Ht 5 & 6 - wow

Well it blew today - the NW 15-21k breeze, with gusts to 33k!!
If you don't believe me - check out the observations at http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDT60901/IDT60901.94970.shtml

I finished both races. Ht 5 - the gusts were hard and very long - I am now determined to find outthe definition of "a gust", Ht 6 the wind eased and the last windward return was nice.
After 6 races I am placed 35th overall, that is with one drop - so far all my drops are actual races!!!
Lay day tomorrow.

Here are some pics of the boat - I have my clothing lined up along the boom - in ordewr of puting the items on ... skins (leggings), thermal jumper, thermal sailing top, hiking pants, lycra hiking pant outer, Suzi Quatro sailing top, beannie, Qld penny (out of shot are bouyancy vest and boots

Link to results on Sabre website

http://www.sabre.org.au/tasmania/200910SabreNationalsinHobart.html

This link gives full results for Races 1, 2 & 3.
Forecast for today remains NW-W, 15-25k. It will be a busy day on the water.
S

Races 3 & 4

SE breeze came in at about 12.30pm and stayed for the afternoon. Initially it was 12-15k but then by race 3 it has eased back to 5-8k.

Results for women in race 4 are subject to protest due to a large number of boats between 20th and 35th finishing in very close proximity.

I went to Bellerive Oval this evening to watch Tas vs NSW Twenty20 cricket. Tassie lost. The oval is smaller than Canberra Stadium! I was surprised. But it is a lovely location alongside Bellerive Beach.

Found a pizza/pasta shop to get some food after the cricket - only had a couple of oysters and a sausage at the yacht club beforehand - felt like I needed some carbs - so I ate half a meal of spaghetti and vegetables, I have the other half in the fridge for tomorrow night.

Forecast for Hobart tomorrow is 35, becoming windy!! Boating weather is for winds N-NW during the morning and increasing to 15 to 25 knots, before a westerly change at 10 to 20 knots Thursday at night. Stronger gusts possible during the afternoon and evening!!!

I have slightly straightened the mast - will review weather tomorrow. Plan is to have it back to original straight position and rig with some slack so she lays over and I get better boom vang tension into the mast - that's the plan - but I will review in the morning.

S

Day 1 - Ht 1 & 2

We left shore at 1.00pm to be out there for the 2.0pm scheduled start - the fresh morning NW faded as we went out, and we bobbed around for quite some time waiting for the seabreeze to come in. Eventually is bit cam =e from the south, then faded, then whammo - in she came - I thought it was a southerly change - but the locals say it was the sea breeze. The Hobart observations on BOM don't seem to tally with on the water - BOM says 15-22k, but it seemedlike HEAPS more.

We had a fre general recalls and an abandoned start - seems to be the pattern for Race 1 of Sabre Nats. I had everything reefed on and so did most everyone else. I am pleased to say I finished both races - itwas a hard slog, especially race 2. I had close racing with Fiona, and I finished about 6th last and 3rd last respectively in each race. Not flash - but hey - I finished and obeyed the magic rule of sailing - keep the boat UNDER the mast.

Some Provisional results:
Race 1 top 5: 1743, 1708, 1754, 1443, 1778
Race 2 top 5: 1743, 1610, 1751, 1778, 1754
1505: placed 41st in race 1 (11mins after first boat); and placed 42nd in race 2 (16mins after first boat)

Race 1 had 6 DNC/DNF, and possibly a further 6 OCS/DSQ
Race 2 had a further 6 DNC/DNF

I didn't see any masts fall over today, but I heard some creaking in my front tank on some of the waves going upwind. Retruned to shore by about 5pm or so, it was after 7 bythe time boat and me were washed up - a long day.

Some pictures, first me in the boat park, after racing today and all cleaned up ...

.
Another shot of the boats ...

Had dinner at Sails (on Bellerive Esplanade around the corner from the yacht club) with some of the guys ... Wayne, Nana, Russell Fisty, Bruce, ... I left before they started the real drinking!

