Hoe and out to the start area. There was a prohibited area for the start, which was at 14:00hrs by a gun from the type 23 Frigate which was at one end of the line. Paulene packed a large coolbag with a picnic and we were on the water by 12:00hrs.
 

I chose to use the engine, as I had been out in such an event before, when I found keeping a good lookout to sail the boat meant that it was hard to watch the event. We passed 'Cloudberry' and saw some more of our TMSC club members who were also out to see the event.

full of spectators.  She even had Jamie Watts up the mast. Out past Plymouth breakwater there were boats with very large sails and squareish tops to them. This was The Artemis Transat Fleet. Most conspicuous were the 60's as they dominated all but HMS Argyll, a 436ft frigate of the Type 23 Duke Class and 'The Earl of Pembroke' a square rigged boat over on the Eastern side of the breakwater. There were also the 40's fleet. Each racing boat was accompanied by RIB's and boats filled with supporters and sponsors. We all had a super afternoon viewing this spectacle.

We had planned to meet up with Samantha and Mark in their speed boat,
a large open outboard motor boat, with a big new stainless steel 'A' frame. Paulene was concerned that we would never find them in this multitude of boats afloat. I saw a motor boat near Penlee Point with a flash of metal above and set off to see and as we approached, Paulene waved madly and we were pleased to find them. I had flown two large flags : the cruising Mosquito flag and a pirate flag the skull & crossbones from our mast, so they could find us again now.

The Roscoff ferry mv Pont-Aven came. It looked as though it would have to creep in among the fleet of boats but it came through the main channel, between Penlee Point and the breakwater, which was not so crowded with boats as the race fleet was to start south of the breakwater.

By 13:30hrs all around us, the racing boats slowly went up and down. We had a splendid view to take photos.

Coming up to the start time, you could not see a space for the fleet of racing boats to sail through. The port control broadcast on VHF radio for boats to keep clear of the prohibited area, but the police boats had to put on their blue lights and sirens, and slowly there seemed to be less spectator boats in the way of the start line. We had stayed upwind and quite far out, so when the start gun went we saw the racing boats, in a tight bunch, head out towards the Eddystone Lighthouse ; the first mark on the course to America.

Paulene wanted to see the three masted square rigged boat ' The Earl of Pembroke ' so we motored across, behind the boats accompanying the racing fleet. The water was wild with the wake of a multitude of boats trying to keep up with the fleet. We saw one of the lady helms on a racing 60's go forward to the front sails, she must have been on autohelm, and heaven help any one getting in the way! The Earl of Pembroke had her sails set and the side of the boat was filled with spectators, as they viewed the fleet heading out to sea with the multitude of boats and a number of helicopters over head. We took some photos and as we headed back to Penlee Point, a mist developed over the horizon towards Eddystone lighthouse.