Petra Kopp

I was a latecomer to sailing - joined a charter with friends in Croatia about 15 years ago, then one in Spain... and loved it. I thought dinghy sailing would be a good way to learn more, so joined a course run by Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club at Piddinghoe pond :-)

I fairly soon started racing, not dinghies but on a 32 foot Beneteau. Then joined a syndicate of four sharing a Squib - lovely boat to learn in! For some years I also had a share in a boat in the Caribbean and spent several weeks each year hanging out in the Windward Islands.

More recently I joined Brighton Marina Yacht Club and have been racing there on Sundays. Then I discovered Brighton Belle and became a member in late 2016. During 2017 I did several trips on BB and had a fabulous time - on Tenerife, La Palma and La Gomera; sailing 500nm from Madeira to the Azores; a week's 'pontoon bashing' in the Solent; and a great week sailing from Brighton to Amsterdam.

I love being part of BBSC. Apart from the sailing, I really enjoy pottering around on BB and doing those bits of maintenance that I am capable of doing... I love learning new things, and there's always something new to learn on BB.