With water boiling around the stern and anxiety giving way to grins on the faces of all the engineers (somehow it is never possible to get used to such a brutal manoeuvre which may one day be needed in an emergency) the tests are complete and the engines signed off.

The operations manual for the yacht is an impressive and important publication. A large sailing yacht has many systems on board; each one has its manufacturer's instruction book, a parts list and the builder's installation notes. There are 25 thick volumes in the complete manual, covering everything from the dishwasher to the masthead light. Normally three sets are produced; one to live on board, one for the owner's office ashore, and one kept at the builder's yard for reference against any inquires during the life of the yacht. Additional copies of the operations manual may be put on to floppy disc for the yacht's computer, giving faster access and easier updating if and when modifications are made to the yacht.

It is a real thrill to be able to set sail for the first time on a new yacht. With Whirlwind XII, the 103 footer built for Noel Lister in 1986, after initial trials of engines and sailing systems, we even broke out the spinnaker within a few hours of first hoisting sail. I had been in some doubt as to the need or indeed advisability of providing a spinnaker on a single masted yacht of this size, whose masthead was over 125 feet above the deck. However, we had designed the rig and Marquip had arranged all the necessary equipment to allow for a spinnaker at a later date after further experience of handling the boat. But Noel Lister, an experienced racing yachtsman, had gone ahead and ordered the sail.