I've touched on the parties this week which have been a superb effort by BMW and their Co-sponsors, but I have to start today with the Party on Wednesday. At most "do's" some yachties occasionally have something they don't like, or at worst something to complain about. Circulating around on Wednesday night I only heard lavish praise from everyone on The Four Seasons venue hosted by Malaysian Airlines. For me it was faultless and an 'experience' I will never forget.

On arrival, a chatty group of us were led through various interesting courtyards until we reached the long rectangular pool with the viewing platform at the end-it was stunning. So much so that our momentarily stunned group fell silent and turned the moment into a photo opportunity, speaking quietly and simply taking in the moment.

What did you think of the food? I was reminded of those ridiculous food reviews one occasionally reads and finally managed to forget all the superlatives popping up in my head. The Four Seasons doesn't need them. On the menu was English 'Sunday Lunch', superb Italian Pasta and of course Malaysian cuisine to go with the music. I enjoyed my party game of trying to work out how to eat the mini glass tiramisu deserts. At first I thought maybe they were a mini drink. Then I used a spoon and finally decided the best way was to empty the contents onto a plate.

I was so affected by this place that I went back to the Four Seasons to get some pictures and more info. A firm of architectural hotel designers from Thailand called Bunnag were involved with the lay-out and a chap called Bill Bensley advised on the interior design. Charles, the manager, explained to me that their aim is to make The Four Seasons simply the best luxury resort in the world. He stops for a moment and I'm disarmed until I realise that he has said this with utter conviction and confidence, and waits completely relaxed as if for a challenge to his creed. It's not long before I find out why he can say this and why I cannot make any comparison with any hotel or resort that I've ever seen.

I'd met Tom, one of the hotel staff, at the party the night before when a group of yachties had threatened to steal the buggy and drive it back to the reception as they were ready to leave. Tom had intervened and gently insisted that he drive and I joined the group simply for a tour. We took off much as Toad from Toad Hall did on his crazy drive around London town with us all hanging from the buggy. On my return to the resort I was stunned that Tom the driver remembered my name from the night before. That's one of the first things I noticed about this place - the staff are attentive and interested in you, the guest, and it's genuine.

Tom now takes me on the rest of the tour that I didn't manage to do last night. He takes me to the main pool. We glide along the cobbled pathways to an open court-yard area and he beckons me to walk on. Before me are two large Olympian-style real flame torches between a flight of gradually narrowing steps, which also seem to beckon me to walk up. As I reach the top of the steps and look up I cannot initially tell where the marble floor ends, the pool starts and the sea begins. The open area to this Greek style pool has several high walled private pavilions, in rows either side, for two persons and each has an Olympian style real flame torch, giving secluded views across the beach to the sea and into the sky. I arrived about an hour before sunset. It truly took my breath away.

I needed the motorcycle drive over to Pantai Cenang beach just to get back to some sense of reality and to meet up with other yachties for a lay day impromptu meeting at the Reggae Bar. I was asked again to crew on Pytheas Aura and also press-ganged two Australian girls to join us as we were under crewed. This morning Amanda and Sue arrived on time and joined Rienhard, myself and Philippe on one of the more challenging days of the week in strong winds and choppy seas. Later the baby-stay broke from its welded mounting on the foredeck allowing us only one race today.

See you at the party tonight!