Two races sheduled tomorrow, start 2.00pm, current forecast is ... "Winds then increasing to 5 to 15 knots during the day before tending east to southeast for a period in the afternoon at similar speeds." ... so I guess that means more of the same!

Forecast is for plenty wind ...

Heats 1 & 2 scheduled for today. The forecast is for lotsa wind!
S

Experiencing the finish of Sydney to Hobart

After the Welcome Dinner, I popped across to Elizabeth St Pier and Constitution Dock. I had heard Alpha Romeo was due about 5pm, so thought I would take a peek. WELL!!!!! She was expected later, had not arrived.
The place was alive with people. I saw Bob Ross (he didn't seem to recognise me despite having on one ocassion presenting me with a cheque for $500-)!!
Anyway they have a number of boats offering places aboard - they leave the dock about an hour before first boat is due, travel down the river some distance and then motor back at about the speed of the first boat, so that they are then also at the finish when the boat does finish. I was at the dock just in time to get on a ferry offering this ride - so I bought a ticket.
It was freezing I have to say - I was glad I had a jacket, but even so, it was cold. It was also quite exciting to watch the build up to the boat finishing. The ferry had a bar onboard - I refrained as I had to drive back to Bellerive - but - the bar prices rose as the trip went on!!! LOL
Anyway I have heaps of useless photos of a boat with nav lights ... its Alpha Romeo ... I also have a few others - here are some highlights.

The finish bouy as we left to go down the river to meet Alpha Romeo

Alpha Romeo discernable by nav light at mast head ...

Me on the ferry ...

S

Invitation Races

Registration was fun for me - I helped on the desk with rego process, which included completing a Tassie govt form for every interstate competitor - you see the Tassis govt gives a small subsidy to event organisers who attract interstate visitors - the subsidy is calculated on the person bed days in Tasmania. Just as well they had an auditor to help them!!

I think there are now 60 boats entered. A great effort by the Tassie organisers.

The breeze was fairly strong today - and game in gusts that lasted 10minutes or so at times of hard breeze, that would knock, veer, or drop out!!! NW breeze coming around the side of Mt Wellington - I have decided this is NOT my favorite breeze. Here is the link to Hobart observations http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDT60901/IDT60901.94970.shtml
I found out the hard way that with outgoing tide in NE'er, one needs to travel the Bellerive Blluff side of the course. Bugga. Anyway, in INvitation race 1 I finished about 38th I think, with about 16 DNC/DNF. There was a bit of capsizing happening and another boat dropped its mast - thats two so far, as there was one on the practice day outing. Ibvitation race 2 saw 14 boats at the start, I was not one of them - I had followe the other 45 boats ashore having had enough!!

There are 6 or 7 women entered, only two of us (Fiona and I) are senior in years, all the others are quite young and athletic! There is NO TEAM CHIC reps at this regatta - I remarked to Meryl Early this afternoon on this (sence Maree had dropped by for Steve's birthday, but was then shooting off somewhere else in Aus before returning to England). I must check the old results - it may be 12 years or so that the team Chic girls, or at least one, was sailing. The other senior woman is NOT Fiona McCullogh, but the other Fiona in that family. Fiona and I had some close racing at Safety Beach last year (her home club), so we are each aware of the other out there which is great.

The usual suspects were at the top end of the results - but I don't have details.

S

checking out the sailing area at dusk

Walked around Bellerive Bluff this evening and took some pictures, mostly across the water toward Mt Wellington, the Casino and Hobart docks.
Found a booklet of walks in the area - so I will do some of those as a 'fill-in' activity - and to enjoy the scenery/location.

I can see the lights (large as life, not in the distance) of Bellerive Oval from the back of the house - actually - the guest house has a rear deck from which you could almost watch a game on the oval!!!

Pictuure of the Derwent from Bellerive Bluff ....

Bellerive Beach ... the Oval is just to the left of the beach ....

