Boxing Day Yacht Race

Having spent most Christmases in North Wales over my lifetime, I have to admit that I have never made it into Denbigh for the Boxing Day barrel race. A combination of inertia and an early start has always conspired together, causing me to miss this iconic event. The Sydney to Hobart yacht race was almost bypassed me in a similar fashion, except for a dreary forecast putting us off a trip to the Blue Mountains.

We headed of to North Head with the crowds, and amazingly bumped into a fellow medic from Bristol. Hello Jez!

We spent a lot of time agonising over the best view point and surging ever forward for the perfect spot. In the end we gave up, and I used Evan as an excuse to squeeze to the front of the crowds, balanced on the clifftop viewing platform.

There were literally hundreds of boats in the harbour, and the numerous helicopters buzzing around overhead, all adding to the excitement. I didn't fancy being in one of the small kayaks, it seemed a high risk way of watching the event.