i had my first race for 11 years today and I didnt die!! The fools had put me at 7 in a veterans 8, so I actually had to concentrate rather than being in the 4/5/6 seat and disengaging brain - i'm not sure they'll make that mistake again.
There was a horrible headwind which kept the rating down to 32/34 and it was on the river in cambridge which I know better than my own garden, so I could pace myself fairly well and didnt blow up half way. And, to cap it off, I think we might have won our category... ( there were only 3 boats in it, but a win's a win!!)