My accommodation .... Bluff B n B ...

Sue

did something today i have never done b4!!!!

yep, i went sailing at the venue the day b4 the regatta starts!!! Like i mean b4 the Invitation even!!!
The locals said it's the sea breeze - 15 to 20k, solid - I thought - oh yeah!!
So out I went - well I put my nose out around the point, looked at the scenery, looked at the SA guy in the water and went on a bit, and then decided ....mmmm ... rig is up, drysuit fits ... what else do i need to test ... um ... nothing ... mmm my fingers feel cold .... mmmm go home ... well back to shore.... all good.

Already met up with heaps of people - yep we are all a year younger!!! Well, I am aren't I?

i think I will drive car to the yacht club each day for convenience - but hell - its not far to walk - actually, my accom is in middle of the point (Bellerive Bluff actually), so its  a walk to the mater in three directions. Breakfast will be at a civilized 7.30am.

Hey, Maree Early is here - not racing but a surprise visit to her Dad for his birthday. Gr8 to catch up.

I could write all night, its a regatta, its the NATIONALS, I'm here and part of it.

S

... sunburn on the spirit

Hi, I would have to say that the day trip on the Spirit of Tasmania is a LONG day.
The journey had some swell off the Vic coast, but that then reduced and by the time we were to Tasmania it was calm.
I have not been on a boat that big before - and I have to say - I am still sceptical that I enjoy cruising. It was a ferry ride I know - but to me - the thought of many people in a confined craft for so long just does not appeal.

This morning I slept in - I awoke to the sound of Pam's voice saying to me thru the door that it was 5.56am - I was supposed to get up at 5.30am!!!! I had not correctly set my alarm and was just beginning to awake when Pam called - thank you Pam!!! I got to the Spirit in plenty of time.

Pam's sandiches and salad were great on the trip - I ate a sandwich for breakfast, and had the salad for lunch and the chocolates for morning tea and I still have a sandwich for tomorrow. What a wonderful hostess. I recommend Pam's at Keilor to any traveller.

As I said - the journey is a long day. Arrived Devonport at 6.30pm and then spent time in the queue to get thru quarantine - a job I guess they have to do to keep the Taswegians safe from mainland disease.

Staying tonight in Launceston. Just heard church bells ringing - it is 10pm. I had a delicious local chardonnay (42' South) with dinner of chicken and asparagus linguinni - felt like lashing out after the day on the boat - it was worth it.

MMM - confession - I went to the rear level 10 outdoor deck and goosh the sunshine was nice - I dozed a bit amongst the backpackers - mmm - now I have a sunburned face!!!!

I met two blokes from SA - they have come over together for sabre nats - sharing car and trailer. Another fellow is travelling with them with his car on roof. On discovering that I am the only Qlder they offered to adopt me as a South Australian .... I wonder if I will get any better offers ... I will wait and see ...

Pics from the Spirit of Tasmania (II) ....

... Melbourne and Christmas Day

... arrived Keilor about 2.30 and just in time to have some lunch with Pam.
We walked the streets of Keilor twice during the afternoon - once in the sunshine and once in the dark. I have ended up with track pants and jumper on - breeze is cool.

The Spiit of Tasmania is loading vehicles an hour earlier than schedule, so I am leaving Pam's at 5.30am in the morning.

Here are some pics from today ....

Firstly, Pam, Brodie and me ...

and here is Pam, George, Brodie and me ...

Happy Christmas

I am having a slow morning, will leave Sale later and drive into Melbourne (Keilor) to stay with Pam tonight.
All good for the trip across the strait. Winds are expected to moderate.
S

... in the land of apple cakes

Well, I am in Victoria - staying at Sale tonight.
I did one detour today - went off the highway and into Mallacoota - very pretty indeed - a bit like 1770 actually.
I have not mentioned in previous post, but I picked up a travelling companion in Bathurst and he will likely stay with me for the entire trip. It was very hlpful having someone else in the car this afternoon on that long seemingly long stretch from Cann River to Bairnsdale - it caught me by surprise last time I travelled it and same today. Well the company was good - we played a game - he waved at oncoming cars when they came into sight. I have taken some pics of Pav - see below..

