Cowes week coming up - Dee Caffari

A damp, windy and bleak day greeted me early on Wednesday morning as I arrived at Howth Yacht Club in Dublin, Ireland. A worried looking group of Brokers and clients for Aviva had gathered around a salty sea dog in the form of Liam Lalore. He was to be our skipper for the day onboard Arctic Fox, a Bavaria 38. Fred McCollum had prepared breakfast and instructed his crew to look after us. The forecast was not great and the gusts in excess of thirty knots were whistling through the marina.

Off we set and Fred and Liam did a fantastic job. I chatted to the guests and told stories of similar conditions sailing alone while the guys sailed us safely around the Bay.

My afternoon was spent at the Hibernian Offices talking to staff. It was exciting to visit and see another Aviva Office. Twenty-four hours later the conditions couldn't have been more different as Aviva and Ecover sailed side by side up the Solent for joint photo opportunity. With Cowes week coming up I hope we have some wind but the sun will continue to shine. I can live in hope!