SUMMER IS ON ITS WAY

For the first year since 2019, there is a sense that this summer might be something to look forward to without complication. That’s a pretty brave statement in the face of global conflict, the dying embers of a pandemic that might reignite at any moment and a cost of living crisis that is impoverishing everyone. But when the days get longer and the flowers start appearing everywhere, in northern Europe at least, the sense of hope and optimism is nothing short of a miracle – albeit one that happens every year. In Britain at least, I think we can afford to be optimistic – not with any sense of trust in how summer will be, meteorologically, but simply because we know our way around disappointment so well that we are confident we can take the fall if it comes, with little more than a quiet “oh well...” And even at its worst, summer means holidays, travel, adventure, bare feet on decks and grass... We publish our annual events guide in this issue. I wonder... are you racing this summer? Or cruising? Or both? Whichever it is, let’s pray for sunny, breezy days. We’ve all earned a cracking summer this year.