Summer 2025 “Life’s too short,” says Parki. “Let’s get organised for next year and do three or four TTs, the Nationals — and the Worlds!” “Great idea, Parki! You’re on. Let’s do it together.”

December 2025 Parki tragically and suddenly dies from a massive stroke. I am devastated.

April 2026 — TT1, Dee I’m not really ready for the season; I’m busy getting our Club ready to open.

April 2026 — TT2, Carsington I’m going — it’s not far away, either. No! It’s all gone pear-shaped at work and I have to bail out.

May 2026 — TT3, Stokes Bay Still not ready. I haven’t even seen my boat since November!

June 2026 — TT4, Stewartby I haven’t been on the water yet this year, so I’m definitely doing this one.

The weekend before, my van goes into limp mode. Aargh! On the Thursday morning I’m told it won’t be ready — the parts they fitted haven’t worked. Maybe this wasn’t meant to be. I ring my son Henry.

“Can I borrow your Land Rover for the weekend?” “Yes, of course!” (What’s he after?)

Brilliant — we’re on. But the weather is looking very gusty, and my guess is that racing will be cancelled on the Saturday. Anyway, the ace up my sleeve is my son Freddie, who’s crewing — though he’s 95kg, and I’m not the lightest helm on the entry list either.

We arrive late evening at Stewartby to a very friendly welcome, and are shown where to pitch and where to leave the boat. After some introductions, catching up with a few friends and a few shandies, we retire for the night.

Saturday morning

The wind kept me up much of the night. We rig the boat while devouring very welcome bacon sandwiches and a few coffees. I’m worried the wind is too strong for me. The race briefing is called and the race officer declares, “This is my first time — be gentle with me.” Racing is delayed; there may be a window in an hour’s time.

Race 1 One hour later, we’re nearly last onto the water — Freddie forgot his watch and I forgot my water bottle. We head out across the lake, a gust picks us up and we accelerate towards the start line. As we approach, boats are flying hulls all around us, looking for clear line bias and the favoured side of the course. The forecast is F4 gusting F7 — and it is!

Looking over my shoulder, I see a boat capsized: it’s Jonny and Matt Williams, but there’s only one person with the boat. The safety boat goes to cover them and, while we’re under starter’s orders, Matt Exon retrieves Jonny, who has become separated, and takes him back to the boat. Jonny is out for the day — too much damage. Mark, Max and Simon collide and Simon’s hull is split open; Simon is out for the weekend. Someone is screaming “Starboard!” We’re five boats down now — this is carnage. One minute to go, and I shout to Freddie, “We need to get into survival mode and stay out of trouble.”

We drop down the line towards the pin end and get a reasonable start. We manage a 4th — I’m really pleased with that, and we’re still in one piece.

Race 2 We’re more confident now and get into the mix at the start. We arrive at the windward mark in 1st place and manage to finish 3rd.

Race 3 A similar start, but we lose a few places and then claw them back. I can’t quite catch Darren on the downwind leg and we finish neck and neck — a photo finish that leaves us with 4.5 points each. The race officer is doing a great job: slightly shorter races, lasting only half an hour, create fast-paced racing, with the starting sequence for the next race beginning almost immediately.

Race 4 Again we get a reasonable start and gain places upwind, but frustratingly we lose them on every downwind leg, and so we end the day in 5th, on equal points with Darren.

After a warm shower, we’re fed and watered with a satisfyingly large portion of chilli and fresh salad, then retire to the bar for a few more shandies. We discuss how Matt managed a bullet in every race and Joe a second in every race — I think they may have a cunning plan between them! I tap everyone up and text my club mates for tips on downwind sailing.

Day 2

Double rashers in the bacon sandwiches — marvellous! The wind has eased a little overnight but is still F4 gusting F5. There are more boats out today, so we’ll have to keep an eye out for extra traffic on this short course.

Race 5 We get a poor start, so tack off straight away and — guess what? — we’re among the first boats at the windward mark. But we make an error in tacking, lose three places, and then three more downwind, finishing 7th.

Race 6 Another good start, but our starboard jib sheet comes undone, so Freddie helms while I re-tie it. Meanwhile we lose three positions, and after losing more downwind we come in 7th again. This is not going well!

Race 7 We go for a more aggressive start and then, on the first beat — incredibly — our other jib sheet comes untied! We switch to the opposite tack and re-tie it while Freddie helms for a second time. We hang on and manage to finish 2nd. Yippee! My best TT result to date — and, satisfyingly, I beat Joe Franks. COME ON RUNSWICK!

Race 8 Final race. Again we get a reasonable start and round the windward and leeward marks in 1st, but once again lose places downwind. Closing in on the finish, Joe and Amanda pip us by what I thought was an inch (Joe will claim it was eight inches, but then he always does), and we come in 4th.

It deserves only the briefest of mentions, but Matt and Jake took bullets in every single race. How do they do it?

The reckoning

Overall, it was a fantastic weekend — great hospitality, friends old and new on the circuit, and a superb run of racing. Race officer, you and your team did a great job.

Why did I leave it so long to get out on the circuit? Anyway, I’m warmed up now for our own TT at Runswick in just over a week’s time. We came away having beaten Joe in one race and pipped Darren to 4th overall — a result we were more than pleased with.

1st — Matt & Jake 2nd — Joe & Amanda 3rd — Scott Willcox

That one was for you, Parki. Gone but not forgotten.

Mick & Freddie Singleton