There is a lot of traffic heading east through Sale - I am glad I stopped for the night. I will cruise into Melbourne early afternoon I expect - without too much traffic.

The squeak I used to have in the back passenger rear of the car has re-emerged today. It had been silent for 4000km (the distance travelled since I last had it looked at but they couldn't find anything except a cracked engine pipe and collapsing catalytic converter) - oh well - I am not really worried - it is just a nuisance factor.

Music - I think that Goanna's live version of Solid Rock has covered the MOST kms, followed by lady Gaga's Bad Romance - its the detail that counts.

S

Pav took this pic of the car and trailer at Mallacoota ....

and here is a pic of me ... driving towards Bairnsdale ...

and finally, here is a picture of Pav ....

... he's such a helpful little fellow!

... glad I'm not on the Spirit today

The weather forecats for SA-VIC cooastline today includes gale force winds. Expected to pass thru quickly - as the weather does at this end of the continent. Night be some swell backed up from it still by 26th - glad I'm travelling in the daytime - I am looking forward to seeing the ociean - although its only a 350km crossing.

Met some Bega locals last night. Same as other places - same issues. Kevin you have a BIG job at hand mate.

No idea where I will be tonite. Today I will just enjoy travelling the SE coastline - I have not travelled the sector between Eden and Cann River previously.

S

day 2 on the road again ...

HI, travelled from Blayney to Bega via Bathurst, Katoomba, Hume Hway almost to Bowral, Kangaroo Valley, Nowra then down the NSW south coast to Ulladulla then a final stint to Bega.

I had to go this way since my drysuit was in for repair with Hot n Dry who are located at Ulladulla - they are the only people in Australia who do genuine dry suits that are suitable for dinghy and yacht sailors. They do other suits as well such as an order they have at the moment for an Antarctic exploration team. Anyway, the factory is hidden away in the back streets of Ulladulla - most of their work is mail order.
I found out my dry suit is 13 years old. WOW. It had been back once before for repairs to the bands (they perish, especially from heat!!) Thank you to Denise at Hot n Dry for calling me up on the journey and helping with the pick up arrangemenrs.

Did the leg Pheasants Nest to Ulladulla in one leg. Had storms through the highlands area, and then was on the fringe of rain and intermittent showers all the way to Bega. Got here about 1830 - so it has been another big day. I now have about 1650km on the odometer for this trip, with about 700 to go.

Trailer is going fine - no heat build up on the cups over the bearings.

Car all good - but I think I need new wiper blades! Aaargh.

Stayed in a motel tonite - and had dinner at the famous Pearl Chinese Restaurant, in the Grand Hotel. I once ordered a cappacino after a meal there and was told "Sorry we only do real coffee" (meaning instant). It is the MOST Australian Chinese I have been to!!

Tomorrow I press on around the coast - from Ulladulla it is 30km shorter this way than going up via Canberra, but the latter is faster because of the dual carriage ways etc.

S

day 1 of travels

I left Brisbane at 7am (EST) and arrived in Blayney at 21.15 (ESDST), with 1050km completed. Staying with Mum at Blayney. The trip went well - no dramas. Thunderstorms were hovering, but I only had some rain, not the severe weather experienced in some areas.
Will set off tomorrow for Ulladulla - to pick up my drysuit - then continue on toward Melbourne.
Tomorrow night will be spent by the road somewhere - maybe Mallacoota Inlet.
Sue

... departure lounge

... will be leaving Bris in about one hour - just have to throw my gear in the car and tie on the boat cover and hitch up and get dressed and ....
S

