I grabbed some time off with Vikki and the girls during August after the Blue Mile inaugural event. We headed to La Torche (Finisterre) and then camped next to the Raz de Sein, in a great spot called Baie des Trépassés. Whilst there wasn’t a great deal of surf about, the sun shone and the girls got to play in the waves and rockpools. I was surprised at how quiet this part of Brittany is compared with further south – lovely spot. The wind blew for one day, which allowed me to kitesurf out to the Lighthouse in the Raz de Sein, the current was amazing, swirling and boiling around the point – I didn’t hang around too long in case the wind dropped!
The time away also allowed a chance to think strategically about the next few years. The Blue Project is now quite established with Teresa managing its day to day operations with the help of Paul and Vikki. The Blue Mile was a great success and all of the partners have expressed interest in building it further for 2011. Whilst the Blue Lecture Series didn’t go ahead this year, we are looking to get this off the ground and already have some great speakers interested in 2011. 
I pleased to see Pete Goss’ entry into the Route du Rhum this year, and it certainly got me thinking about this wonderful race which was my baptism into solo sailing. The race in 2002 will go in history as the event that rocked the world of the ORMA 60 fleet, when a powerful storm caused widespread damage to the fleet. I was sailing an innovative Open 40 (Syllogic), which we had just christened “Hellomoto” after an 11th hour sponsorship from Motorola. The race was the start of a wonderful journey towards the Vendee Globe in 2004/5 with Motorola, although soon after I was dismasted in the Bay of Biscay early in the race, it was not the start that I had hoped for….more about this little adventure can be read here… http://www.conradhumphreys.com/racing/conradhumphreys_journey_routederhum_2002.html
I will be heading down-under for my 5th Sydney Hobart at the end of the year and will be putting together a new project for 2011, looking towards the 2012 Artemis Transat.
Best Conrad
