I went to Cowes on Wednesday to watch boats racing in Cowes Week. There was loads going on and getting around was pretty easy. Pavements are smooth, pontoons are ramped, distances not too great. I first went as a wheelie two years ago on a solo day trip from the Spinal Unit. I'd caught a bus to the station, train, bus to port, ferry to East Cowes, a long push to West Cowes to watch the racing, then a combination of fast ferry, bus and train to return to the hospital. It was a long day and as I wandered round this time, I felt real pride that I'd managed it when newly injured. Driving to the ferry terminal this year felt a bit like cheating.
The weather was mild. Good for me but not for the racers who struggled in the windless conditions until afternoon squalls arrived and increased the drama. I was thrilled to see an Artemis 20, a new high-performance dinghy designed for racing by disabled and non-disabled sailors alike. They looked fabulously exciting. If I ever have a spare £20,000 I'll be buying one.