... detour on the way to Tassie

... into the last 12 hours - still haven't packed gear into the car - my theory is the later you leave it, the less junk you pack :-)
... drysuit is finished repairs, but still in Ulladulla - too late to mail, so I will detour via Ulladulla!!
... journey south will be Brisbane --> Blayney --> Ulladulla --> Melbourne --> Devonport --> Hobart
... travel all over the countryside, ask SlowHand, ask SlowHand ... now Í'm being silly
... boat is full of water from heavy rain at home, just another obstacle (since I had for ONE day left the boat outside and facing DOWN the driveway - bugga)
S

... packing

Gosh - what an eclectic mix of sailing gear .... summer tops, warm tops, woollen tops, beanies, caps .... you name it - I've packed it - I am not going to be caught-out cold (I hope anyway).

Boat is on the trailer and touchup spots on cockpit floor are done.
Mainsail foot repaired. Trolley now secured extra well to the trailer - I only do this for long trips - its too much fussing around for metropolitan travel and frequent loading/unloading.

Spent about 90 minutes finding my booking information on the old laptop - I HAD to print the confirmations to get on the Spirit of Tasmania and to check-in at Bellerive accommodation. Bookings were firt week of May - seems ages ago.

S

... final countdown

... jobs for today :
1) do shopping
2) get board and sail signed by measurer
3) get the home phone working
4) finish Christmas shopping
5) grease trailer wheel bearings
6) wrap presents
7) touch up cockpit floor
8) rest with a Baileys
9) pack sailing clothes
10) go out to dinner
11) load pics onto Mum's present
12) finish wrapping presents
... for starters
S

... edging closer to departure ...

... visiting Rob on Saturday to get my new centreboard measured and sign-off on my mainsail. I will try and put a couple of coats of varnish on the front deck of the boat this weekend, plus touch up some rubbed areas in the cockpit as well.

... no sign of the drysuit!

... last PT session this morning, cardio and legs - what a way to finish the year.

... passed my PSY subjects - hey Mr providence, I could sure do with a sign right now, pls?

S

... only 6 days to go ... i think

... Slow Hand is for sale - available after the Nationals - anyone want to buy a good Sabre?
S

... a little more prep

... picked up my Qld penny - looks great - maroon lycra top, with outline of Qld (state) and big Q in the middle ... that should be a stand-out feature

... more prep - final bootcamp for 2009, included testing, I improved on some measures so that's good

It's getting close now ...
S

8 days ..

... time is a valuable commodity ... yet we waste so much of it.

I must arrange to pick up my Qld penny this afternoon. It will be the only one at Bellerive - this regatta is becoming a landmark event for me - a turning point. Is this how Oates felt?

"I am just going outside and may be some time."
Damn providence - at it again I see.

S

.. is it 9 days to go .... yes

... finished the resi, picked up the big trailer, Laser and 125 (these had been stored at Blayney), and headed north .... made it to A_Hills by mid Sat afternoon ... had an o'night stop at Sth Tamworth. So few understand how far it is and the challenge of driving 1100km in under 24hrs when you are the only driver!! Slower trip home towing, and being overnight.

Providence is alive and well. Apologies .. I am not in a position to explain that statement ... you just need to accept it.

No prep for Nationals the last few days. Today I am rostered for duty at CYC ... that's not prep either!! Double bugga - I have an essay due 14th - tomorrow. Would anyone like to buy a 125?

S

12 days to go ...

... on residential in Bathurst - no prep for the big trip this few days. Busy times.
S

2 weeks to go ... and I'm in Bathurst

Yes, I am in Bathurst for a summer school residential, this one crept up on me somewhat!! So I had to take some leave at short notice.
Very light load in the car, came down the coast, then at Sydney, cut across to Windsor, Richmond, then the back way to Lithgow, and up the h'way to Bathurst. Only 1080km!! 16hrs elapsed time, about 13 driving time.

No prep on the boat or sailing - except trying out my Hobart CDs - favorite songs for the trip.

