As we start a new year it is always exciting to look ahead at what's to come, and 2014 is shaping up to be an absolute belter, writes Henry Bomby.

The recent announcement that 'La Solitaire du Figaro', an event which has quite literally taken over the last three years of my life, is coming to Plymouth is amazing for the area and for me personally.

When I was at school I used to race in Plymouth every weekend during the winter, initially crewing a J80, then racing my Laser and then eventually we used it as a winter training for our J80 youth team 'Team Baltic' before going off and competing in international regattas in the summer.

Rockfish, my main sponsor last year, also has its biggest restaurant here right on Sutton Harbour where the boats will be moored between June 10 and 15.

After the Rolex Fastnet race this year both Rockfish and I received a huge amount of local support, which was absolutely amazing, and I am sure we can expect the same thing again next summer.

30,000 people are expected to descend on the Barbican and the race village in Plymouth to look at the boats and listen to the live music, it really is going to be a party atmosphere, which unfortunately for us sailors we will not be able to partake in.

For us salty dogs, it will simply be a case of getting as much sleep, food and recovery in as possible before leg two starts on Sunday, June 15, 2014, with over 500 nautical miles of racing from Plymouth to Roscoff via Fastnet Rock off Ireland.

It is the first time since 2004 that the race has come to the UK and the first time ever Plymouth has hosted a stopover.

Hopefully having the race come so close to home I will be able to swing some home advantage my way like our Olympians did back in London.

At the moment I am currently in the process of speaking to all my old sponsors as well as chatting up new ones where possible. I am delighted to say that this is going very well.

Of my family of sponsors from 2013, five are signed up and are coming back next year, (announcements will be made soon) and there are currently two new sponsors coming along for the ride in 2014 too.

The fact the race is coming to Plymouth is definitely a big plus for my sponsors so hopefully funding will come easier this year than last year, where I found the money to buy new sails just two weeks before the start.

I am over half way to completing my £50,000 budget for next year, so still lots of work to do and still a title sponsor to find, but progress so far has been very encouraging, as well as humbling too with the amount of support and passion towards my campaign that I have received.

The big move back to France will happen on January 5, where it will be all go towards La Solitaire du Figaro 2014 which starts just five months later.

I am itching to get back into it.

Back to speaking non-stop Franglais once more, moving back into our lovely gite and getting back into full time training again with a 100 per cent focus on all things Figaro.

I was fortunate enough to be accepted back into Port la Foret for 2014, which is absolutely fantastic news.

I feel really lucky to have the opportunity again to work alongside the Frenchies, who are the undeniable experts in the shorthanded offshore racing game I play.

Nelson, I am sure, would never have approved of such a close coalition, but I will be living and training with fellow Englishman and South West Figarist Sam Goodchild, so I should be able to keep a bit of my sanity and not turn completely frog this winter.

Happy New Year to you all and here's to a great 2014.