This being a European Qualifying event meant it was very busy, and had sold out both in the sprint and standard distances.

Registration was either Saturday late afternoon or very early Sunday morning (5am) the guys at Raw Energy Pursuit have this down to a very fine art and it really does not take long to get sorted. They were super helpful to me letting my better half register me on Saturday while I was working so I didn't have an even earlier start then i did.

Sunday the weather was shell we say challenging, the tide and swell added to the dramatic back drop of dark clouds and flying gazebo's.

This really is a well organised event with a change this year to a wave start rather then the normal mass starts due to the number of people taking place. Marshalls had us ready for a few minutes acclimatisation to the water as soon as the previous wave was of. Certainly the 3 waives before mine and the waive I was in went of dead on time.

The sea was not nice to us that day, but there were plenty of kayaks and a safety boat out making sure everyone was OK.

The bike leg was a long drag out no major hills but enough to get you working on the way out. The course was well sign posted and marshalled. On the turn around you where hit with the head wind straight off the sea. Had the weather not been so challenging it would have been a really fast return back to transition, but at times the wind felt like it was blowing you backwards.

The run is mostly flat along the prom but with 3 loops which included some grass sections. Not the most exciting of run courses but it was fast, even with the wind trying to blow you over.

Once again the marshals were great, and I truly thank them for staying out in the wind and torrential rain.

Transition was well laid out and easy to get in and out of.

Its not the most picturesque of courses but hey who has time to look at what's around them!