Coming across the mountains in wind and lightning was a treat.
S

15 days to go ... extra 2200km added to travels

... I have a residential in Bathurst this week - and an exam!! Hadn't put that into the equation!! Hope mt rec leave gets the nod.

Learnings from Saturday:
- take NSAIDS,
- hiking with one foot under leeward strap reduces pointing by 5 degrees on that tack (overall 10 degree added to tacking angle),
- I can race the boat in 20k
- when you think the luff is down hard, pull more vang on, and then you can get another inch down on the luff (there would be an equation for that), just shows the effect of mast bend on luff curve hey,
- I MUST MUST MUST learn to set the time on my countdown watch, and remember to wear it!
- my hair must be thinning casue my scalp ot burned on Saturday

Hi ho, hi ho - off to work I go

S

16 days to go and still learning

.. that I need to take NSAIDs with me to Tas - especially if it is windy - jiggers my neck - badly! Recovering fast with drugs.
S

17 days to go ....

... seriously no trees on the car please ... I just spent money on it!

4.25pm Relaxing at the Apollonian Hotel, the wagon is parked under trees I have just realised!! Note - my wagon, not the hotel's wagon!!

Just did one race - pretty windy - had some good rides and felt ok. Don't want to break anything so just did the one race. Now into the books - well - recording kep points and then copying them onto a CD to play in the car on the way to residential - can't think of any other way to do it!!!

Cannot decide on rig tension for breeze - I had it snug but no where near tight - would have felt better with less tension and laid over. What would the love triangle suggest?
S

it's friday and 18 days to go ....

... another week finished and some prep jobs completed.
Car service found cracked engine pipe and need for new catalytic converter - done!
She sounds a bit quiter in the underbelly now.

New centreboard has arrived and is very smooth - thanks Martyn. I'll try it out at Lake Cootharaba this weekend.

At my current burn rate - I'll be workng till I'm 100!! But hey - what else would I do?

Yep, Lake Cootharaba this weekend, short trip really, compared to 2435km to Bellerive - bit of a trick really, that distance, straight of whereis, includes the 435km on the ship :-)

S

19 days to go ...

... new centreboard is on its way, it might arrive tomorrow, in which case I will be able to use it at Lake Cootharaba on the weekend.

As reported a few days ago, I am sailing at Lake Cootharaba this weekend - just to get some focus, play with the boat and do some stuff so that when I get to Hobart, I feel like I've done it before.

It's hard to separate the work day events and info from my sailing journey - work seems like a huge distraction at the moment - not that it isn't interesting etc - but it does feel like a distraction - and one thing I have been working on at a personal level is managing distractions.

It's all coming down to just me and Slow Hand now.
This weekend we will bond just a little more.

Susan

20 days to go ...

More prep - car booked for checking over before the big trip.
I had kinda dreamed that a tree fell on the Falcon, and I ended up having to take the Subaru - but the tree thing hasn't happened - yet - well, I guess there is still 20 days in which it could happen!! I am not going to plan for that.

I have the trip to Lake Cootharaba this weekend - so just left the swag and mattress in the car from the States. Not a conducive arrangement for study - bugga!!

Received an email from PSA about Laser coaching - I think this might be an opportunity to push the boundaries of my sailing envelope. It's certainly not something that would happen to me in the Sabre class.

Hi ho, hi ho ... off to work I go.
Sue

Advent begins

HI,
I am celebrating the beginning of advent with (a) a gym session at 6.30am and (b) giving my PT his Advent Calendar!
It's 21 days till departure - just 3 weeks.
Hopefully my drysuit is now with the guys at Wet n Dry (Ulladulla, NSW).
I have been pondering the whole Christmas thing - and really, Easter is a bigger event in the Christian/church calendar than Christmas - but we don't give and receive gifts at Easter, so there isn't so much commercial opportunity.
Personally, I do wish that Christian leaders would get a grip and teach the truth, instead of pandering to what people want and fostering the myths that have become accepted as truths.
I am fighting a lonely battle.
S