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We have recently returned from Europe where during last month we managed to fit in an amazing amount of sailing in both Palma Mallorca and Hyere's (near Toulon) in the south of France.

We started in Palma with a training camp organised by the Royal Yachting Association, as an early season warm up session for all the squad members in the respective Olympic classes. We had a varied week's sailing in all weather conditions. This was great to test the boat with the new rig (bigger mainsail, jib and the addition of a spinnaker and twin trapeze).

The training camp led well into the Princess Sofia Olympic classes regatta which was contested the following week in the same location and we had a good showing. Starting the series well by winning the first race, we sailed well finishing fourth, with some excellent individual race results a pleasing result for the team.

Then on for a weeks more training at the venue of the next regatta Hyere's, we encountered a week of very strong winds. This helped us to iron out a few of the boat handling issues with sailing the new rig Tornado, and also do some equipment development.



When it came to the regatta we seemed to have run out of luck for the week of the regatta, with a huge pitch pole, a broken tiller, a broken bowsprit and an OCS. All in all not helping our score line much, even though we had a number of results in the top 6 in other races. Overall finishing position of 14th.

We gained from the regatta as we used it as an opportunity to test new equipment and learn more about the rig. All invaluable for our preparations for the months to come and our preparations for the European championships in August.

Now back home we have been training in Weymouth preparing for the next Olympic classes regatta which will be at the end of this month in Holland, called SPA regatta.

All the best from Team Styles and May, looking forward to keeping you posted on the latest developments.