After 12 years of coaching, the first lady of the Olympics, Cathy Foster from Lymington, has returned to take up the reins of her own campaign.

A helming invitation on a Yngling last year with her now bow woman Jane Norris obviously stoked the embers of her sailing passion.

After a crew split, Jane, who owned the boat, tempted Cathy and the final addition after much searching was fresh out of Cambridge University.

With a ten-year-old boat the three set about mastering the art of this little-known keelboat. They came third in their first regatta in Spain in January which spurred them on.

Foster, pictured above, said: "I was missing my sailing and I found that I was more motivated than some of those sailors I was coaching."

Very refreshingly she continued: "Top level international competition is a lot of fun to do. I love racing internationally. Suddenly I realised that I could be good again.

"Perhaps those we read about more often are so into the groove that they either don't feel that any more or just don't talk about it.

"I had the bug again when I was helming Jane's boat. Circumstances had changed which allowed me to follow my dream. It has turned my life upside down completely just doing it. There is also more choice in women's sailing now," she said, reiterating a recent comment of Lisa McDonald's.

"When I began there really weren't many. We are a diverse bunch and I really enjoy sailing with the girls."

A serious campaign without previous results hence no RYA lottery funding requires more than the two mortgages currently on the chopping block. Some enthusiastic donations have been offered including that of a new boat. However, the year's campaign will see little change out of £100,000 and they are already burning holes in pockets.

Her website www.teamcathyfoster.com has more information.