Remarkable speeds under sail and power are always the vogue, but they do little if anything to aid the causes of seamanship, safety at sea and reliability as applied to normal pleasure and commerce on the waterways.

Back in the days of the Original Oil Crisis I was involved in the design and construction of a sailing cargo ship. She did a programme of round voyages between the UK and the Caribbean Islands with general cargo. The exercise proved that a profit could be made. Design started on a larger vessel the oil crisis immediately disappeared! I still have the drawings.

The technical skills and seagoing experience of the racers are of great value and would be inspiring if brought together on a theme of Speed Seaworthiness and Ecology - Power and Sail. Personally I am all for a 10kt speed limit in the Western Solent!